Senior Estimator

JobsTrackR; London; On-site; NOK 893,000 - 1,148,000; Full time

Job summary

Senior Estimator position based in London/South East with a social housing contractor. You will lead tender pricing, drive commercial strategy and manage risk across diverse housing programmes.

The role involves negotiating with stakeholders, mentoring junior staff and developing cost plans using ConQuest, Causeway, CostX or similar estimating software. A strong track record in social housing pricing and compliance is essential.

Qualifications

• Strong experience estimating within the social housing sector.
• Experience with planned maintenance, major works, retrofit and decarbonisation.
• Experience working with housing associations, local authorities and framework procurement.
• Strong commercial awareness balancing competitiveness, risk, margin and deliverability.
• Experience with NHF Schedule of Rates and social housing pricing models.
• Knowledge of PAS 2035/PAS 2030 and decarbonisation programmes.
• Experience of HRBs and building safety-related projects.
• Advanced Excel skills and estimating software such as ConQuest, Causeway, CostX.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders.
• Calm, organised and solutions-focused under tight tender deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Leading the preparation and submission of competitive tenders across London and the South East.
• Pricing planned maintenance, major works, retrofit, decarbonisation and building safety programmes.
• Pricing occupied-homes programmes including kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, windows, external fabric and M&E renewals.
• Estimating fire safety, passive fire protection, building safety remediation and high-rise refurbishment projects.
• Reviewing specifications, surveys, designs and contract requirements to identify risks.
• Leading tender adjudications and risk reviews, contributing to bid strategy.
• Developing accurate cost plans, estimates and pricing using estimating software.
• Working with operations and commercial teams to ensure deliverables are realistic.
• Supporting framework pricing, open-book costing, measured term and fixed-price contracts.
• Building knowledge of client requirements, market conditions and supply chain costs.
• Mentoring junior estimators and improving estimating processes.

Skills

Social housing estimating

Commercial awareness

Tender leadership

Stakeholder influence

Tools

ConQuest

Causeway

CostX

Job description

We are working with a growing social housing contractor who are looking to appoint an experienced Senior Estimator to support their continued growth across London and the South East.

This is a key role within the business and is much more than simply measuring and pricing works. You will play an important part in tender leadership, commercial strategy, risk management and bid development, working closely with operational, commercial and senior leadership teams.

The Role

As Senior Estimator, you will be responsible for leading the pricing of a wide range of social housing programmes, ensuring tenders are commercially competitive while remaining deliverable and profitable.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the preparation and submission of competitive tenders across London and the South East.
• Pricing planned maintenance, major works, retrofit, decarbonisation and building safety programmes.
• Pricing occupied-homes programmes including kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, windows, external fabric and M&E renewals.
• Estimating fire safety, passive fire protection, building safety remediation and high-rise refurbishment projects.
• Reviewing specifications, surveys, designs and contract requirements to identify commercial and delivery risks.
• Leading tender adjudications, risk reviews and contributing to wider bid strategy.
• Developing accurate cost plans, estimates and pricing using relevant estimating software.
• Working with operational and commercial teams to ensure proposed works are deliverable.
• Supporting framework pricing, open-book costing, measured term and fixed-price contracts.
• Building strong knowledge of client requirements, market conditions and supply chain costs across London and the South East.
• Mentoring junior members of the estimating team and helping improve estimating processes, governance and quality.

About You

We are looking for an established Senior Estimator, or an experienced Estimator ready to take the next step, with a strong background within social housing contracting.

You will ideally have:

• Strong experience estimating within the social housing sector.
• Experience with planned maintenance, major works, retrofit, decarbonisation and/or building safety programmes.
• Experience working with housing associations, local authorities and framework procurement.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to balance competitiveness, risk, margin and deliverability.
• Experience with NHF Schedule of Rates and social housing pricing models.
• Knowledge of PAS 2035/PAS 2030 and ideally experience of funded decarbonisation programmes.
• Experience of HRBs and/or building safety-related projects.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using estimating software such as ConQuest, Causeway, CostX or similar.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to challenge and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• A calm, organised and solutions-focused approach, particularly when working to tight tender deadlines.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing social housing contractor where the successful candidate can have a genuine influence on the company's continued expansion.

The business is looking for someone who can do more than produce compliant estimates — you will be expected to help secure profitable work, identify risk early and contribute to the wider commercial and bid strategy.

There is also clear scope for progression into a Head of Estimating or wider Pre-Construction leadership position as the business continues to grow.