Senior Estimator

Building Careers UK Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Package

Job summary

Building Careers UK Ltd in Manchester is seeking a Senior Estimator with a strong background in D&B office fit-out to join our commercial team. You will take ownership of pricing, budgeting and tender submission from enquiry through handover.

You will coordinate with design, pre-construction and commercial teams to develop buildable, cost-effective solutions for CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B schemes, ensuring competitive tenders and clear commercial handovers on successful schemes.

Qualifications

• Experience pricing D&B office fit-out projects.
• Experience as estimator in commercial fit-out.
• Ability to interpret drawings and Employer's Requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of competitive tenders for D&B office fit-out and refurbishment projects.
• Review client briefs, drawings, specifications, employer's requirements and design information.
• Develop accurate and commercially viable D&B solutions with the design team.
• Carry out detailed quantity take-offs and measurements.
• Prepare estimates covering labour, materials, plant, subcontractors, M&E, preliminaries and design costs.
• Price CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B office fit-out schemes.

Skills

Estimating

Tendering

CAT A/A+/B fit-out

Excel

Subcontractor network

Negotiation

Numerical ability

Estimating software

Education

Relevant construction qualification

Tools

Estimating software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Estimator - D&B Office Fit Out

Location: Manchester

Salary: £65,000 + Excellent Benefits Package

Job Type: Permanent

About the Company

An established and growing Manchester-based workplace design and fit-out contractor delivering high-quality commercial environments across the UK.

The business provides an end-to-end service covering design and build (D&B) office fit-out, CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B fit-out, refurbishment, mechanical and electrical services, furniture and installation.

Working across commercial workplace environments, the business delivers projects from initial design and pre-construction through to completion, providing clients with a fully integrated design and build solution.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Estimator with a strong background in D&B office fit-out to join the commercial team in Manchester.

You will take ownership of the estimating process from initial enquiry and early-stage design through to tender submission and project handover.

The role will involve pricing design and build office fit-out projects, working closely with the design, pre-construction and commercial teams to develop buildable and commercially competitive solutions.

You will be expected to understand the full scope of a D&B project, including construction, finishes, M&E, furniture, specialist subcontract packages, preliminaries and design development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of competitive tenders for D&B office fit-out and refurbishment projects.
• Review client briefs, drawings, specifications, employer's requirements and design information.
• Work closely with the design team to develop accurate and commercially viable D&B solutions.
• Carry out detailed quantity take-offs and measurements.
• Prepare estimates covering labour, materials, plant, subcontractors, M&E, preliminaries and design costs.
• Price CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B office fit-out schemes.
• Develop budgets and cost plans from early-stage design information.
• Identify design development requirements, risks, exclusions and assumptions.
• Work with consultants, designers and subcontractors to obtain competitive and accurate pricing.
• Issue and manage subcontractor and supplier enquiries.
• Analyse and negotiate quotations to ensure competitive tender returns.
• Identify value engineering opportunities while maintaining the client's requirements and design intent.
• Attend site visits, tender meetings and client presentations.
• Prepare detailed tender submissions and commercial documentation.
• Monitor tender profitability, risks and opportunities.
• Provide clear commercial handovers to the project delivery team on successful schemes.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Support and mentor junior members of the estimating team where required.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will have a proven background in commercial office fit-out estimating, ideally with significant experience of D&B office fit-out projects.

You will ideally have:

• Strong experience as an Estimator within commercial fit-out.
• Proven experience pricing D&B office fit-out projects.
• Good knowledge of CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B fit-out.
• Experience working from early-stage design information through to final tender.
• Strong understanding of construction, finishes, M&E and specialist fit-out packages.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications and Employer's Requirements.
• Experience developing cost plans and budgets from incomplete or evolving design information.
• Strong subcontractor and supplier network.
• Experience obtaining, analysing and negotiating quotations.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project risk.
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical ability.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tenders and competing deadlines.
• Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and estimating software.
• Relevant construction/commercial qualification would be advantageous.

What's on Offer

£65,000 salary

• Package
• Senior position within an established Manchester fit-out business
• Strong pipeline of D&B office fit-out projects
• Exposure to CAT A, CAT A+ and CAT B schemes
• Opportunity to work from early design through to project delivery
• Long-term career development and progression

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