At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the preparation of competitive estimates and collaborate with various teams.
- Company: Join Mears Group, a leader in social housing and construction services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a generous salary, car allowance, and family-friendly policies.
- Other info: Remote work with UK travel, plus excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the construction industry while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in construction estimating and strong analytical skills required.
Annual salary: up to £91,000.00
Location: Homebased - Remote, with UK travel
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: 40 per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: Up to £91,000, plus £4,800 car allowance
About the Role
The Senior Estimator is a key role within the commercial estimating and tendering function, responsible for producing high-quality, competitive and compliant bids across all business streams. You will develop robust cost models, assess risk, collaborate with operational and commercial stakeholders, and ensure all estimating outputs meet the standards set by the Head of Estimating. This role works closely with Business Development, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance to support sustainable growth and protect margin. You will report directly to the Head of Estimating.
Key Responsibilities
- Purpose
- Lead the preparation of robust, compliant and competitive estimates aligned to company commercial strategy
- Ensure pricing, methodology, risk and assumptions are clearly articulated and aligned with operational delivery
- Provide analytical insight, industry knowledge and commercial judgement to support tender adjudications
- Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating processes, knowledge bases and governance frameworks
- Estimating & Commercial Proposal Development
- Prepare detailed estimates and commercial submissions for tenders across Repairs & Maintenance (including M&E and Planned Works), Central Government housing and support, Decarbonisation and Net Zero programmes, and DLO support
- Build cost models from first principles with accuracy and commercial integrity
- Support value engineering, scenario modelling and pricing strategy development
- Analyse tender documentation, specifications and operational data to ensure deliverable proposals
- Provide clear written and verbal summaries of assumptions, pricing logic and risks
- Tender Governance & Risk Management
- Ensure all estimating outputs meet internal governance standards for completeness and compliance
- Support tender clarifications, RFIs and responses to client queries
- Assist with commercial review of contracts and legal documents alongside Legal and Operations
- Identify and document key financial and delivery risks for adjudication
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Work collaboratively with Business Development and Operations to ensure bids reflect operational capability
- Engage with supply chain partners to secure competitive quotations and maintain market intelligence
- Present estimating outputs and recommendations to senior stakeholders when required
- Mobilisation & Continuous Improvement
- Support mobilisation teams post-award, ensuring clarity of estimating assumptions
- Participate in post-contract reviews and outturn cost analysis to improve future pricing
- Contribute to enhancements in systems, templates, cost databases and knowledge repositories
- Team Support & Development
- Act as a senior technical resource, providing mentoring to junior estimators
- Promote accuracy, commercial discipline and collaborative working
- Deputise for the Head of Estimating when required
Essential Experience:
- Significant experience in social housing, R&M, planned works or related construction estimating
- Strong working knowledge of NHF Schedule of Rates
- Proven experience producing cost models and pricing strategies for medium-large tenders
- Experience engaging with clients, supply chain and internal stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple bids to tight deadlines
- Good understanding of NEC and JCT contract forms
- Strong analytical skills and commercial awareness
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in a large contracting or housing services environment
- Familiarity with estimating software and data analytics tools
- Professional qualification in QS, Construction Management or similar (or working towards)
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strong numerical ability and exceptional attention to detail
- Clear, confident communicator able to explain commercial reasoning to all audiences
- Proactive problem-solver with a continuous improvement mindset
- Ability to interpret complex specifications and technical documentation
- Highly organised, deadline-driven and able to prioritise effectively
- Collaborative team player with mentoring capability
- Strong commercial judgement and ability to challenge assumptions constructively
Benefits:
- Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and much more
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 3 x Life assurance private medical care for you and your family £4,800 car allowance
- Generous Pension Scheme and sick pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mears Rewards - discount voucher scheme for a host of household name retailers, including supermarkets, offering savings on purchases
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
- Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake volunteering in the community for two days per year, in support of our social value commitment
All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.
If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.
At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.
In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Estimating Manager in Gloucester
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Mears Group PLC, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior Estimating Manager at Mears Group PLC.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Estimating Manager in Gloucester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mears Group PLC
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
