Senior Estimator

BAM UK & Ireland; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company car/car allowance/travel

Private healthcare

Pension contributions

Life assurance

26 days holiday

Wellbeing days

Volunteering day

Development opportunities

Job summary

BAM UK & Ireland is seeking a Senior Estimator to join our established Social Infrastructure, Nuclear and Defence pre-construction team in the UK. You will coordinate bid teams, deliver cost estimates across design stages and support ECI project budgeting while collaborating with clients, designers and the supply chain.

This role offers flexibility around location with a base at a BAM office and a mix of home and office work, with opportunities to influence major infrastructure projects and

Qualifications

• Degree, HND in Civil Engineering or equivalent qualification.
• Experience in civil engineering, infrastructure or major project delivery with estimating/leadership roles.
• Proven experience leading or managing complex estimates and tender submissions.
• Experience pricing a variety of civil engineering disciplines and production rates.
• Understanding of common contract forms, including NEC.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Desirable: ability to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating with bid teams, colleagues in estimating, the wider pre‑construction team and ECI project teams.
• Managing and delivering cost estimates at various design and scope stages, including multiple iterations of budget and target prices.
• Supporting ECI teams with project budget development, value engineering, efficiency proposals and Construction Target Cost preparation.
• Contributing to optioneering, feasibility studies and multidisciplinary solution development.
• Liaising with clients, designers, consultants, quantity surveyors and wider third‑party stakeholders.
• Preparing and administering tender documentation, correspondence, supply chain enquiries and quotations.
• Challenging and supporting bid preparation to develop safe, cost‑effective and buildable solutions.
• Gathering and distributing lessons learned and remaining current with emerging techniques and innovations.
• Preparing first‑principles cost estimates using Candy estimating software.
• Participating in bid preparation, review sessions and tender settlement meetings.
• Producing tender summaries, risk and opportunity registers, and communicating estimate details at review and handover stages.
• Ensuring compliance with BAM and Group bid governance procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Bid management

Estimating

Contract knowledge

Education

Degree, HND in Civil Engineering or equivalent qualification

Tools

Candy estimating software

Job description

Building a sustainable tomorrow

We are currently looking for experienced Senior Estimators to join our established Social Infrastructure, Nuclear and Defence pre‑construction team. This business unit covers a diverse portfolio including regional civil engineering projects, flood defence schemes, water and wastewater frameworks, near‑shore marine works, and nuclear and defence infrastructure. As we continue to secure new opportunities across these sectors, this recruitment represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen our capabilities and build on the knowledge and experience within the team. No two opportunities are the same. From early‑stage budget pricing and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contracts through to complex competitive tenders and major infrastructure projects, you will have the opportunity to influence projects throughout their development lifecycle and play a key role in shaping winning solutions. You will join an experienced pre‑construction team bringing together estimating, planning, design management, commercial and operational expertise. Working closely with project teams, clients, design partners and supply chain organisations, you will help develop safe, buildable and value‑driven solutions for clients across a diverse range of infrastructure opportunities within the Social Infrastructure, Nuclear and Defence sectors.

Your team

• We welcome applications from experienced candidates based anywhere across England and Wales. A BAM office will be nominated as your contractual base, but this role is designed around flexibility rather than regular attendance at a specific location.


• Your working pattern will be agreed with your line manager, and will include collaboration days, client meetings, project site visits, and a mutually agreed combination of home and office‑based working. With access to BAM's network of regional offices and project locations, you will be able to work in a way that supports both your performance and wellbeing.


• This role is ideally suited to proactive, self‑motivated professionals who are comfortable working independently while contributing to a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary team.

As a Senior Estimator, You Will Be Responsible For

• Coordinating with bid teams, colleagues in estimating, the wider pre‑construction team and ECI project teams.


• Managing and delivering cost estimates at various design and scope stages, including multiple iterations of budget and target prices.


• Supporting ECI teams with project budget development, value engineering, efficiency proposals and Construction Target Cost preparation.


• Contributing to optioneering, feasibility studies and multidisciplinary solution development.


• Liaising with clients, designers, consultants, quantity surveyors and wider third‑party stakeholders.


• Preparing and administering tender documentation, correspondence, supply chain enquiries and quotations.


• Challenging and supporting bid preparation to develop safe, cost‑effective and buildable solutions.


• Gathering and distributing lessons learned and remaining current with emerging techniques and innovations.


• Preparing first‑principles cost estimates using Candy estimating software.


• Participating in bid preparation, review sessions and tender settlement meetings.


• Producing tender summaries, risk and opportunity registers, and communicating estimate details at review and handover stages.


• Ensuring compliance with BAM and Group bid governance procedures.

What do you bring to the role?

• Degree, HND in Civil Engineering or equivalent qualification.


• Significant experience within civil engineering, infrastructure or major project delivery environments, gained through estimating, commercial, engineering or operational leadership roles.


• Proven experience leading or managing complex estimates and tender submissions within a civil engineering or infrastructure setting.


• Experience pricing a variety of civil engineering disciplines, with a strong understanding of construction methods and typical production rates.


• Demonstrable understanding of common forms of contract, including NEC.


• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience guiding teams to achieve challenging deadlines.


• Desirable - Ability to obtain and maintain Security Check (SC) clearance. Previous experience working in regulated, nuclear or defence environments would be advantageous but is not essential.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary


• A wide range of family-friendly policies


• Company car/car allowance/travel allowance


• 8 % matched pension contributions


• Private healthcare


• Life assurance


• 26 days holiday


• 2 wellbeing days
  
• 1 volunteering day
  
• Personal and professional development
  

About BAM

Building a sustainable tomorrow. That’s our mission and our promise at BAM. It’s how we engineer vital infrastructure and construct high-quality buildings as one of the largest construction companies in Europe.

We strive to create an environment where everybody feels welcome and valued. We’re on an exciting journey to employ the best talent to join us regardless of social background, race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or other characteristics.