Senior Estimator

Bovis Homes Group PLC; Brentwood; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction company in Brentwood is looking for a Senior Estimator to join their team. You will collaborate with the Commercial team on bids and land purchases, ensuring cost efficiency and effective communication across departments. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Quantity Surveying and experience in housebuilding and residential contracting. The role offers flexibility in working arrangements and requires strong leadership skills alongside technical estimating capabilities. Benefits include competitive salary, bonuses, and a range of perks.

Benefits

Competitive basic salary and annual bonus

Company car or travel allowance

Private medical insurance

Up to 39 days annual leave with service

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Qualifications

• Proven track record in a similar position within housebuilding or residential contracting.
• Experience in pricing work from first principles and using supply chain info.
• Ability to delegate tasks according to team members' skill sets.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delegating tasks within the Estimating team.
• Prepare construction land budgets for evaluation by the Land Manager.
• Provide cost advisory and investigation services to the Estimating and Development Team.
• Evaluate risks and costs associated with construction abnormals.

Skills

Strong commitment to achieving deadlines

Ability to lead others

Positive attitude towards teamwork

Experience with various internal and external stakeholders

Able to work efficiently on own initiative

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management

Tools

Bluebeam

Conquest estimating packages

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Estimator to join our team within Vistry Eastern Counties, at our Brentwood office. As our Senior Estimator, you will work in our Commercial team to support our land and development team in securing land and contracting opportunities. In turn, this will deliver the company's development programme/objectives. This will involve leading a team to deliver accurate estimating for a multitude of schemes, completing appraisals, participating in tender reviews and delivering to deadlines. The successful candidate will come from a housebuilding, or residential contractor and be experienced in pricing work from first principles as well as utilising supply chain information. We value in-person collaboration and team culture, but we're also committed to supporting flexible working where possible. We encourage you to raise any specific requirements during the interview process so we can explore how this could be accommodated.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Estimating Manager in the delegation of specific work tasks within the Estimating team, providing managerial support and guidance to the Estimator/Assistant Estimator
• Represent the Estimating team at cross-departmental discussions and be able to communicate and strategise at all levels in respect of cost related matters
• Assist in training other members of the team with systems and techniques, including assisting in the continuing improvement of Estimating reports and information services
• Assist in the preparation of cash flows for management accounts and forecasting purposes, providing a cost advisory and investigation service to senior management
• Provide a cost advisory and investigation service to the Estimating and Development Team
• In advance of a land purchase, you will prepare construction land budgets for the Land Manager to evaluate the site, assisting the Land Manager/Sales Team to determine the best house mix for the site
• Evaluate risks and cost of construction abnormals in formulating the budget, discussing and reviewing specifications in association with the relevant departments prior to the land bid
• Post the purchase of land, you will propose improved economical design and engineering solutions for the team to consider, including new building methods and products
• Assist the Estimating Manager in reviewing new product specification suitable for development, preparing comments on preliminary layouts prior to the formal issue of DCO
• Liaise with the Development department regarding best solutions for house type designs and internal layouts, preparing Planning Packs which ensure the feasibility reflects all changes and financial implications
• Ahead of start on site, you will prepare budget packs, liaising with all departments to ensure all latest material, preliminaries, subcontracts, sales and development costs are included in the financial review
• You will be responsible for providing budgetary framework to assist the Surveyors/Buyers in their financial control of the development post start on site
• Assist in securing land and contracting opportunities within our market sector and geographic operational area.
• Provide commercial support to the Land and Partnerships Director for all land bids for land-led contracting and mixed tenure opportunities.
• Initial appraisal of development sites based on information provided. Assess risks and opportunities, establish viability.
• Supporting value engineering or negotiating exercises where required.
• Update financial appraisal at key stages of the development process - including offer stage, acquisition approval, planning application and planning approval stages.
• Financial modelling of cost and revenue streams to determine funding requirements of each development.
• Identify risks and record on a tender risk register.
• Value engineering - provide advice and costs associated with value engineering proposals for the scheme.
• Provide input in post tender queries / negotiations.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying / Construction Management or equivalent
• Experienced in pricing work from first principles as well as utilising supply chain information
• A proven track record in a similar position within a housebuilding, residential contracting, building or groundworks business.
• Experience working with various internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to utilise current and new networks to assist with the estimating process
• Strong commitment to achieving deadlines
• Able to work efficiently, on own initiative, prioritising as necessary
• Able to delegate where required, matching the task to the team member's skill set
• Positive attitude towards teamwork and challenge.
• Ability to lead others with clarity and fairness.
• Willing to work extra to meet deadlines as and when the business needs require it

Desirable

• Chartered body member (CIOB / RICS)
• Experience with Bluebeam and Conquest estimating packages

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
• Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
• Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees
• Up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to up to 39 days with service
• 2 Volunteering days per annum
• Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice
• Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary
• Share save and share incentive schemes
• Employee rewards portal with many more benefits…

Finally, let's tell you a bit more about us… We build more than homes, we're making Vistry. Being a responsible developer and award-winning employer means we live each day through our ethos - doing the right thing. Our behaviours reflect this, as well as our values of integrity, caring and quality. Shaping all we do; they empower us to develop sustainable communities across affordable and private housing. We work in a partnership-led way, and you'll recognise our renowned brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes. Together with Vistry Works, our manufacturing operation, and the functional support of Vistry Services, we're a proud UK Green Building Council member, UK top five housebuilder with a five-star House Builders Federation (HBF) customer satisfaction rating, and winner of many awards including Top Employer, Global Top Inspiring Workplaces, and Best for Talent Attraction and Outreach.