Project Details
The successful Senior Estimator will be based from home in Leicester, Leicestershire, the East Midlands or a commutable surrounding area, with travel to team and client meetings in Leicester, the East Midlands, the Midlands and across the country as required.
This Senior Estimator vacancy will focus on major civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the UK, including nuclear, rail, aviation, dockyard, ports, utilities and regulated water infrastructure projects.
The role will also include work on long-term water framework projects, including water treatment, wastewater treatment, networks, pipelines, pumping stations, resilience schemes and associated civil engineering infrastructure.
This is a Senior Estimator job that will particularly suit a Leicester or East Midlands based candidate who enjoys technically challenging civils estimating, early contractor involvement, pre-construction work and the development of robust tender submissions for high value infrastructure projects.
Responsibilities and Duties
The Senior Estimator will be responsible for preparing accurate, detailed and commercially sound estimates for major civil engineering and infrastructure tenders. A key focus of the role will be estimating from first principles, rather than simply relying on subcontractor quotations.
This role can be home based from Leicester, Leicestershire, the East Midlands or a suitable nearby location, with travel to team meetings, tender reviews, client meetings and project meetings in Leicester, the East Midlands, the Midlands and across the UK.
Duties and responsibilities will include:
1. Preparing first principles estimates for major civil engineering and infrastructure projects
2. Working on tenders for projects and frameworks in nuclear, rail, aviation, dockyards, ports, water and utilities infrastructure
3. Estimating large civils infrastructure projects, ideally including schemes valued at £200m or more
4. Reviewing tender documentation, drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and employer’s requirements
5. Building up labour, plant, material, temporary works and subcontract cost allowances
6. Assessing risk, opportunity, programme, logistics, access constraints and construction methodology
7. Working closely with bid teams, planners, design managers, commercial managers and operational delivery teams
8. Attending team and client meetings in Leicester, the East Midlands, the Midlands and across the country when required
9. Challenging design, methodology and programme assumptions to improve tender competitiveness
10. Producing cost plans, tender pricing documents, adjudication packs and commercial submission information
11. Supporting ECI, framework and two-stage tender opportunities where required
12. Liaising with supply chain partners while retaining ownership of core civils estimating build-ups
13. Contributing to tender settlement meetings and explaining key estimate assumptions to senior stakeholders
14. Maintaining estimating data, benchmarking information and lessons learned from previous infrastructure projects
15. Supporting junior estimators and wider pre-construction colleagues where required
Desired Skills and Experience
The successful Senior Estimator will need strong civil engineering estimating experience and a good understanding of how major infrastructure projects are planned, priced and delivered.
This Senior Estimator role is likely to suit a candidate already living in Leicester, Leicestershire, the East Midlands or a nearby region, who is comfortable working from home and travelling to meetings when needed.
Desired skills and experience include:
16. Strong experience as an Estimator or Senior Estimator within civil engineering, infrastructure or major projects
17. Experience of estimating major civils infrastructure projects, ideally with project values of £200m or more
18. Proven ability to estimate from first principles
19. Good knowledge of civil engineering construction methods, temporary works, earthworks, structures, utilities, highways, rail, aviation, water or heavy infrastructure
20. Experience working for a civil engineering contractor, infrastructure contractor or major projects business
21. Ability to interrogate drawings, technical documents, specifications and construction programmes
22. Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify tender risks and opportunities
23. Experience of working on framework, ECI, design and build or two-stage tenders would be advantageous
24. Experience of water, nuclear, rail, aviation, dockyard, ports or regulated infrastructure projects would be beneficial
25. Strong communication skills and confidence presenting estimate assumptions to senior colleagues and clients
26. Ability to work effectively from home while remaining connected to colleagues, clients and project teams across Leicester, the East Midlands and the wider UK
27. Good attention to detail, methodical working style and ability to work to tender deadlines
28. Ability to work collaboratively with bid, design, planning, commercial and operational teams
Qualifications/Educational Requirements
29. A degree, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related construction discipline would be preferred
30. Relevant estimating, commercial or civil engineering experience will also be strongly considered
31. Professional membership or progress towards membership of RICS, CIOB, ICE or a similar body would be advantageous
32. Good IT skills and experience using estimating software, Microsoft Excel and tender management systems will be expected
Employing Company Overview and Profile
Maxim Recruitment is working with a leading UK civil engineering and infrastructure contractor to identify a Senior Estimator for its growing pre-construction and work winning team.
The employer delivers complex infrastructure across Leicester, the East Midlands, the Midlands and the wider UK, with experience across water, nuclear, rail, aviation, ports, roads, utilities and other technically demanding civil engineering sectors.
The business is involved in major projects and long-term frameworks, including regulated water and wastewater infrastructure, live operational environments and large-scale multidisciplinary schemes. Its work is focused on delivering essential infrastructure, improving resilience and supporting long-term value for clients and communities.
A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.
Additional Benefits Package and Incentives
33. Salary negotiable based on experience
34. Home-based role from Leicester, Leicestershire, the East Midlands or a nearby suitable location
35. Travel to team and client meetings across the country as required
36. Package details to be confirmed
37. Long-term career prospects within major UK infrastructure and civil engineering
38. Opportunity to work on major projects and long-term frameworks