Title: Estimator
Location: Swindon
Salary: £70,000 + package
Contract Type: Permanent
The Opportunity
An established Tier 1 civil engineering and infrastructure contractor is seeking an experienced Estimator to join its work-winning team in Swindon. The role reports into the Head of Bid Management and plays a key part in the preparation of competitive tenders and the support of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) projects across major civil engineering schemes.
This position offers exposure to complex infrastructure bids, strong collaboration with bid, planning, design and procurement teams, and clear visibility within the tender governance process.
Key Responsibilities
Tender & Bid Preparation
Prepare detailed, accurate and competitive cost estimates for civil engineering tenders
Support pricing activities for Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) projects
Ensure full compliance with internal governance and bid procedures
Work closely with the Bid Manager to develop winning pricing strategies
Agree methodologies and outputs with Planning and Design teams
Provide cost advice on alternative design and construction methodologies
Review client bills of quantities and activity schedules, arranging full take-offs where required
Cost Build-Ups
Labour: Develop local and scheme-specific labour rates, ensuring compliance with working rules and wage requirements
Plant: Build plant rates and reconcile plant resources with programme requirements
Materials: Analyse supplier quotations, wastage, logistics and delivery constraints in collaboration with Procurement
Subcontracts: Manage subcontractor enquiries, comparisons and selections alongside Procurement and Bid teams
Temporary Works: Agree scope and costs with Temporary Works and Technical teams
Staff & Preliminaries: Price staffing levels, preliminaries, programme durations and client-specific requirements
Risk & Settlement
Contribute to tender risk and opportunity assessments
Prepare pricing summaries and attend pre-settlement and settlement meetings
Finalise pricing documentation for tender submission, maintaining positive cash flow profiles
Support post-tender clarifications and amendments
Handover & Review
Produce detailed handover pricing packs for delivery and commercial teams
Attend bid handover meetings for successful tenders
Participate in post-tender reviews to capture lessons learned
Required Knowledge & Experience
Strong technical understanding of civil engineering and construction methods
Proven experience in estimating within a structured bid environment
Commercial awareness across different forms of contract
Sound understanding of procurement processes and legislation
Experience using estimating and cost management software
Comfortable working collaboratively across bid, planning, design and commercial teams
Why Apply?
Join a well-established Tier 1 infrastructure contractor
Work on major civil engineering and infrastructure projects
Strong exposure to bid strategy, governance and senior stakeholders
Competitive salary and long-term career opportunity
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