Senior Estimator

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and own the estimating lifecycle for large, complex capital schemes across water, gas, electricity and civils – from enquiry and first-principles build-up through to tender adjudication, award and handover
• Lead tender adjudication and settlement meetings, presenting cost, margin, risk and commercial strategy to Directors and senior management for sign-off
• Survey potential work sites across water, gas, electricity and civils schemes: establish ground and site conditions, confirm scope of work and specific design and specification requirements
• Produce detailed survey reports for pricing and future co-ordination of works
• Lead the analysis of plans, complete take-offs and produce detailed bills of quantities and first-principles cost estimates, assessing all project documentation to provide accurate, competitive and compliant tender submissions
• Lead supply chain engagement: issue enquiries, evaluate subcontractor and supplier proposals for technical compliance and commercial value, and shape procurement strategy to secure best prices
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of relevant construction methods and technologies across the water, gas, electricity and civils disciplines
• Lead value engineering to identify the best solution for our client’s requirements, offering a competitive price and best value whilst protecting margin and maximising our return on the project
• Where required liaise with the Proposals co-ordinator and other team members to produce detailed tender submissions
• Generate detailed quotes for our clients inclusive of all labour, plant & material costs supplemented by adjustments for overheads and profit 
• Own tender risk: lead formal risk reviews and tender health checks, assess financial, technical, contractual and operational risks, and factor these into our pricing and contingency
• Prepare detailed Schedule of works/ Bill of Quantities for our Contracts Managers to work from
• Formulate detailed programmes in line with the project contract requirements 
• Understand site specific risks and complete analysis of these for presentation in the tender risk register
• Prepare schematics, layouts and presentations to support proposals and quotations
• Promote and develop relationships with clients and suppliers
• Interpret contract forms (e.g. NEC and JCT) and framework requirements, factoring commercial and contractual risk into pricing
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and quality assurance to the estimating team, reviewing colleagues’ estimates for accuracy and competitiveness and helping to allocate estimating resource across bid teams
• Capture actual cost data and benchmarks on completed schemes and feed these back to improve estimating accuracy and processes
• Stay up to date with the latest industry regulations and legislative requirements across the utilities sectors

• Lead monthly review and analysis of estimating figures and win rates, providing bid/no-bid input and driving improvements in conversion and margin
• Attend meetings throughout England and Wales with both new and existing customers to promote Network Plus across the water, gas, electricity and civils sectors
• Utilise the CRM system to record, share and monitor leads & enquiries 
• Maintain client relationships by liaising with Contracts Managers to ensure successful completion of tendered works
• Provide proactive and timely response to client enquiries and queries

Experience and Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading and winning large, complex tenders in a competitive environment
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills 
• Substantial estimating experience within the utilities and/or civil engineering sector, including large capital schemes across one or more of water, gas, electricity and civils
• Experience leading tender adjudication and settlement, and presenting bids to senior stakeholders
• First-principles estimating expertise – take-offs, bills of quantities and rate build-ups
• Understand the need for flexibility within a growing business
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness, including NEC and JCT forms of contract
• Attention to detail
• Methodical approach to work with good organisation and time-management skills
• Leadership, mentoring, relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to guide a team of estimators
• Proficient in estimating software (e.g. CANDY, Conquest or Causeway) with good IT skills for bid presentation and reporting
• Relevant degree (Civil Engineering, Construction or Quantity Surveying) and/or professional membership (ICE, RICS or CIOB) desirable; CSCS card