Senior Highway Estimating & Pricing Leader

Involve Recruitment Ltd.; Thatcham; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Involve Recruitment Ltd. is assisting a leading Tier 1 national contractor in recruiting a Chief Estimator / Estimating Manager for their highways maintenance portfolio.

The role provides strategic direction, governance and technical leadership across the estimating function, with responsibility for major bids and frameworks. The successful candidate will lead a large team, develop pricing strategies, manage risk and margin, and partner with Operations, Commercial, Procurement, Design and

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading major estimating teams within highways maintenance frameworks or related sectors.
• Proven experience pricing and securing high-value frameworks, term maintenance contracts and strategic projects.
• Strong knowledge of Local Authority and National Highways procurement environments.
• Extensive understanding of NEC contracts, target cost models, frameworks and alliance contracting.
• A strong commercial and strategic mindset with balance of competitiveness, risk and margin.
• Experience developing pricing strategies for complex, multi-disciplinary bids.
• Strong understanding of cost planning, benchmarking, risk and opportunity management.
• Demonstrable leadership developing high-performing estimating teams and standards.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management with executives, clients and partners.
• Ability to operate within a large Tier 1 organisation and influence strategic decisions.
• Track record contributing to work-winning strategies and sustainable commercial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating function across highways maintenance with strategic direction and governance.
• Develop and lead a large team of estimators across frameworks and contracts.
• Develop bid pricing strategies to ensure competitive submissions while managing risk and margin.
• Lead pricing activity for major strategic bids with authorities and key clients.
• Provide senior estimating assurance throughout the tender process from strategy to submission.
• Ensure estimates are accurate, robust, and aligned with operations.
• Drive consistency in estimating processes, systems, and governance across the business.
• Oversee risk/opportunity pricing, benchmarking and market analysis.
• Collaborate with Operations, Commercial, Procurement, Design and Strategy teams to deliver value-focused solutions.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Bid pricing strategy

Pricing risk management

Stakeholder management

Strategic mindset

Contract knowledge

Team development

Executive communication

Commercial acumen

Value-focused solutions

Job description

Involve Recruitment Ltd. is assisting a leading Tier 1 national contractor in recruiting a Chief Estimator / Estimating Manager for their highways maintenance portfolio.

The role provides strategic direction, governance and technical leadership across the estimating function, with responsibility for major bids and frameworks. The successful candidate will lead a large team, develop pricing strategies, manage risk and margin, and partner with Operations, Commercial, Procurement, Design and