At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare detailed estimates for exciting infrastructure projects and manage tenders from start to finish.
- Company: Join a successful infrastructure contractor with a focus on career development and flexible working.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, car allowance, generous leave, and professional training opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with strong growth potential and support for continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in civil engineering while working on diverse and innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Five years' estimating experience in construction or civil engineering is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Estimator with a strong background in civil engineering, highways, earthworks, drainage or building projects? Do you have experience producing detailed first-principles estimates within a competitive tendering environment? Are you looking for a permanent opportunity with a successful infrastructure contractor offering flexible working, varied projects and long-term career development?
Location: Chorley or Carlisle + 1 day working from home per week
Salary: £50,000 to £60,000 per annum for an Estimator, with potential flexibility up to £70,000 for an experienced Senior Estimator
Benefits:
- £6,335 car allowance or company car
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Option to purchase an additional five days of annual leave
- 4.5% employer pension contribution
- £150 health cash plan
- One day working from home each week
- Flexible working with core hours of 9:30am to 4:00pm
- 40-hour working week
- Award-winning training and professional development opportunities
- Two paid volunteering days each year
Role Overview:
My client is looking to appoint an experienced Estimator or Senior Estimator to join its pre-construction and work-winning team, based from either Chorley or Carlisle. The position will involve preparing high-quality, commercially viable tenders across a varied portfolio of infrastructure and construction projects. Work may include highways, earthworks, drainage, reinforced concrete, buildings, water, power and general civil engineering schemes.
This is not a role focused solely on negotiated frameworks. The successful candidate must have experience working within competitive tendering environments and be comfortable building detailed estimates from first principles, including labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, preliminaries and production outputs.
You will manage tenders from initial allocation through to submission and contract award, working closely with operational, commercial, procurement and delivery teams to develop robust construction methodologies and competitive pricing strategies. The successful candidate will join a small and collaborative estimating team and will have the opportunity to bring additional sector knowledge, construction experience and new ideas into the business. Rail experience would be beneficial but is not essential, as the business is particularly interested in candidates with broader civil engineering, highways, building or water experience.
The role would ideally suit someone from a main contractor background, although candidates with multidisciplinary subcontractor experience will also be considered. Applicants coming from consultancy or client-side environments should have previous contractor experience and a strong understanding of practical construction delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage multiple tenders from initial enquiry and allocation through to submission, negotiation and contract award
- Produce detailed first-principles estimates covering labour, plant, materials, subcontractors and preliminaries
- Review drawings, specifications, bills of quantities, contract documents and tender information
- Assess construction methodologies, resource requirements, temporary works and production outputs
- Interrogate and challenge resource levels, cost models, assumptions and pricing strategies
- Apply relevant methods of measurement, including MCHW, CESMM and similar industry standards
- Identify and evaluate tender risks, opportunities, exclusions and commercial considerations
- Obtain, review and negotiate competitive quotations from subcontractors and suppliers
- Develop value engineering proposals, efficiencies and alternative delivery solutions
- Lead tender meetings and coordinate input from operational, commercial and technical teams
- Maintain clear communication with clients, suppliers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders
- Prepare accurate tender submissions that are commercially competitive and technically robust
- Support post-tender negotiations and respond to client clarifications
- Prepare detailed project handovers, clearly communicating allowances, assumptions, risks and opportunities
- Support lessons learned and continuous improvement across estimating and work-winning activities
- For Senior Estimator applicants, provide support, guidance and mentoring to junior members of the estimating team
Essential Requirements:
- A minimum of five years' estimating experience within construction or civil engineering
- Senior Estimator applicants will ideally have ten or more years' relevant experience
- Strong experience producing first-principles estimates
- Proven experience working within competitive tendering environments
- Experience reviewing tender documentation and identifying pricing, contractual and delivery risks
Desirable Requirements:
- Previous estimating experience with a main contractor or multidisciplinary civil engineering or construction subcontractor experience
- Experience estimating highways, earthworks, drainage, reinforced concrete, building or water infrastructure projects
- Knowledge of MCHW, CESMM and other recognised methods of measurement
- Experience pricing projects for local authorities, National Highways, the Environment Agency, Network Rail or Tier 1 contractors
- A practical construction, site engineering or operational background
- HNC or higher qualification in Construction, Civil Engineering, the Built Environment or a related discipline
- Experience supporting successful tender submissions and wider work-winning activities
The successful candidate will be based in the office for a minimum of four days per week, with one day available to work from home. Occasional travel to project sites, client meetings and other regional offices may also be required.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a financially secure and growing infrastructure contractor delivering projects across multiple sectors. The business offers a supportive working environment, strong career development opportunities and a culture focused on producing high-quality work and developing its people.
If you are interested in applying for this Estimator or Senior Estimator position, please email your CV to (url removed) or contact us for a confidential discussion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Estimator in Chorley
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Carrington West, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Estimator at Carrington West.
We think you need these skills to ace Estimator in Chorley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington West
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
