Senior Estimator

An excellent opportunity for a Senior Estimator to join a world-class engineering and consultancy business based in Birmingham.

The successful candidate will become a vital member of a Complex Projects and Delivery Partner team, supporting some of the world’s most exciting and prestigious projects. You will work in a genuinely collaborative environment where people are supported to make the most of their talents and where everyone’s contribution is recognised equally.

This role sits within an Estimating & Cost Advisory practice that aims to be recognised as an industry-leading capability. You will support multidisciplinary and specialist project teams on high-profile schemes, delivering high-impact estimating services to a range of key clients.

The successful Senior Estimator will support major programmes across three core markets:

• Infrastructure, including water, defence and aviation
• Transport, including rail, highways and local authorities
• Energy, including nuclear, renewable energy and power

This role offers a diverse and exciting workload, the opportunity to grow your career, and the chance to contribute to the development of internal estimating and cost advisory capabilities.

Project Details

The successful Senior Estimator will work across a wide portfolio of major projects and niche commissions across the UK and internationally.

The role will involve supporting estimating, assurance and advisory service delivery across the full project lifecycle. Focus areas will range from early-stage feasibility design through to detailed design, contract award, live delivery and project close-out.

Typical project work will include:

• Capital cost estimating for major projects and programmes
• Cost assurance and estimate reviews
• Analysis of cost and project deliverability
• Benchmarking using client data, in-house data and market data
• Development of “should cost”, “could cost”, “will cost” and forecast cost-to-go assessments
• Preparation of data analysis models, reports, dashboards and presentations
• Support for business cases and stage gate assurance reviews
• Input into bids, proposals and work-winning activity

The role offers the opportunity to work with talented colleagues across multidisciplinary teams, contributing to high-quality client deliverables and helping clients improve project outcomes.

Responsibilities and Duties

Some of the key responsibilities and duties of this Senior Estimator role will include:

• Leading elements of estimating, assurance and advisory service delivery for major projects and niche projects across the UK and internationally.
• Developing and reviewing project costs, with a particular focus on capital costs.
• Working flexibly across estimates and assurance reviews of various types and levels of maturity.
• Assessing cost and project deliverability across the project lifecycle, from feasibility design through to project close-out.
• Supporting leadership teams with work-winning activity, including bids, proposals and client presentations.
• Providing input to continuously improve the quality, consistency and impact of client deliverables.
• Contributing to the development of a high-performing team within the London office and wider national practice.
• Taking technical leadership in the delivery of high-quality client outputs, including data analysis models, reports, dashboards and presentations.
• Leading on the use of client benchmarking data, in-house data and market data to develop robust cost analysis.
• Producing analysis of “should cost”, “could cost”, “will cost” and forecast cost-to-go / cost-at-completion positions.
• Communicating key findings and recommendations clearly to senior clients and wider stakeholders.
• Supporting project leadership in communicating complex issues in a clear, practical and constructive way.
• Helping to produce astute messaging around difficult project issues, with a focus on improvement and successful delivery.
• Providing peer review of outputs produced by other team members where required.
• Consulting subject matter experts across the wider business to incorporate the best available knowledge into client deliverables.
• Staying connected with the wider Estimating & Cost Advisory practice and contributing to internal review and quality assurance processes.

Desired Skills and Experience

The ideal Senior Estimator candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong experience in estimating, cost advisory, quantity surveying, project controls, cost assurance, commercial management or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of how clients develop robust cost estimates across major project and programme environments.
• Knowledge of direct costs, indirect costs, cost breakdown structures and cost estimating methodologies.
• Understanding of key sector cost drivers and the application of contingency.
• Awareness of global thought leadership in cost estimating, cost forecasting and setting up, or resetting, projects for success.
• Experience contributing to, or reviewing, major project business cases would be advantageous.
• Experience supporting assurance reviews linked to stage gate decision points would be beneficial.
• Strong technical expertise in project development and delivery, with a demonstrable background in managing, reviewing or understanding costs.
• Good understanding of commercial and contractual requirements and their impact on estimating or cost forecasting.
• Strong knowledge of indirect costs and techniques to analyse and assess project deliverability.
• Ability to use benchmarking data, market data and internal data to support robust cost advice.
• Strong analytical capability, including the ability to interpret data and produce clear findings for clients.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with designers, engineers, project managers and clients.
• Experience working across major infrastructure, transport, energy or complex capital project environments.
• Sector exposure across water, defence, aviation, rail, highways, local authorities, nuclear, renewable energy or power would be advantageous.
• Ability to work across multiple sectors and disciplines.
• A proactive approach to learning new skills and contributing to wider team development.
• Strong communication, presentation and report-writing skills.
• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly and constructively to senior stakeholders.
• A collaborative working style and commitment to delivering high-quality client outcomes.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree or equivalent qualification in estimating, quantity surveying, engineering, construction, commercial management, project controls or a related discipline would be advantageous.
• Chartership with, or demonstrable progress towards chartership with, RICS, ICE, AACE, ACostE or a similar professional body would be highly desirable.
• Equivalent professional experience may also be considered.

Employing Company Overview and Profile

The successful Senior Estimator will be joining a leading global engineering services and consultancy organisation with a strong reputation for delivering complex infrastructure and energy programmes.

The company connects people, data and technology to help transform infrastructure and energy systems. Working alongside industry partners, clients, consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, the business supports major projects that help shape a better future for people and the planet.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative and supportive team environment, where individuals are encouraged to develop their talents, contribute equally and build long-term careers.

The organisation offers exposure to prestigious projects, opportunities for training and professional development, and the chance to contribute to a growing Estimating & Cost Advisory practice.

Full details of the employing organisation will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Information

This role may require security clearance. Where required, offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the appropriate level of clearance.

If security clearance is necessary, this will be discussed during the interview process. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting and may require candidates to provide evidence of UK residency for five years or longer.

Candidates should not include details of any current or previously held security clearance within their CV or application.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Competitive salary, negotiable based on experience
• Hybrid working
• Flexible holiday allowances
• Employee rewards and benefits package
• Health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle benefits
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Supportive and inclusive working culture
• Career progression within a growing Estimating & Cost Advisory practice