Senior Estimator

Willmott Dixon; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Willmott Dixon is seeking a Senior Estimator for our London & East Construction team, based from Hitchin with hybrid working (three days in the office, two days remote). You’ll lead cost planning and tender activity from feasibility through to contract signing on high-value projects.

Reporting to the Preconstruction Manager, you will mentor junior estimators and act as a trusted commercial advisor to clients and stakeholders, delivering accurate, robust build costs and cost information packages.

Qualifications

• Senior Estimator/Cost Planner experience in commercial construction.
• Experience leading framework or two-stage tenders (single-stage also considered).
• Proven ability to benchmark costs and manage cost information.
• Proficiency with estimating tools: Conquest, CostX, Bluebeam and advanced Excel.

Responsibilities

• Identify value-engineering opportunities and provide options that balance budgets.
• Identify and mitigate commercial/technical risks throughout preconstruction.
• Lead development of procurement strategies and benchmark key trades.
• Interrogate subcontractor quotations and compile cost information for handover.
• Collaborate with Preconstruction, Project Managers and Designers to support cost certainty.

Skills

Senior Estimator experience

Cost planning

Tender leadership

Cost data & Excel

Tools

Conquest

CostX

Bluebeam

Excel

Job description

Senior Estimator

We’re looking for a Senior Estimator to join our London & East Construction team, based from our Hitchin office, with hybrid working available (typically three days office-based and two days remote).
Reporting to the Preconstruction Manager, you’ll take the lead in delivering accurate, robust and competitive build costs across some of our high-value projects, typically ranging from £8m to £100m. Working collaboratively with the wider preconstruction team and supply chain, you’ll lead the estimating process from early feasibility and bid stages through to contract signing, ensuring our proposals balance affordability, value, risk and quality.

This is a senior Estimator role with responsibility for mentoring more junior level estimators, while also acting as a trusted commercial advisor to customers, consultants and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial & Technical Assurance

• Identify value-engineering opportunities and alternative design solutions, presenting clear options that enhance value and support customer budgets.
• Proactively identify commercial and technical risks, offering practical, workable solutions throughout preconstruction.
• Lead the development of procurement strategies, ensuring key trade packages are benchmarked, aligned with design milestones.
• Interrogate subcontractor quotations in detail.
• Produce complete and comprehensive cost information packages for commercial handover.

Supply Chain & Stakeholder Management

• Lead supply chain engagement, nurturing collaborative relationships and providing constructive feedback.
• Oversee the procurement schedule, prioritising key trades and aligning project milestones and design gateways.
• Work closely with Preconstruction Managers, Project Managers, Designers, Planners and Commercial teams.
• Act as a trusted advisor to customers and consultants, offering insight-led, data-driven guidance around cost, value and affordability.
• Attend project CRM meetings as required, ensuring accurate and timely cost information is shared.

Essential Criteria

• Solid experience operating at the Senior Estimator or Senior Cost Planner level within commercial construction.
• Strong background in cost planning, estimating and commercial management across complex projects.
• Proven experience leading framework or two-stage tenders (single-stage experience also considered).
• Strong proficiency in estimating systems such as Conquest, CostX, Bluebeam and advanced Excel / MS Office Suite.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within education, defence or public-sector frameworks (DfE / DIO highly beneficial but not essential).
• Knowledge of construction cost data, benchmarking and cost metrics.
• Professional accreditation or working towards MRICS / MCIOB.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon's purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 "Big" Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025.

Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King's Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.