At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the estimating function, shaping pricing strategies and driving excellence in tendering.
- Company: Howells Solutions, a leader in commercial estimating with a focus on social housing.
- Benefits: Generous salary, car allowance, family-friendly policies, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and community volunteering support.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on business growth while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Extensive estimating experience in social housing and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 120000 £ per year.
Location: Home based or Hybrid, with UK travel
Salary: £120,000 plus package & £6,900 car allowance
Howells Solutions is seeking an exceptional Head of Estimating to lead our commercial estimating and tendering function at a strategic level. This is a pivotal senior leadership role, shaping how we price, win and mobilise major contracts across the organisation. If you are commercially astute, influential at senior levels, and passionate about driving excellence in tendering, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact on the future growth of our business.
About The Head of Estimating Role
As Head of Estimating, you will take ownership of developing robust, compliant and commercially competitive bids across a wide range of work streams, including Repairs & Maintenance (such as M&E and Planned Works), Central Government housing and support services, Decarbonisation and Net Zero programmes, and DLO support. You will shape the commercial strategy behind each opportunity, building cost models from first principles, driving value engineering, and ensuring risks and assumptions are clearly understood. Working closely with Business Development, Operations and Legal teams, you will influence strategic bid decisions and ensure our proposals support sustainable growth and margin protection. Your leadership will set the standard for commercial governance, pricing excellence and the continuous improvement of our estimating function.
Head of Estimating Key Responsibilities
- Lead the creation of high-quality commercial proposals tailored to individual opportunities
- Develop cost models from first principles and drive pricing strategy and value engineering
- Provide senior leadership with clear commercial analysis, risk positions and recommendations
- Partner with internal teams to shape strategic bid decisions and contract risk assessments
Head of Estimating Essential Experience
- Extensive experience in social housing estimating, including expert knowledge of NHF Schedule of Rates.
- Proven ability to develop pricing strategies and deliver value engineering solutions.
- Strong track record in post-tender negotiations and contract award processes.
- End-to-end tender lifecycle experience, from pricing to mobilisation.
- Strong working knowledge of standard forms of contract
- Experience presenting commercial proposals at senior leadership level.
- Ability to manage multiple bids under demanding deadlines.
- Demonstrable leadership experience in building high-performing teams.
Desirable
- Experience at Head of / Senior Manager level within a large contracting or housing services organisation
- Familiarity with sector-standard estimating systems and analytical tools
- Professional qualification in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strategic commercial thinker with strong influencing capability
- Excellent communicator, able to simplify complex commercial reasoning
- High numerical accuracy and attention to detail
- Proactive problem solver committed to continuous improvement
- Collaborative leader with a passion for developing people
Benefits
- Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and much more
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 3 x Life assurance
- Family private medical £6,900 car allowance
- Generous Pension Scheme and sick pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Company Rewards - discount voucher scheme for a host of household name retailers, including supermarkets, offering savings on purchases
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Company Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work! Previous years include, Alton Towers, Drayton Manor etc
- Volunteering Leave - The company supports employees to undertake volunteering in the community for two days per year, in support of our social value commitment
Please click to apply or contact Gary Sewell for more information on 07852 836 581.
If you feel that you have the relevant experience to be successful in this position and would like to find out more please apply online today attaching a copy of your current CV. Alternatively contact us on 01474 850707.
Howells are an Equal Opportunities employer. All applications will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Locations
Head of Estimating in Colchester, Essex employer: Howells Solutions Limited
Howells Solutions is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth, offering a competitive salary package, generous annual leave, and family-friendly policies. With a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, employees are encouraged to develop their skills through excellent training opportunities while enjoying a vibrant work culture that celebrates achievements with events like the annual Fun Day. The flexibility of home-based or hybrid working arrangements, combined with the chance to make a significant impact in a strategic leadership role, makes Howells Solutions an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Estimating in Colchester, Essex
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Estimating role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how they operate and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience in social housing estimating and how it aligns with their needs. Highlight your leadership skills and your knack for developing winning pricing strategies.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Estimating in Colchester, Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Estimating role. Highlight your experience in social housing estimating and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of successful bids or projects you've led. This helps us understand the impact you've made in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, be clear and concise. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to complex commercial reasoning. Keep it professional but let your personality shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Howells Solutions Limited
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Estimating, you'll need to demonstrate your strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail. Brush up on key metrics and cost models relevant to the role, and be prepared to discuss how you've developed pricing strategies in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires a collaborative leader who can build high-performing teams. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure situations or during complex tender processes.
✨Understand the Commercial Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends in social housing estimating and the NHF Schedule of Rates. Being able to discuss these topics will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also passionate about driving excellence in tendering.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Since you'll be influencing senior leadership decisions, practice articulating your commercial analysis and risk assessments clearly. Think about how you can simplify complex commercial reasoning to make it accessible for all stakeholders involved.
