Senior Estimator

Balfour Beatty plc; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working to 40% remote

25 days annual leave

Pension and benefits

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc in Peterborough is recruiting a Senior Estimator to shape cost plans for major capital projects within the Anglian Water alliance. You will lead cross‑discipline estimating across feasibility through to detailed design, providing robust cost models and value for money.

Join a collaborative alliance environment with hybrid working, where you’ll mentor junior estimators, develop estimating capability, and support project delivery from concept to handover, contributing to

Qualifications

• Significant estimating experience within infrastructure, utilities, water or construction.
• Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying or related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience preparing estimates across feasibility to detailed design.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project cost drivers.
• Experience with civil, mechanical, electrical and/or process engineering disciplines.
• Excellent analytical, numerical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication to influence and challenge constructively.
• Proactive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
• Advanced MS Office skills and experience using estimating software.

Responsibilities

• Produce CAPEX estimates across optioneering, outline and detailed design stages.
• Develop cost plans and estimates to support investment decisions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to define scope, identify risks and assess buildability.
• Engage with supply chain partners for quotations.
• Mentor and support junior estimators and develop estimating capability.

Skills

Estimating

Infrastructure

Cost planning

MS Excel

Team collaboration

Education

Engineering degree or Quantity Surveying

Tools

Estimating software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About the role

Senior Estimator – Balfour Beatty (@one Alliance)

Location: Peterborough (Hybrid working available)

Balfour Beatty play a key role as part of the {(6) Anglian Water's @one Alliance: Overview | LinkedIn} @Anglian Water’s one Alliance. The Alliance is a ground-breaking collaboration between Anglian Water and eight industry-leading partners: Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska and SWECO. And together, we deliver around 40% of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme.

As we progress through AMP8 – our most ambitious asset management period to date – we’re delivering nature-based and sustainable infrastructure, from wetlands to urban drainage schemes, setting new benchmarks for environmental performance.

As a Senior Estimator, you'll play a critical role in shaping the success of major capital projects from concept through to delivery. Working within either our Central Estimating Team or embedded within a Business Unit, you'll support a diverse portfolio of projects including water and water recycling treatment works, pipelines, pumping stations, reservoirs and network storage schemes.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence investment decisions, challenge project assumptions, and drive value through robust estimating strategies within a collaborative Alliance environment.

What you'll be doing

What you’ll be doing:

Estimating & Project Support

• Produce CAPEX estimates across optioneering, outline and detailed design stages.
• Develop robust cost plans and estimates to support investment decisions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to define scope, identify risks and assess buildability.
• Engage with supply chain partners to obtain competitive and accurate quotations.
• Prepare estimates using industry estimating software and Microsoft Excel.

Stakeholder Management

• Provide expert advice on design requirements and associated cost impacts.
• Challenge project assumptions to ensure value for money and affordability.
• Support delivery teams with estimating strategies and Alliance processes.
• Build strong relationships across engineering, commercial, procurement and construction teams.

Leadership & Development

• Mentor and support junior estimators, sharing knowledge and best practice.
• Assist with the development of estimating capability across the Alliance.
• Deputise for the Head of Estimating when required.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.

Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain cost models, estimating tools and cost libraries.
• Analyse historical cost data to improve estimate accuracy and consistency.
• Identify efficiencies and opportunities to improve estimating processes.
• Support the smooth transition of projects from estimating into delivery.

Health, Safety & Wellbeing

• Champion a strong safety culture and the Alliance's "Safer Every Day" ethos.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety and wellbeing requirements.
• Promote continuous improvement and support a zero-harm environment.

Who we're looking for

What you’ll bring:

• Significant estimating experience within infrastructure, utilities, water or construction sectors.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience preparing estimates across multiple project stages, from feasibility through to detailed design.
• Strong commercial awareness and a thorough understanding of project cost drivers.
• Experience working with civil, mechanical, electrical and/or process engineering disciplines.
• Excellent analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and innovation.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and experience using estimating software.

Join us and help shape the future of water infrastructure across the East of England.

#oneAlliance #BalfourBeatty

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at [e-mail]