Senior Estimator

Construction; Crawley; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Construction is seeking an experienced Estimator to own tenders from enquiry to handover, delivering accurate, commercially competitive and technically compliant estimates across electrical and multi-discipline construction projects.

You will collaborate with operations, commercial and senior management, and a network of suppliers and subcontractors to ensure robust pricing and compliant tender submissions.

Qualifications

• Experience in construction estimating and tendering.
• Strong understanding of drawings, specifications and tender documentation.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and commercial skills.
• Proficient in Excel and estimating software.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Manage tenders from initial enquiry through to submission and handover.
• Review drawings, specifications, schedules and contractual information.
• Undertake detailed quantity take-offs and measurements.
• Prepare labour, materials, plant, preliminaries and subcontractor cost build-ups.
• Develop competitive pricing using current market rates and historical project data.
• Prepare and manage supplier and subcontractor enquiries.
• Obtain, analyse and compare quotations, ensuring full scope coverage.
• Identify exclusions, qualifications, risks, design issues and commercial concerns.
• Manage tender deadlines, clarifications, document control and tender records.
• Attend tender review meetings, site visits and client meetings where required.
• Identify programme constraints, value engineering opportunities and project-specific risks.
• Prepare tender summaries, pricing schedules and supporting documentation.
• Complete final tender reviews to ensure accuracy, compliance and scope coverage.
• Assist with post-tender negotiations and client clarifications.
• Provide structured handovers to project and commercial teams following successful tenders.
• Maintain estimating templates, rate libraries, benchmarking data and supplier databases.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating processes and tender governance.

Skills

Tender management

Numerical analysis

Commercial awareness

Communication & negotiation

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Estimating software

Job description

Salary: £55,000 + Performance Bonus + Profit Share
Location: Crawley
Sector: Construction / Electrical / M&E / Safety-Critical

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Estimator to join a growing safety‑critical construction contractor. The successful candidate will take ownership of tenders from initial enquiry through to submission and handover, delivering accurate, commercially competitive and technically compliant estimates across electrical and multi‑discipline construction projects.

You will work closely with operational, commercial and senior management teams, as well as an established network of suppliers and subcontractors.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage tenders from initial enquiry through to submission and handover.


• Review drawings, specifications, schedules, scopes and contractual information.


• Undertake detailed quantity take-offs and measurements.


• Prepare labour, materials, plant, preliminaries and subcontractor cost build-ups.


• Develop competitive pricing using current market rates and historical project data.


• Prepare and manage supplier and subcontractor enquiries.


• Obtain, analyse and compare quotations, ensuring full scope coverage.


• Identify exclusions, qualifications, risks, design issues and commercial concerns.


• Manage tender deadlines, clarifications, document control and tender records.


• Attend tender review meetings, site visits and client meetings where required.


• Identify programme constraints, value engineering opportunities and project‑specific risks.


• Prepare tender summaries, pricing schedules and supporting documentation.


• Complete final tender reviews to ensure accuracy, compliance and scope coverage.


• Assist with post‑tender negotiations and client clarifications.


• Provide structured handovers to project and commercial teams following successful tenders.


• Maintain estimating templates, rate libraries, benchmarking data and supplier databases.


• Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating processes and tender governance.


• Share market intelligence, pricing trends and lessons learned across the business.

About You

• Proven experience in a construction estimating role.


• Strong electrical estimating experience preferred; M&E or multi‑discipline estimating experience will also be considered.


• Good understanding of construction drawings, specifications and tender documentation.


• Strong numerical, analytical and commercial skills.


• Competent using Microsoft Excel and estimating software.


• Able to manage multiple tenders and deadlines with minimal supervision.


• Strong communication and negotiation skills.


• Confident dealing with suppliers, subcontractors, clients and internal stakeholders.


• Commercially aware with strong attention to detail and a methodical approach.


• Full UK driving licence.