Quantity Surveyor / Estimator - Roofing in Lidlington

Are you an experienced roofing Estimator or Quantity Surveyor who can take ownership of tenders and help shape how a growing contractor prices and wins work? Abbey Roofing is looking for an experienced commercial professional to join its Bedford-based team. You will independently manage roofing tenders from initial enquiry through to submission, while helping improve pricing, margins and estimating processes across a strong pipeline of secured and tendering work.

Why Join Abbey Roofing? You will be joining an established roofing contractor with a strong pipeline of work and ambitious plans for continued growth. This role offers genuine responsibility and autonomy while allowing you to work alongside an experienced commercial and operational team. If you take ownership, understand specialist subcontracting and want to play an important part in how Abbey Roofing prices and secures future work, we would be pleased to hear from you. Working alongside our existing Lead QS and commercial team, you will also have the chance to influence how our commercial department develops as the business continues to grow.

The Role: This role is suited to an experienced Estimator or Quantity Surveyor who can take ownership of roofing tenders and work confidently with minimal supervision. You will price projects using drawings, specifications, site surveys and client documentation. This will include preparing accurate labour and material build-ups, obtaining and negotiating supplier quotations, and identifying commercial risks and opportunities. You will also help us continually improve the way Abbey Roofing prices and wins work, including tender turnaround times, estimating templates and internal processes. Some tenders will be based on Schedule of Rates (SOR) pricing, particularly within planned maintenance, social housing and reactive works. Previous SOR experience is not essential but would be highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently manage roofing tenders from initial enquiry through to final submission
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work and tender documentation
• Prepare detailed labour, material and subcontract cost build-ups
• Produce material schedules and accurate take-offs
• Obtain, compare and negotiate supplier and subcontractor quotations
• Identify exclusions, qualifications, risks and commercial opportunities
• Attend occasional site visits to understand project scope or site conditions
• Price work using traditional tender build-ups and, where applicable, Schedule of Rates
• Maintain accurate supplier, material and labour cost information
• Input and manage quotations using estimating software and company systems
• Work with the Lead QS to review pricing strategy and improve tender margins
• Help improve tender turnaround times, estimating templates and internal processes
• Monitor quotation performance and help assess win rates and pricing trends
• Communicate professionally with clients, suppliers, site teams and subcontractors

Roofing Packages Experience: Experience in some or all of the following would be advantageous:

• Pitched roofing
• Tiles and slates
• Flat roofing systems
• Felt, single-ply and liquid roofing
• Leadwork
• Fascia, soffits and rainwater goods
• Insulation upgrades
• Roof refurbishment and planned maintenance
• Social housing roofing programmes
• New-build roofing packages

What We Are Looking For:

Essential:

• A minimum of three years’ experience in estimating, quantity surveying or a commercial construction role
• Experience within roofing, cladding, waterproofing or another specialist subcontract environment
• The ability to independently manage a tender and quotation workload
• Strong commercial awareness
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical accuracy
• The ability to read and understand construction drawings and specifications
• Strong Excel skills
• Confidence preparing labour and material cost build-ups
• A good understanding of supplier procurement and quotation management
• Strong communication skills
• The ability to manage deadlines and prioritise multiple tenders
• Confidence using digital systems and software
• A process-improvement mindset

Desirable:

• Previous experience working with Schedule of Rates (SOR)
• Experience pricing social housing or planned maintenance contracts
• Experience using estimating software such as RapidQuote, CATO or similar
• Knowledge of roofing materials, systems and manufacturers
• Experience negotiating supplier pricing
• Experience improving estimating or tender processes
• Experience managing subcontractor packages
• An RICS qualification or progress towards another recognised commercial qualification

What Success Looks Like: You will be expected to:

• Independently manage and deliver quotations
• Maintain accurate and commercially competitive pricing
• Meet agreed tender deadlines
• Help improve quotation turnaround times
• Develop strong relationships with suppliers and clients
• Identify commercial opportunities and pricing efficiencies
• Contribute to increasing tender volume and successful tender conversions
• Help develop Abbey Roofing’s estimating and commercial processes

What We Offer:

• Salary of £50,000–£55,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Company pension
• Company events
• Office-based role in Bedford
• Varied workload across commercial, new-build and social housing projects
• Genuine responsibility from day one
• Opportunity to help shape and improve our commercial department
• Long-term progression within a growing roofing contractor
• Supportive and experienced team environment

About Abbey Roofing: Abbey Roofing is an established and growing roofing contractor delivering pitched and flat roofing packages across the commercial, new-build, planned maintenance and social housing sectors throughout London and the South East. We work with a range of principal contractors, developers, councils and housing providers.