Senior Estimating Manager

Novax Recruitment Ltd; Cwmbran; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Novax Recruitment Ltd is seeking an Estimating Manager for structural steel projects in the UK. You will lead pricing from enquiries to tender submissions, interpreting drawings and specs to produce accurate estimates that cover materials, fabrication, labour and installation.

You will challenge supplier quotes, identify commercial risks, and shape competitive tenders while coordinating with engineering, procurement and commercial teams to ensure profitable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven estimating experience in structural steel
• Experience pricing fabrication and erection
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications and project scopes
• Understanding of steelwork quantities and fabrication requirements
• Experience producing detailed tenders and quotations
• Commercial awareness around risk, margins and project profitability

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating process from initial enquiry through to tender submission
• Assess drawings, specifications and project information to understand exactly what is being priced
• Build accurate estimates covering materials, fabrication, labour and installation
• Challenge supplier and subcontractor quotations, identifying where the commercial risks sit
• Shape tender submissions by identifying exclusions, risks and opportunities before they become problems
• Work closely with engineering, project management, procurement and commercial teams to make sure the numbers stack up

Skills

Estimating

Structural steel

Tender pricing

Drawing interpretation

Commercial awareness

Leadership

Project profitability

Stakeholder management

Job description

Estimating Manager / Senior Estimating Manager - Structural Steel

Location: Cwmbran, South Wales

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

The Company

The steel being priced here doesn't end up sitting in a fabrication yard.

It goes into the kind of projects where the engineering matters - infrastructure, rail, aviation, architectural steelwork and specialist engineering schemes where getting the scope and the numbers right from the start can make the difference between winning profitable work and taking on problems further down the line.

The business has built its reputation around technically demanding structural steel projects, and the estimating function sits right at the start of that process.

Now they need someone who can take ownership of that function.

The Role

This is more than a Senior Estimator position.

You will have a hands-on role in pricing structural steel projects while providing leadership and direction across the estimating function.

You will:

• Lead the estimating process from initial enquiry through to tender submission
• Assess drawings, specifications and project information to understand exactly what is being priced
• Build accurate estimates covering materials, fabrication, labour and installation
• Challenge supplier and subcontractor quotations, identifying where the commercial risks sit
• Shape tender submissions by identifying exclusions, risks and opportunities before they become problems
• Work closely with engineering, project management, procurement and commercial teams to make sure the numbers stack up

There will be multiple tenders moving at once, so this is a role for someone who is comfortable making decisions, managing priorities and knowing when a project is worth pursuing.

The Candidate

You'll already understand structural steel from an estimating perspective and know that a competitive price is only useful if the job can actually be delivered profitably.

• Proven experience estimating within structural steel or a closely related engineering environment
• Experience pricing fabrication and erection
• The ability to interpret structural drawings, specifications and project scopes
• Strong understanding of steelwork quantities, materials and fabrication requirements
• Experience producing detailed tenders and quotations
• Commercial awareness around risk, margins and project profitability

If you've progressed from Estimator → Senior Estimator → Estimating Manager, this could be the next move worth having a conversation about.

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Experience leading, managing or mentoring other estimators
• Experience dealing directly with main contractors, clients, suppliers and subcontractors
• A background in complex structural steel, infrastructure or specialist engineering projects

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

You're not stepping into a role where the estimating function simply needs another pair of hands.

You'll have the opportunity to influence how the function operates, develop estimating standards and processes, and help determine the work the business takes on.

You'll remain close enough to the numbers to use your technical knowledge, while having the seniority to influence decisions and lead the people around you.