Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the estimating team and develop competitive bids for social housing projects.
- Company: Join a top-tier UK Main Contractor with a focus on social housing.
- Benefits: Up to £100K salary plus benefits, including professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social housing while driving sustainable growth and innovation.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in social housing estimating and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career advancement and team development.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 100000 £ per year.
Do you have Senior Estimating experience working for a Social Housing Contractor? We are working with one of the UK’s leading Tier 1 Main Contractors who are hiring for a Senior Estimator / Head of department.
You will take ownership of developing robust, compliant and commercially competitive bids across a wide range of workstreams, including Repairs & Maintenance (such as M&E and Planned Works), Central Government housing and support services, Decarbonisation and Net Zero programmes. 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.
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.
Senior Estimator in London employer: Richardson Recruit
Contact Detail:
Richardson Recruit Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Estimator in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your knowledge about their work in social housing and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience in estimating and how it aligns with their needs. Highlight your leadership skills and ability to manage multiple bids under pressure – that’s what they want to hear!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Estimator in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Senior Estimator role. Highlight your experience in social housing estimating and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this position. Mention your leadership experience and how you can contribute to our commercial strategy. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Include specific examples of successful bids or value engineering solutions you've implemented. We love numbers, so quantify your successes where possible!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get the best experience. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Richardson Recruit
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Estimator, you'll need to demonstrate your strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail. Brush up on key metrics related to social housing estimating and be ready to discuss how you've developed pricing strategies in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires a collaborative leader who can build high-performing teams. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in previous roles, focusing on your ability to influence strategic decisions and drive value engineering.
✨Understand the Tender Lifecycle
Make sure you can articulate your end-to-end tender lifecycle experience. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you managed multiple bids under tight deadlines and how you navigated post-tender negotiations.
✨Communicate Clearly
Excellent communication is key for this position. Practice simplifying complex commercial reasoning into clear, concise proposals. Think about how you would present your commercial proposals at a senior leadership level and be ready to showcase that skill during the interview.