Project Estimator in Manchester

The Estimator / Cost Planner is responsible for all aspects of cost planning and estimating, working closely with senior colleagues, project teams, and both internal and external clients from project inception. Main duties include preparing estimates for bids, developing strategies, managing approval processes, and coordinating all bid components such as cost plans, commentary, fees, and value engineering. The role involves challenging design teams to deliver efficient solutions within budget, supporting best practice development, sharing expertise, and ensuring forecast margins are met throughout project delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Overseeing the pre-construction cost planning process.
• Developing and implementing best-practice estimation methodologies.
• Driving value engineering initiatives and managing commercial risk registers on major tenders.
• Responsible for tender sign-off and bid strategy alignment.
• Engaging in client negotiation on project costs.
• Acting as a commercial liaison for external stakeholders.
• Utilising and supporting the development of the company’s preferred cost planning software and tools.
• Collaborating with the commercial team to secure market prices for trade packages and analysing these against cost plan allowances.
• Preparing, reviewing, and analysing preliminaries for first and second stage bids.
• Incorporating programming requirements, methodology, phasing, and associated implications into cost plans and preliminaries.
• Accurately quantifying and pricing cost plans from Development Brief / Feasibility stage through to Contract Price with the preferred contractor.
• Managing external consultants (EQ Bill of Quants Consultancy).
• Preparing design fees with support from the relevant Design Manager.
• Preparing tender documentation for submission.
• Preparing cost plan commentary and supplying key information to Bid Managers.
• Ensuring that scope, assumptions, and pricing are clearly documented throughout all cost planning stages.
• Supporting project teams with change control and major variations during conversion and delivery stages.
• Continuously analysing the design against cost plan assumptions, design briefs/target metrics, and benchmark projects.
• Leading or supporting a bid as a Cost Planner either independently or as part of a team.
• Supporting compliance of the cost plan with brief, authority, financiers’, and customer requirements during the conversion stage.
• Supporting the updating of design and cost KPIs.
• Contributing to the development of best practices, standards, knowledge bases, sector expertise, industry trends, yardsticks, and benchmarks.
• Producing written narratives outlining key insights derived from cost and benchmarking analysis.

Credentials:

• Maintain CSCS card for the role.
• Currently holding, or working towards a related Chartership such as MRICS / MCIOB.

Essential Skills, Knowledge, Experience & Behaviours:

• Ability to influence and lead teams.
• Ability to read drawings and construction design information.
• Data analysis and data analytics including use of Power BI.
• Document control.
• Negotiation and presentation skills.
• Problem solving and process compliance.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Tendering subcontract works packages of medium to high value.
• Time management and prioritising tasks in order to meet deadlines.
• Value engineering.
• Written and verbal communication to influence and build relationships with various stakeholders.

Knowledge:

• Ability to contribute to value engineering as part of the design process.
• Allocation of scope to trade packages.
• Understanding and applying cost planning & financial procedures and reporting tools.
• Understanding of various procurement routes, including the RIBA design processes.

Experience:

• Proven track record of working on various bid stages included Stage 1 (initial tender) and Stage 2 (Conversion into contract / PCSA).
• Reviewing subcontractor tender offers and subcontractor tender analysis produced by the commercial team.
• Building inflation models/calculations.
• Coordinating multiple trade packages into a master cost plan/bill of quantities.
• Preparing cost plans at various RIBA stages.
• Presenting to stakeholders.
• Understanding, building, and using benchmarking data for use at reviews, and for use externally with clients/consultants.

Behaviours:

• Flexibility and openness of approach and willingness to work as a team player.
• Great attention to detail and thoroughness in all of the work produced.
• Analytical thinking.
• Ownership of Reporting, including populating all key templates and documents for reviews.
• Providing constructive challenge and feedback to others within the team.

We will provide:

• Car allowance.
• Flexible and hybrid work options.
• Up to 10% employer pension contribution.
• Private medical health benefit.
• Life assurance.
• 25 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell additional days.
• 3 days wellbeing leave in addition to annual leave.
• Health and wellbeing support and initiatives.
• 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme including direct access to Talking Therapies and Coaching services.
• Discounted gym membership to over 2,500 gyms nationwide.
• Industry leading parental leave.