Senior Estimator

Wates Smartspace; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Wates Residential is seeking a Senior Estimator to drive robust cost plans and competitive tenders for residential developments in the South region. You will lead tender submissions from launch to settlement, delivering cost planning expertise and strategic insight to win high-quality opportunities.

You will collaborate with Commercial, Land, Design and Delivery teams, manage pricing strategies, and mentor junior estimators.

Qualifications

• Proven estimating experience within residential construction, housebuilding or development.
• Strong knowledge of tendering, cost planning and procurement processes.
• Experience preparing complex cost plans and managing multiple tenders.
• Excellent understanding of construction methodologies, materials and market trends.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The ability to challenge, influence and contribute to commercial decision-making.
• Experience using estimating and cost planning software.
• A proactive approach with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of accurate cost plans and competitive tender submissions across residential developments.
• Manage the tender process, including tender reviews, settlement meetings and commercial sign-off.
• Develop pricing strategies in collaboration with Commercial and Pre-Construction teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors and supply chain partners, ensuring robust market testing and benchmarking.
• Assess project risks, opportunities and value engineering proposals to support winning bids.
• Produce first-principles estimates and validate supply chain pricing data.
• Support the development and maintenance of cost databases and benchmarking information.
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to ensure cost plans align with project objectives, programme requirements and delivery strategies.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to junior members of the estimating team where required.

Skills

Tendering

Cost planning

Pricing strategies

Stakeholder management

Market benchmarking

Supply chain liaison

Risk assessment

Leadership & mentoring

Job description

At Wates Residential, we're driven by our purpose of reimagining places for people to thrive. We're looking for an experienced Senior Estimator to join our South Region Pre-Construction team, helping to secure and shape some of the region's most exciting residential developments.

This is a fantastic opportunity to influence projects from the earliest stages, leading the development of robust cost plans, driving tender strategy, and working closely with Commercial, Land, Design and Delivery teams to secure high-quality residential opportunities.

About the Role

As a Senior Estimator, you will play a pivotal role in producing competitive and commercially sound tender submissions across a range of residential contracting and development projects.

You will lead the estimating process from tender launch through to settlement, providing cost planning expertise and strategic insight to support successful work-winning activity.

As our Senior Estimator, you will:

• Lead the preparation of accurate cost plans and competitive tender submissions across residential developments.
• Manage the tender process, including tender reviews, settlement meetings and commercial sign-off.
• Develop pricing strategies in collaboration with Commercial and Pre-Construction teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors and supply chain partners, ensuring robust market testing and benchmarking.
• Assess project risks, opportunities and value engineering proposals to support winning bids.
• Produce first-principles estimates and validate supply chain pricing data.
• Support the development and maintenance of cost databases and benchmarking information.
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to ensure cost plans align with project objectives, programme requirements and delivery strategies.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to junior members of the estimating team where required.

What We're Looking For

You’ll be a commercially minded professional with excellent analytical skills and a strong understanding of residential construction and development.

We’re interested in hearing from individuals who have:

• Proven estimating experience within residential construction, housebuilding or development.
• Strong knowledge of tendering, cost planning and procurement processes.
• Experience preparing complex cost plans and managing multiple tenders simultaneously.
• Excellent understanding of construction methodologies, materials and market trends.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The ability to challenge, influence and contribute to commercial decision-making.
• Experience using estimating and cost planning software.
• A proactive approach with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.

Our commitments:

Wates is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

We don’t discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work. As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme. Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at [e-mail]