Senior Estimating Manager - Pre-Construction

Howells Solutions Limited; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national contractor is seeking a Senior Estimating Manager - Pre-Construction to join their team. This role involves developing tender strategies and managing complex bids in the social housing sector. The successful candidate will receive an attractive salary package between £100,000 and £120,000 along with flexible working options. Strong leadership and commercial insight are crucial for success in this role.

Benefits

Car allowance

Profit share bonus scheme

Flexible work options

Qualifications

• Success in managing estimating or pre-construction teams across construction sectors.
• Experience handling complex bids simultaneously.
• Strong leadership and ability to inspire teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute tender strategies covering risk and opportunities.
• Direct and develop the pre-contract team to meet growth targets.
• Act as client commercial lead, shaping commercial positions.

Skills

Developing estimating teams

Commercial insight

Leadership

Organisational skills

Communication

Job description

Overview

Senior Estimating Manager - Pre-Construction

£100,000 - £120,000 + Car Allowance + Profit Share + Flexible Working

Hybrid - North London (National Role)

We are recruiting for an experienced Senior Estimating Manager - Pre Construction to serve as deputy leader of our national Estimating team.

Our client is a market-leading, national contractor at the forefront of improving the communities they serve. As a key member of the leadership team, you will report to the Estimating Director and play a crucial role in driving a successful commercial pricing strategy for circa £600m of bids per annum in the social housing sector, including planned maintenance, reactive repairs, voids, decarbonisation, gas servicing and installation and specialist public sector refurbishment works.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute tender strategies covering risk, opportunities, CVRs, and cash flow.
• Partner with senior management and client stakeholders to align with growth plans and operational performance.
• Direct, coach, and develop the pre-contract team to meet tender volume, quality, and growth targets, including bid/no-bid decisions.
• Ensure full compliance with tender governance, frameworks, industry practice, and delegated authority.
• Monitor estimation processes through KPIs, bid outcomes, and feedback, embedding continuous improvement.
• Act as client commercial lead in meetings, shaping commercial position and influencing sector changes.
• Evaluate client strategies, recommending adjustments based on market insight and bid performance.
• Oversee risk management in estimation, including approvals, modelling scenarios, risk assessments, and commercial strategy sign-off.
• Attend settlement and strategic meetings; approve client commercial proposals on Social Value.
• Review and challenge bids over £10m to maximise operational and commercial value.
• Lead post-tender reviews to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage premobilisation training and mobilisation reviews, ensuring tender strategies are understood and implemented.

Experience

• Demonstrated success in developing and managing estimating or pre-construction teams across maintenance, FM, or construction sectors.
• Skilled in overseeing numerous complex bids at the same time.
• Strong commercial insight, adept at balancing competitive positioning with effective risk control.
• Exceptional leadership, organisational, and communication abilities.
• Strategic and resilient, with a talent for inspiring teams to deliver outstanding results under pressure.

Offer

• Attractive salary package of £100,000 - £120,000
• Car allowance plus profit share bonus scheme
• Home / Office (Hybrid) - Flexible work options to support work-life balance
• Chance to influence and grow a national pre-construction function, based from their North London office with travel to offices as required.
• To secure this fantastic role, apply today or contact Dave for more information on (phone number removed)