Estimator in Manchester

Dalkia UK are looking for a Hard Services Estimator to join our team. This role will be remote with travel required to sites on national scales and our office locations in Manchester, Birmingham and London when required.

The Hard Services Estimator is responsible for the preparation and submission of accurate, compliant, and commercially robust tender pricing for Hard Facilities Management contracts. The role sits within the Business Development function and plays a critical part in shaping competitive, sustainable, and innovative service delivery solutions across a range of sectors and contract values.

Working closely with the Solutions Director, Operations, Commercial, Procurement, and Bid Teams, the Estimator will take ownership of pricing strategy, cost modelling, risk assessment, and governance compliance, while contributing to the continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and methodologies. This is a senior, influential role requiring strong commercial judgement, technical understanding of building services, and the ability to manage multiple complex tenders concurrently.

• Lead the interpretation of Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation, identifying all pricing requirements, commercial risks and opportunities, assumptions, exclusions, and submission deliverables across Hard Facilities Management services.
• Review, validate, and interrogate asset registers, lifecycle data, technical drawings, floor plans, and specifications, applying engineering and operational logic to inform accurate labour loading, maintenance regimes, and cost modelling.
• Take full ownership of the preparation, review, and submission of compliant, accurate, and commercially robust tender pricing, ensuring alignment with internal governance, approval gateways, and agreed margin targets.
• Act as a key contributor to tender solution workshops, internal bid reviews, and client-facing mid- and post-tender interviews and commercial negotiations, representing the estimating and commercial position with confidence and credibility.
• Collaborate closely with the Solutions Director and Operational and Commercial stakeholders to develop efficient, innovative, and sustainable Hard Services delivery models, including planned maintenance, reactive works, lifecycle replacement, and project elements.
• Partner with the Bid Team Procurement Manager to identify subcontracted service requirements, sourcing, analysing, and benchmarking supplier and subcontractor quotations for labour, materials, specialist services, plant, and equipment.
• Develop cost-effective and competitive pricing solutions through detailed labour analysis, subcontractor comparison, delivery model evaluation, and consideration of alternative maintenance strategies, including SFG20 and bespoke regimes.
• Lead and contribute to value engineering initiatives, alternative solution proposals, and structured assessments of commercial risk, opportunity, and margin optimisation.
• Maintain, apply, and continuously improve the internal cost model, ensuring consistency, auditability, and relevance to evolving service delivery and market conditions.
• Accurately complete and submit all client pricing schedules, commercial documentation, and supporting information within agreed deadlines, maintaining clear audit trails and version control.
• Support the structured handover of successful tenders to operational teams, ensuring clarity of pricing assumptions, asset scope, resourcing models, and commercial risks.

25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, plus option to purchase an additional 5 days leave every year. Pension with matched contributions between 6-8%. Life Assurance. Private Medical Insurance Single Cover on completion of 12 months' service, with the opportunity to pay for additional cover for partner/dependants. Flexible Benefits Scheme – including eye care voucher, store discounts for major retailers, salary sacrifice electric car vehicle lease scheme, personal IT equipment loans, impartial financial/savings guidance. Access to wellbeing programmes. Company Sick Pay. Employee recognition programmes which reward exceptional achievements. Employee Referral bonus with generous bonuses for ‘referring a friend’. The opportunity to use one working day per year volunteering to help the local community. Employee Assistance Programme - free, confidential 24/7 365 support on all lifestyle matters.

• Proven experience in a Senior Estimator or Estimator role within the Facilities Management sector, with a strong focus on Hard Services.
• Demonstrable experience pricing Hard FM contracts, including Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC, and associated building services.
• Strong working knowledge of SFG20 and alternative maintenance regimes.
• Ability to interpret and challenge asset data, maintenance strategies, labour models, and cost assumptions.
• Experience delivering high-value and complex tenders with multiple delivery considerations and commercial models.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including cost modelling, analysis, and data interrogation.
• Strong commercial awareness, numeracy skills, and understanding of risk, margin, and pricing strategy.
• Ability to manage multiple tenders simultaneously while meeting deadlines and governance requirements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging internal teams and external clients.
• Experience contributing to Total Facilities Management (TFM) or Soft Services bids.
• Ability to understand and challenge Soft Services inputs such as BICSc standards, rotas, and productivity metrics.
• Experience working across multiple sectors (e.g. commercial, healthcare, education, public sector).
• Familiarity with CAFM systems, asset validation exercises, or lifecycle modelling tools.
• Relevant qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or a related discipline.

• Commercially astute with a strategic mindset.
• Detail-oriented with a high standard of accuracy.
• Proactive, organised, and able to work autonomously.
• Collaborative and solutions-focused.
• Confident operating in a fast-paced bid environment.

At Dalkia, we are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We ensure that every applicant is treated fairly and respectfully throughout our selection process. If you require any adjustments, please inform us in confidence. Our talent acquisition team is here to assist you.