Technical Estimator

Oliver Valves; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Discretionary bonus after 1 year

31 days annual leave

Company pension scheme

Medical cash plan benefits

Long service awards

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

A leading valve manufacturer in the UK is seeking a Technical Estimator to manage commodity pricing and drive down acquisition costs. This pivotal role involves bridging engineering requirements with purchasing decisions and ensuring compliance with top industry quality standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background and proven experience in commodity management. A competitive salary, discretionary bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical coverage await the successful applicant.

Qualifications

• Solid engineering or machine shop background is essential.
• Experience in commodity management and cost reduction.
• Proven ability to manage high-value spend in engineering.
• Experience in ERP environments (SAP/Oracle) and proficiency with MS Office.
• Track record of implementing costing techniques and reducing acquisition costs.

Responsibilities

• Generate competitive costs against client enquiries.
• Drive reduction of total acquisition costs across materials.
• Monitor supplier capacity to optimise lead times.
• Act as bridge between supply chain and operations.
• Ensure quoted components meet technical specifications.

Skills

Engineering knowledge

Commodity market understanding

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Cost reduction mindset

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office

Job description

Role: Technical Estimator

Location: Knutsford, Parkgate Industrial Estate (office based)

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 - 17:00 with 30 minute lunch

Can you look at a valve drawing and see the exact machining hours and material costs behind it? We’re looking for a Technical Estimator to bridge the gap between engineering and purchasing for our multi-million‑pound projects. Reporting to the Head of Purchasing, you’ll take the lead on commodity pricing (forgings, fasteners, bar) and drive down the total cost of acquisition.

About Us

With over 45 years of valve technology innovations, Oliver Valves is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of high‑quality valves and valve systems, serving industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical and other critical sectors. We have won recognised awards for Export, Manufacturing and Growth – as well as the coveted Queen’s Award and recently the King’s Award for Industry. We’re a profitable, privately owned, fast‑moving company looking for talented individuals to join our team and deliver our strategic objectives.

What You’ll Be Doing

Unlike a standard procurement role, this position sits at the heart of our operations. You will be responsible for translating complex engineering requirements into competitive, accurate costs. Reporting directly to the Head of Purchasing, you will manage a multi‑million pound spend and ensure we secure the best total cost of acquisition without compromising on the stringent quality standards our industry demands.

• Precision Quoting: Generate competitive costs against client enquiries, specifically pricing key commodities including bar, forgings and fasteners.
• Cost Optimization: Drive the reduction of total acquisition costs across raw materials, labour, machining and finished components.
• Supply Chain Intelligence: Monitor supplier capacity to optimise lead times and ensure our production schedule remains agile.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the bridge between the supply chain and internal operational departments to ensure seamless production flow.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all quoted components strictly adhere to defined technical specifications and quality standards.

What You’ll Bring

• The Technical "Know‑How": A solid engineering or machine shop background is essential. You must be able to interpret machine drawings to determine accurate pricing.
• Market Acumen: An excellent understanding of commodity markets and the technical standards of metals.
• Negotiation Power: Proven ability to influence vendors and stakeholders to achieve better costs and reduced lead times.
• Systems Fluency: Experience working within an integrated ERP system (such as SAP or Oracle) and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong organisational skills with a track record of implementing successful costing techniques.
• Demonstrable experience in commodity management and reducing overall acquisition costs.
• Direct experience working with or within machine shops.
• Proven ability to manage high‑value spend in a fast‑paced engineering environment.

What’s On Offer?

• A competitive salary that is negotiable based on skill and experience level.
• Discretionary bonus after 1 year’s service.
• 31 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) which increases with tenure.
• A company pension scheme to help you plan for the future.
• Medical cash plan benefits, covering essential healthcare costs such as dental treatment, check‑ups, optical care, physiotherapy and more.
• Long service awards, recognising your continued commitment.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, offering free and confidential support.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your experience with machined component costing.