Estimator in Birkenhead

This is a great opportunity to join our commercial and technical team, supporting a diverse portfolio of dry-docking, repair, refit and conversion projects. It’s a key role in securing and delivering major marine projects.

Who are we? With a combined workforce of over 2,000 employees and operations spanning Gibraltar, Padstow, Tyne, Birkenhead, and Falmouth, Balaena is one of the UK’s most dynamic and regionally anchored maritime groups - combining industrial agility, innovation, and community partnership to support national resilience, commercial competitiveness, and sustainability across both naval and merchant ship sectors.

The integration of our modern facilities in Gibraltar and Padstow with APCL’s infrastructure on Tyne, Birkenhead and Falmouth created one of the world’s most capable ship repair and shipbuilding groups - with a network of 12 dry docks and strategic reach across the UK and the Mediterranean. We respond quickly to defence and commercial requirements and deliver consistent quality and reliability to clients worldwide.

So what will you do?

• You’ll prepare detailed cost estimates for ship repair, dry-docking, refit and conversion projects.
• Compile and maintain project pricing information and tender documentation.
• Review technical specifications, drawings and work scopes to produce accurate quotations.
• Evaluate subcontractor and supplier quotations.
• Conduct onboard vessel surveys to assess proposed work scopes.
• Work with customers, project teams, suppliers and internal stakeholders throughout the tender process to ensure success.
• Support the technical teams to ensure all tenders are delivered on time.
• Take part in project and progress meetings and help with commercial contract management activities when needed.

So what are we looking for?

• You will ideally have a background in marine engineering, ship repair, shipbuilding or heavy engineering with commercial awareness including an understanding of costs, margins and mark-up principles.
• You’ll have the ability to prepare detailed project estimates through your understanding of yard operations, marine trades, and interpreting technical drawings & specifications.
• Experience evaluating supplier and subcontractor quotations.
• With excellent communication, stakeholder management, organisational skills you’ll be able to deliver to demanding deadlines.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.

Why join us?

• Personal Growth - This is an opportunity to make a significant impact while working with and learning from a team of experts.
• Financial Security - with important benefits like your Pension.
• Work-life Balance - We offer 25 days of annual leave per year plus Bank Holidays. Maternity, Paternity and Parental leave support you during those significant life changes, helping you to balance your family responsibilities with work.
• We are big enough to cope, small enough to care. Whilst we have significant capacity to take on large and complex projects across our five shipyards, we are a family-owned business with a genuine passion for the maritime industry and the people who make it what it is.

Security and Background Checks: Due to the nature of what we do for some of the customers that we work with, some roles are subject to security control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform with us. You must also undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before your employment starts, which will include a basic DBS check.