Senior Estimator (13603)

Tilbury Douglas; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

26 days annual leave

Private medical insurance

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Volunteer days

Job summary

Tilbury Douglas is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to support the Infrastructure team on wastewater projects in the Thames Water region. You will lead tender estimates with first-principles build-ups, cost plans and risk analysis, coordinating with design, commercial and supply chain teams to deliver competitive bids.

The role involves two-stage and ECI tenders, NEC4 contracts, and Conquest-based estimating across civils, MEICA, and process plant.

Qualifications

• Experience pricing projects £1m–£30m across water/major civil infra.
• Strong first-principles estimating across civils/MEICA, including temporary works and pipelines.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts (NEC4) and two-stage/ECI procurement.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of auditable estimates and cost plans, including risk, preliminaries, and contingencies.
• Manage material and subcontract enquiries across civils, MEICA, and pipelines.
• Review drawings/models with design and delivery teams to value engineer buildability and accuracy.
• Develop tender strategies considering programme, outages, and whole-life cost.
• Present tenders at settlement and hand over evidence-based estimates to delivery teams.

Skills

First-principles estimating

MEICA estimating

NEC contracts

Conquest software

Excel skills

Tender strategy

Cost planning

Bid leadership

construction degree

Education

HNC/HND/Degree

Tools

CESMM/NRM2

Job description

Location: Thames Valley – Hybrid, with site and office visits across the region

We are looking to appoint an experienced Senior Estimator to join our Infrastructure team, supporting the delivery of wastewater projects across the Thames Water region.

As a key member of our pre-construction team, you will lead the preparation of competitive and commercially robust tenders, combining strong civil engineering and MEICA estimating knowledge with a practical understanding of project delivery. You will work closely with design, commercial, operational and supply chain teams to develop buildable, cost-effective solutions and support a seamless handover into delivery.

This is an excellent opportunity to play an important role in securing and shaping complex water infrastructure projects, typically ranging from £1m to £30m.

Key Duties

• Lead the preparation of accurate, auditable estimates and cost plans, including first-principles build-ups, preliminaries, indirect costs, risk, opportunities and contingency.
• Manage material and subcontract enquiries across civils, MEICA, process equipment, pipelines, temporary works and specialist operations, undertaking detailed quotation analysis and supply chain negotiations.
• Work collaboratively with design and delivery teams during ECI and two-stage tenders, reviewing drawings and models, challenging buildability and identifying value engineering opportunities.
• Develop tender strategies that consider programme, construction methodology, live asset interfaces, outages, over-pumping, health and safety, carbon and whole-life cost.
• Present tenders at settlement and provide a structured handover to delivery teams, clearly communicating the estimate basis, assumptions, procurement strategy, risks and opportunities.

About You

You will be a technically strong and commercially aware estimator with significant experience within the water, wastewater or major civil infrastructure sectors.

You Will Bring

• Substantial estimating experience within wastewater infrastructure, major civils or MEICA, ideally with experience pricing projects between £1m and £30m.
• Strong first-principles estimating knowledge across civils and MEICA, including temporary works, pipelines, structures, process plant, commissioning and SCADA/telemetry.
• Good working knowledge of NEC contracts, preferably NEC4, including Options A, C and E, alongside experience of two-stage, framework, D&B or ECI procurement.
• Experience using Conquest or equivalent estimating software, advanced Excel skills and the ability to quantify from drawings and models using CESMM/NRM2 principles.
• A construction-related HNC/HND/Degree or equivalent, together with strong communication, commercial awareness and the ability to manage multiple tenders to fixed deadlines.

A full UK driving licence is required, with flexibility to attend offices, sites and meetings across the Thames Valley region.

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive salary
• Car Allowance
• 26 days annual leave (with the opportunity to buy or sell up to 3 days holiday)
• 3 additional long service days achieved after 3, 7 and 10 years
• Private medical insurance for yourself (with the option to buy family cover)
• Life Assurance
• Defined contribution pension scheme matched up to 8%
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 2 days volunteering opportunities
• Flexible and Agile working (dependent on your role)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional membership fees
• Perks at Work Employee discount scheme offering discounts on a range of categories such as electronics, home appliances, food & groceries, car buying, travel, fitness and more
• Flexible Benefits scheme which includes the opportunity to purchase benefits such as:
• Critical illness insurance (with option to purchase for your partner)
• Dental Insurance
• Travel insurance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Retail vouchers/payroll giving/activity pass for top leisure attractions.

Who We Are

Tilbury Douglas is a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out company, delivering vital projects across sectors including health, education, highways, justice, defence, aviation, water, and environment.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages innovation and celebrates individual differences. We are proud to hold Investors in Diversity status.

Please note: we do not hold a sponsorship licence. This role is subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.