Senior Estimator

Central Employment; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Employment is seeking a Senior Estimator for a leading North East construction business. You will drive the full tender process from enquiry to submission, partnering with Bid, Design and Operations teams to secure high-value design and build projects.

You will develop cost models, prices, and supply chain inputs, take-offs from drawings, and present proposals to senior management. A strong commercial mindset and precise attention to detail are essential.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in construction estimating.
• Strong understanding of tender documents and contract terms.
• Experience pricing design & build tenders.
• Knowledge of BIM-enabled design processes.
• Ability to develop whole life-cycle cost models.
• Experience preparing subcontract packages and terms & conditions.
• Strong planning and project coordination capabilities.
• Proven cost analysis and value-engineering skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish and communicate tender requirements to the bid team.
• Liaise with design teams to develop pricing-ready designs.
• Carry out detailed quantity take-offs from drawings.
• Build accurate rates using labour, plant, material and subcontractor costs.
• Prepare, issue and manage supply chain enquiries.
• Provide input into project planning during tender stage.
• Identify opportunities for value engineering and cost efficiencies.
• Collaborate to ensure submissions meet client requirements.
• Present tender proposals to senior management for approval.
• Prepare and submit final tender documentation.
• Manage multiple tenders under strict deadlines.
• Support the bid team throughout the bidding process to secure projects.

Skills

Estimating & Tendering

BIM-enabled design

Cost modelling

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Tools

BIM software

Job description

Are you an experienced Senior Estimator looking to join a leading construction business with a strong pipeline of projects across the North East?

We are seeking a commercially astute and detail-oriented Senior Construction Estimator to play a key role in securing and delivering high-value design and build projects. You will work closely with the Bid, Design and Operational teams, taking responsibility for the full tender process from initial enquiry through to submission.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and communicate tender requirements to the bid team.
• Liaise with internal and external design teams to develop designs suitable for pricing.
• Carry out detailed quantity take-offs from tender drawings and documentation.
• Build accurate rates using labour, plant, material and subcontractor costs.
• Prepare, issue and manage supply chain enquiries.
• Provide input into project planning during the tender stage.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, value engineering and cost efficiencies.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure submissions meet and exceed client requirements.
• Present tender proposals to senior management and company directors for approval.
• Prepare and submit final tender documentation.
• Manage multiple tenders simultaneously within strict deadlines.
• Support the bid team throughout the entire bidding process to secure new projects.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Extensive experience within a construction estimating role.
• Strong understanding of tender documentation, contract terms and conditions.
• Experience developing and pricing design & build tenders.
• Knowledge of BIM-enabled design processes.
• Ability to develop whole life-cycle cost models.
• Experience preparing subcontract packages and terms & conditions.
• Strong planning and project coordination capabilities.
• Proven experience obtaining quotations, managing variations and analysing costs.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong commercial awareness and risk assessment skills.
• Knowledge of offsite construction methodologies would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work effectively to tight deadlines.
• Team-focused approach with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments.

If you're a driven Senior Estimator looking to take the next step in your career and make a real impact within a successful construction business, we'd love to hear from you.