Senior Estimator

SSA Recruitment; Sunbury-on-Thames; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus

Benefits

Job summary

SSA Recruitment is seeking a Senior Estimator for a Surrey-based civil engineering team. The role leads the tendering process for projects up to £75m, developing robust cost plans and winning bid strategies.

You will review drawings, prepare estimates, issue enquiries, and analyse quotations while coordinating with delivery teams. Hybrid working and industry-standard contracts are involved.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years estimating experience within civil engineering/infrastructure.
• Proven track record pricing and securing projects up to £75m.
• Strong experience across highways, enabling works, deep drainage, EfW and major civil schemes.

Responsibilities

• Lead estimation and tender submissions from enquiry to bid submission.
• Review tender docs, specs, drawings and contract requirements.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, pricing models and tender strategies.
• Prepare and issue subcontractor and supplier enquiries.
• Analyse subcontractor quotations and perform cost comparisons.
• Develop construction methodologies and programmes with delivery teams.
• Maintain estimating databases and historical cost records.
• Collaborate with project managers, planners, engineers and commercial teams.

Skills

Estimating

Tendering

Cost planning

NEC contracts

Subcontractor enquiries

Pricing strategies

Microsoft Office

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Bid management

Education

Degree or HNC/HND in Civil Engineering or Construction

Tools

Estimating software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Estimator

Location: [Surrey / Hybrid]

Reporting to: Pre-Construction Director / Estimating Manager

Salary: Competitive + Car Allowance + Bonus + Benefits

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to join our growing Civil Engineering team. The successful candidate will play a key role within the pre-construction function, leading the preparation of competitive and commercially robust tenders across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects valued up to £75 million.

Projects will include highways, enabling works, deep drainage, Energy from Waste (EfW) infrastructure, rail and major civil engineering schemes for both public and private sector clients.

You will be responsible for managing the full estimating process from initial enquiry through to tender submission, working closely with operational, commercial and design teams to develop winning bid strategies and deliver accurate, risk-adjusted cost plans.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the preparation of estimates and tender submissions for projects ranging from £1m to £75m.
• Review tender documentation, specifications, drawings and contract requirements.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, pricing models and tender strategies.
• Prepare and issue subcontractor and supplier enquiries.
• Analyse subcontractor quotations and undertake detailed commercial comparisons.
• Develop preliminary construction methodologies and programmes in conjunction with delivery teams.
• Maintain and develop estimating databases, benchmarking information and historical cost records.
• Work collaboratively with project managers, planners, engineers and commercial teams during bid preparation.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years' estimating experience within the civil engineering and infrastructure sector.
• Proven track record of successfully pricing and securing projects up to £75m in value.
• Strong experience across one or more of the following sectors:
• Highways
• Enabling works
• Deep drainage and utilities
• Energy from Waste (EfW)
• Major civil engineering projects
• Strong understanding of NEC forms of contract.
• Ability to prepare detailed first-principles estimates.
• Experience using industry estimating software and Microsoft Office Suite.

Desirable Experience

• Degree or HNC/HND in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or similar discipline.
• Experience working with Tier 1 or leading regional civil engineering contractors.
• Experience of Design & Build procurement routes.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Commercially astute with excellent attention to detail.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify competitive advantages.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills