Estimator in City of London, London

About JJ Rhatigan & Company

JJ Rhatigan is a leading main contractor with over 70 years’ experience delivering high-quality, sustainable construction projects across Ireland and the UK. As a family-founded business, we have built a reputation for excellence in health & safety, quality of finish and overall project delivery. Our portfolio spans residential, commercial, education, healthcare and mixed-use developments, combining technical expertise with a collaborative and integrity-led approach. Our UK business continues to grow, supported by a strong pipeline of work and long-standing client relationships.

The Role

We are looking for a skilled Estimator (Mid–Senior level) to join our UK pre-construction team. You will play a critical role in preparing competitive tenders and cost plans for projects typically ranging from £20m to £100m, working across residential, commercial, education, and mixed-use sectors. You will analyse tender documents, prepare cost plans, measurements on-screen, manage subcontract pricing, and contribute to developing comprehensive and commercially strong proposals submissions. The role provides exposure to major UK schemes and offers the chance to grow within an expanding pre-construction team.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Review tender documents and confirm completeness of information received.
• Prepare take-offs, quantities and cost plans using CostX (training provided if required).
• Break down tender packages and identify suitable subcontractors/suppliers.
• Identify and flag gaps in subcontract pricing and plug appropriately.
• Issue enquiries, assess returns and undertake detailed subcontract comparisons.
• Coordinate closely with design, planning and project teams to assess preliminaries, logistics and programme implications.
• Identify and communicate risks, opportunities, assumptions, exclusions and design gaps.
• Support the development of cost plans, tender summaries and commercial submissions.
• Generate value-engineering options and alternative specifications.
• Attend tender launch, mid-bid and settlement meetings.
• Prepare written clarifications and respond to post-submission queries.
• Complete handover packs for successful bids and support mobilisation where required.

Skills & Experience Required

• Experience as an Estimator within a main contractor environment (UK or Irish market).
• Strong understanding of construction methods, procurement routes and tendering processes.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, and contractual information.
• Proficient in take-offs, measurement and bill production (CostX or similar).
• Skilled in analysing subcontract quotations and identifying scope gaps and risks.
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical thinking.
• Comfortable working with evolving design information and forming reasoned assumptions.
• Excellent numeracy and attention to detail.
• Highly organised, able to prioritise multiple tenders and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

What JJ Rhatigan Can Offer You

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Clear progression pathway and ongoing training, CPD and development opportunities.
• Opportunities to work on major, high-profile UK projects.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking work environment.

If you’re an ambitious Estimator eager to take on larger, more challenging tenders and contribute to a successful UK pre-construction team, we’d love to hear from you. JJ Rhatigan & Company is an equal opportunities employer.