Senior Estimator

Danny Sullivan Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits package

Strong career progression

People-focused culture with training and support

Job summary

A leading UK civil engineering contractor is seeking a Senior Estimator to take ownership of tender pricing and lead estimating teams. The role involves developing competitive submissions and managing risks throughout the tender lifecycle. Ideal candidates will possess strong civil engineering experience and a degree in a related field, and be comfortable working with senior stakeholders. The position offers a competitive salary (£85,000 - £100,000 DOE) and career progression within significant infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering tenders up to £50m.
• Confidence working with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Chartered or Incorporated status (or working towards).

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of estimates according to procedures.
• Manage and mentor estimators on complex tenders.
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities during tenders.
• Maintain key assumptions and pricing registers.
• Deliver clear estimating handovers to site teams.

Skills

Strong experience in civil engineering

Experience in wastewater projects

High level of numeracy

IT skills, particularly Excel and estimating software

Ability to produce commercially viable tenders

Education

HNC / Degree in an engineering or construction-related discipline

Job description

We’re working in partnership with a leading UK civil engineering and infrastructure contractor to recruit an experienced Senior Estimator. This is a key role within the pre-construction team, focused on leading major tenders and helping secure long-term, high-value work across regulated and private sector frameworks.

The business delivers complex civil engineering solutions across sectors including water, transport, energy and the built environment, operating as a Tier 1 contractor on some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure programmes.

The Role

As Senior Estimator, you’ll take ownership of tender pricing from first principles through to contract award, leading estimating teams on larger bids and playing a central role in shaping winning strategies.

You’ll work closely with bid, planning and delivery teams to develop robust, competitive and commercially sound submissions, while identifying risk, opportunity and key assumptions throughout the tender lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of estimates in line with established estimating procedures
• Manage and mentor estimators on larger and more complex tenders
• Identify commercial risk and opportunity during the tender process
• Work with bid managers, planners and delivery teams to agree methodologies and pricing principles
• Maintain key assumptions, pricing registers and full tender audit trails
• Prepare and present adjudication packs, including basis of estimate and commercial strategy
• Support negotiations and manage post-adjudication actions
• Deliver clear estimating handovers to site teams at contract award
• Provide ongoing commercial and estimating support during project delivery
• Contribute to business development activity through early-stage pricing and advice

What We’re Looking For

• Engineering or commercial background
• HNC / Degree (or equivalent) in an engineering or construction-related discipline
• Strong experience in civil engineering and/or water infrastructure
• Proven track record delivering tenders up to £50m
• High level of numeracy and strong IT skills, particularly Excel and estimating software
• Ability to produce commercially viable and deliverable tenders
• Experience in wastewater, rail or tunnelling projects
• Chartered or Incorporated status (or working towards)
• Confidence working with senior internal and external stakeholders

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package (£85,000 - £100,000 DOE)
• Long‑t secured workload through major frameworks
• Exposure to large, technically complex infrastructure schemes
• Strong career progression and development support
• A people-focused culture with genuine investment in training, leadership and wellbeing

If you’re a Senior Estimator looking for a role where you can genuinely influence bid strategy, mentor others, and work on nationally significant infrastructure projects, this is a standout opportunity.