Senior Cost Estimator

ZipRecruiter; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK consultancy is seeking a Senior Estimator to manage cost planning on a low-carbon infrastructure project. The role involves working on projects from RIBA Stage 0 to 4, focusing on sustainability and strategic cost advice. Ideal candidates will have strong experience in infrastructure estimation and will be proficient in digital cost planning tools. This position supports robust financial planning within a multi-functional team.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in estimating for energy or industrial projects.
• Comfortable with RIBA Stages 0-4.
• Proficiency in whole-life cost methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop cost plans throughout RIBA stages.
• Produce cost estimates and support value engineering.
• Deliver reports on financial risks and assumptions.

Skills

Cost planning for infrastructure projects

Knowledge of sustainable construction

Digital cost planning tools (CostX, Causeway)

Effective communication across teams

Tools

CostX

Causeway

Job description

Job Description

Senior Estimator

UK-Based | Remote/Hybrid/On-Site (Project-Dependent)

Sectors: Industrial, Infrastructure, Datacentres

Contract: Permanent; Freelance / Fixed-Term / Consultant considered also considered

I'm currently working with a forward-thinking UK consultancy that's delivering a cutting-edge low-carbon infrastructure project - and they're on the lookout for a Senior Estimator to take the reins on cost planning from RIBA Stage 0 through to Stage 4. This is a critical position, focused on aligning capital investment with sustainability targets and ensuring robust financial planning across the early design and pre-construction phases.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Own the Cost Plan: Lead and develop cost plans throughout RIBA Stages 0-4, ensuring all estimates evolve in step with the design and project requirements.
• Guide the Budget from Day One: Offer strategic cost advice from concept stage and refine it through technical design.
• Estimate with Purpose: Produce Order of Cost Estimates and detailed Elemental Cost Plans that support value engineering and funding cases.
• Embed Sustainability: Incorporate whole-life costing and low-carbon thinking into financial assessments, working closely with carbon and sustainability specialists.
• Know the Market: Stay sharp on trends in construction and energy sectors-benchmarking, inflation, material costs, and labour availability-to inform your estimates.
• Support Procurement Strategy: Help shape procurement approaches, engage with contractors early, and support tender evaluations with cost insights.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Be part of a multi-functional project team-planners, engineers, carbon consultants, PMs-and clearly communicate cost drivers and risks.
• Leverage the Right Tools: Use CostX, Causeway, or similar tools for digital take-offs and pricing, and ensure documentation meets industry standards (NRM1, BCIS).
• Report & Advise: Deliver regular reports outlining risks, assumptions, and mitigation strategies that keep the project on solid financial footing.

What They're Looking For:

• Strong experience estimating for infrastructure, energy, or industrial projects
• Comfortable working across RIBA Stages 0-4
• Skilled in digital cost planning tools (CostX, Causeway, CATO, etc.)
• Solid understanding of sustainable construction and whole-life cost methodologies
• Clear communicator with the ability to work cross-functionally and explain complex cost data to various stakeholders

If you're a commercially savvy estimator with a passion for sustainability and a track record of delivering across early project stages, this is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful low-carbon initiative in the UK.

Interested? Let's chat. Drop me a message to discuss the role, the team, and how your background aligns with this impactful project.