Job Title: Managing Estimator / Estimating Manager
Location: South Woodford, London – Office and Site Based
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
About My Client
Established in 2005, my client is a leading principal contractor delivering high-quality, sustainable, and innovative construction projects across the UK. They handle complex schemes from concept to completion, with an exceptional portfolio spanning the education, health, residential, commercial, leisure and government sectors. They pride themselves on precision, a client-first collaborative approach, and their dedication to social value and positive community legacies.
As they continue to secure a robust pipeline of high-profile, multi-sector contracts, they are looking for a commercial, driven Managing Estimator / Estimating Manager to take the lead on their pre-construction and tendering processes from their Woodford headquarters.
The Role
As the Estimating Manager, you will lead and oversee all pre-construction pricing, ensuring the delivery of accurate, competitive and highly profitable tender submissions. This is a critical leadership position within the commercial team, bridging the gap between client interaction, sub-contractor negotiation and internal project delivery.
Because their success is built on close knit, real time collaboration with the engineering and project management teams, this is a full time, office based role that requires daily on-site visibility and hands on leadership. There is no hybrid or remote work available for this position.
Key Responsibilities:
- Tender Management: Lead the pre-construction team from initial expression of interest through to final tender submission, pricing projects from £1m up to complex, multi-million-pound schemes.
- Cost Optimization: Prepare highly detailed analytic cost estimates, including labor, materials, plant and subcontractor packages.
- Risk & Value Engineering: Identify commercial risks and structural opportunities for value engineering to ensure the bids are both competitive and highly viable.
- Supply Chain Engagement: Cultivate and expand relationships with reliable sub-contractors and material suppliers to secure competitive market pricing.
- Strategic Collaboration: Work directly with the executive team, project managers, and quantity surveyors to smoothly transition successful bids into live project delivery.
- Team Leadership: Mentor, manage and review the outputs of junior estimators or bid staff, ensuring quality control across all departmental data.
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven Experience: Minimum of 5–8+ years of construction estimating experience within the UK, with at least 2 years in a managerial or senior lead capacity.
- Main Contractor Background: Direct experience working for a Principal/Main Contractor, ideally covering public sector, education, commercial fit-outs or refurbishment projects.
- Commercial Acumen: Deep knowledge of modern construction methods, UK building regulations and standard building contracts (JCT, NEC).
- Technical Literacy: High proficiency with construction estimating software, advanced MS Excel and digital takeoff tools.
- Location & Availability: Ability to commute daily to the Woodford office and travel to London/South East sites as required. A strong preference for candidates who value the collaboration and pace of a dedicated in-office environment.
Benefits & Package:
- Competitive base salary matched to current London market rates and experience
- 10k package allowance for car, private healthcare, etc as employee wishes to use
- 22 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Time off at Xmas – 2-5 days
- Company pension scheme - 3% contribution
- Free office parking
- Annual discretionary pay and bonus reviews
- Genuine path to executive-level pre-construction management
Locations
