Senior Estimator

This is a senior-level estimating role within a well-established, financially secure main contractor delivering high-profile projects across the North of England. The business has a strong pipeline of secured and negotiated work and is continuing to expand its regional footprint across the North East.

You'll be joining a mature, professional pre-construction team where estimating is taken seriously - not rushed, not transactional, and not siloed from delivery. This is a role for someone who wants real influence over how projects are won, priced, and set up for success.

The position would suit an experienced Senior Estimator who enjoys working on complex, design-led schemes and wants long-term career progression.

You'll be pricing a wide range of major D&B projects, typically including:

• Commercial offices

• Industrial & logistics schemes

• Residential & mixed-use developments

• Education and healthcare buildings

• Leisure and retail-led developments

Projects are generally mid to large-scale, often technically challenging, design-led, and procured via a mix of:

• Two-stage tenders

• Negotiated / preferred bidder routes

• Framework opportunities

• Select competitive tenders

As Senior Estimator, you will:

• Take full ownership of tenders from initial enquiry through to final submission and post-tender review

• Lead the pricing strategy, ensuring bids are competitive, commercially robust, and aligned with business objectives

• Prepare detailed cost plans, estimates, and tender adjudications

• Analyse drawings, specifications, and employer's requirements to identify risk, opportunity, and value engineering options

• Manage and coordinate subcontractor and supplier enquiries, ensuring quality returns and strong market coverage

• Work closely with:

  • Pre-Construction Managers

  • Design Managers

  • Commercial teams

  • Operational delivery teams

• Contribute to value engineering and buildability discussions, not just cost cutting

• Participate in internal tender settlement meetings and senior management reviews

• Support bid presentations and client meetings where required

• Mentor and support Junior / Intermediate Estimators within the team

This is a role where your judgement, experience, and commercial instincts genuinely matter.

Essential:

• Proven experience as a Senior Estimator or strong Estimator ready to step up within a main contracting environment

• Solid background in Design & Build projects

• Experience pricing schemes from 15m upwards

• Strong understanding of subcontractor procurement and market testing

• Ability to work across multiple tenders without sacrificing quality

• Commercially astute with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset

Desirable:

• Experience working for a Tier 1 or strong Tier 2 contractor

• Familiarity with negotiated / two-stage procurement

• Experience across multiple sectors (commercial, resi, industrial, etc.)

• Ability to influence stakeholders rather than simply produce numbers

You'll be joining a business known for:

• Long-term staff retention

• Proper investment in pre-construction

• Strong operational delivery (estimators are listened to post-award)

• A collaborative, no-ego approach between estimating, design, and delivery

• Competitive senior-level salary (DOE)

• Car allowance or company vehicle

• Annual bonus scheme

• Private healthcare

• Pension

• Flexible / hybrid working where appropriate

• Long-term career security with a strong regional pipeline