Senior Estimator

Building Careers UK; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional company package

Long-term career development

10% annual bonus

Job summary

Building Careers UK invites a Senior Estimator to lead tenders for industrial refurbishment and CAT A/B fit-out projects. You will manage the estimating process from enquiry to submission, producing detailed cost estimates for labour, materials, plant and subcontractors.

Working with commercial, operational and senior management teams, you will shape tender strategies, review drawings, identify risks, and drive value engineering to improve profitability across a varied portfolio.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Estimator in construction.
• Strong background in industrial refurbishment and CAT A/B fit-out.
• Experience pricing CAT A and CAT B projects.
• Ability to interpret drawings and tender documentation.
• Excellent organisational skills for multiple tenders.
• Strong commercial awareness of construction costs.
• Confident communicating with clients and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and submission of competitive tenders across industrial refurbishment and fit-out projects.
• Review tender documentation, drawings, specifications and scope requirements.
• Produce detailed cost estimates covering labour, materials, plant and subcontractor packages.
• Carry out quantity take-offs and measure works from drawings and specifications.
• Manage the tender process from initial enquiry through to final submission.
• Prepare detailed tender breakdowns, pricing schedules and supporting documentation.
• Ensure tenders are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Estimate industrial refurbishment and warehouse improvement schemes.
• Price CAT A and CAT B office fit-out packages within industrial environments.
• Review project specifications and identify potential construction and commercial challenges.
• Develop cost-effective solutions and identify value engineering opportunities.
• Prepare and issue enquiries to suppliers and subcontractors.
• Obtain, review and compare quotations to ensure competitive pricing.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the supply chain.
• Negotiate pricing and identify opportunities to improve tender competitiveness.
• Challenge quotations and identify potential gaps, risks or discrepancies.
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities within tender documentation.
• Develop appropriate allowances and pricing strategies.
• Support tender reviews and present estimates to senior management.
• Work closely with operational and commercial teams to ensure successful tender handovers.
• Contribute towards improving estimating processes and work-winning strategies.

Skills

Senior Estimator

Industrial refurbishment

CAT A/B fit-out

Tender pricing

Drawings interpretation

Communication

Commercial awareness

Job description

Senior Estimator - Industrial Refurbishment / CAT A & CAT B Fit Out

Location: Cardiff, South Wales

Salary/Package: £55,000 - £75,000 + Package + 10% Bonus

Job Type: Permanent

About the Company

Our client is an established and rapidly growing principal contractor specialising in industrial, commercial and education refurbishment projects across the UK.

With a strong reputation for delivering high-quality refurbishment and fit-out schemes, the business works with a diverse range of clients across the industrial and logistics sectors, undertaking projects involving warehouse refurbishments, industrial improvements, CAT A and CAT B office fit-outs, roofing and cladding upgrades and wider building improvement works.

Having continued to expand its nationwide operations, the business has invested in its Cardiff operation to strengthen its presence across Wales and the South West.

The Role

The successful candidate will take a leading role within the estimating and pre-construction function, managing tenders from initial enquiry through to final submission.

You will be responsible for producing accurate and commercially competitive estimates across a varied portfolio of industrial refurbishment and fit-out projects, including CAT A and CAT B office schemes within industrial and warehouse environments.

Working closely with the commercial, operational and senior management teams, you will help develop effective tender strategies, manage supply chain enquiries and identify opportunities to improve project profitability.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Estimator looking to join a growing regional operation, taking ownership of significant tender opportunities and contributing towards the continued expansion of the business across Wales and the South West.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Tender Management

• Lead the preparation and submission of competitive tenders across industrial refurbishment and fit-out projects.
• Review tender documentation, drawings, specifications and scope requirements.
• Produce detailed and accurate cost estimates covering labour, materials, plant and subcontractor packages.
• Carry out quantity take-offs and measure works from drawings and specifications.
• Manage the tender process from initial enquiry through to final submission.
• Prepare detailed tender breakdowns, pricing schedules and supporting documentation.
• Ensure tenders are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.

Industrial Refurbishment & Fit Out

• Estimate industrial refurbishment and warehouse improvement schemes.
• Price CAT A and CAT B office fit-out packages within industrial environments.
• Understand the requirements of internal refurbishment, office alterations, partitions, ceilings, flooring and finishes.
• Price associated building works, including roofing, cladding and M&E improvements where required.
• Review project specifications and identify potential construction and commercial challenges.
• Develop cost-effective solutions and identify value engineering opportunities.

Supply Chain & Procurement

• Prepare and issue enquiries to suppliers and subcontractors.
• Obtain, review and compare quotations to ensure competitive pricing.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the supply chain.
• Negotiate pricing and identify opportunities to improve tender competitiveness.
• Challenge quotations and identify potential gaps, risks or discrepancies.

Commercial & Business Development

• Identify commercial risks and opportunities within tender documentation.
• Develop appropriate allowances and pricing strategies.
• Support tender reviews and present estimates to senior management.
• Work closely with operational and commercial teams to ensure successful tender handovers.
• Contribute towards improving estimating processes and work-winning strategies.

About You

• Proven experience as a Senior Estimator or experienced Estimator within the construction industry.
• Strong background in industrial refurbishment, commercial fit-out or general building contracting.
• Experience pricing CAT A and CAT B fit-out projects.
• Understanding of industrial and warehouse refurbishment schemes.
• Strong technical ability interpreting drawings, specifications and tender documentation.
• Confident producing detailed estimates and undertaking accurate quantity take-offs.
• Experience obtaining and negotiating supplier and subcontractor quotations.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of construction costs.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tenders simultaneously.
• Confident communicating with clients, subcontractors, suppliers and senior management.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £55,000 - £75,000, depending on experience.
• Additional company package.
• 10% annual bonus.
• Opportunity to join an established and growing principal contractor.
• Varied portfolio of industrial refurbishment and CAT A/B fit-out projects.
• Senior position with responsibility for leading tender opportunities.
• Opportunity to help develop and strengthen the regional operation.
• Long-term career development.

Building Careers UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.