Mechanicasl Estimating / Pre-Construction Manager in Preston

The Opportunity
Our client, a well-established electrical contractor based in Blackpool, is launching a mechanical division and is looking for a Mechanical Estimating / Pre-Construction Manager to set it up. Most estimating roles ask you to fit into a department somebody else built. This one asks you to build it. In practice that means pricing the first packages the division ever puts out, building a mechanical supply chain from nothing, setting the processes and standards, and winning the work that gets the thing moving. The electrical side turns over around £5 million and the ambition is to take mechanical to something similar, so the target is clear even if the route to it has not been drawn yet. This is a permanent role in Blackpool, £70,000 to £80,000 depending on experience, plus a full benefits package. About the Business
Starting a division inside an established contractor is a different proposition from starting one from scratch. The client relationships already exist, the main contractors already take their calls, and the reputation that takes a new business five years to build is in place before you arrive. What is missing is the mechanical capability itself, which is precisely what this role supplies. Our client is a well-established electrical contractor based in Blackpool, delivering projects nationally for public and private sector clients. The portfolio covers major leisure, education and community schemes, with low-energy and sustainable buildings a particular strength, and the electrical division turns over around £5 million. A mechanical division is now being launched, with the aim of growing it to match the electrical side. Alongside electrical contracting the wider group offers 3D BIM design coordination and energy services, and the business holds ECA, NICEIC, MCS and Constructionline accreditations. The sustainability focus matters more to a mechanical estimator than it might first appear. Low-energy buildings put the mechanical services at the centre of how a building performs rather than treating them as a load to be served, and pricing that properly is a different exercise from pricing a conventional system. It is also where the growth in this market is. What You'll Be Doing
Setting up the mechanical division's pre-construction and estimating function, including processes, pricing tools and standards Pricing mechanical packages for tenders, from take-off and enquiries through to final submission Building a mechanical supply chain of suppliers and specialist subcontractors Working with the electrical team to put together combined M&E bids for existing and new clients Identifying target clients, sectors and opportunities to grow the mechanical order book Reviewing risk, programme and commercial terms before tenders go out Presenting at tender interviews and supporting negotiations through to award Handing awarded projects into delivery and supporting the team through mobilisation Shaping the plan for how the mechanical division grows, with a view to leading it in future What We're Looking For
A strong background in mechanical estimating or pre-construction with an M&E or mechanical contractor Experience pricing mechanical packages across a range of project types and values Good technical knowledge of mechanical building services, including heating, ventilation, cooling and plumbing Commercial awareness, and the confidence to assess risk without a committee behind you The drive to build something new rather than slot into an established team Full UK driving licence Established supplier and subcontractor relationships would be a real advantage, as would an interest in progressing towards a director-level role, though neither is essential on day one. What's on Offer
£70,000 - £80,000 depending on experience Director potential (As the division grows) Full company benefits package The chance to set up and grow a new mechanical division inside an established business The backing of a known name in electrical contracting, with existing clients ready for full M&E packages 3D BIM design coordination and energy services in the wider group, available to support mechanical bids
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