Estimating Manager

Reporting directly to the Business Commercial Lead, the Commercial Estimating Manager is responsible for driving new business sales to provide growth inline with set targets. The CEM works closely with the Bid Manager, Business Development Manager and Commercial Lead to ensure all accepted bids are priced and delivered on time, to the highest standard in accordance with specifications. The CEM has full responsibility for ensuring pricing is delivered accurately and competitively, both directly and through the team of estimators he/she manages and develops. He/she engages in client communications and negotiations as required, reviews methods and gathers data to drive continual improvement through successful and unsuccessful bids.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with Bid Manager and Business Development Manager to check accuracy and support sign‑off procedures for all pricing opportunities.
• Ensure tender requirements are fully costed for and complied with.
• Coordinate with internal finance, contract administration, sales and mobilisation teams to promote collaboration and growth.
• Pro‑actively manage workload across bid and sales teams to maximise new sales.
• Provide training, line management and mentoring for the team of estimators.
• Review client feedback on pricing of successful and unsuccessful bids together with Business Development and Bid Manager.
• Bring innovative solutions to pricing and advocate for positive change and adaptation.
• Work closely with accounts team to ensure correct revenue accounting for all contracts and issue PO’s for new sales accordingly.
• Build strong internal relationships across departments to ensure a smooth transition following successful tenders or pricing opportunities.
• Develop the business’s pricing policies and a standardised pricing process and approach to ensure company rates are competitive.
• Constructively challenge the proposed operational delivery model suggested for each contract tender/retender.
• Deliver regular feedback to the sales and bid team to develop the team skillset.
• Ensure that work processes and models are documented, validated and stored within a clear directory structure with complete version history.
• Act as an advisor and resource for business Directors on pricing decisions.
• Support the development of a firm‑wide pricing strategy.
• Identify areas for systems and operational improvement within the team; implement and measure.
• Review existing pricing agreements to identify opportunities for enhancing current and future performance.
• Develop innovative pricing propositions that enhance the practice group’s ability to win profitable work.
• Support the development of metrics and reporting tools to clearly illustrate trends and analysis of pricing.
• Build client and stakeholder relationships.
• Develop sales relationships with identified suitable consultants to fulfil identified sales objectives.

Location Hybrid – St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Home working, with site visits as required.

Hours of Work Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Collaborative, hands‑on approach to ensure success across a team‑based environment.
• Strong technical background, enabling understanding and delivery of compliant and competitive bids to the highest standards.
• Excellent communicator; able to explain complex issues to financial or non‑financial stakeholders.
• Apply a methodical and meticulous approach to solving difficult, sometimes ambiguous, problems.
• Results‑driven with a proactive, goal‑oriented approach to decision making.
• Strong time management; able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines and targets.

Desired Skills & Qualifications Not specified.

What We Offer

• Competitive holiday allowance.
• Access to 360 wellbeing health benefits and retail discounts.
• Pension enrolment after 3 months service.
• Access to training and development opportunities.