At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare and manage high-value tenders for social housing and refurbishment projects.
- Company: Join a leading national property services business with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, car allowance, bonus, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on major contracts and drive strategic growth in the industry.
- Qualifications: Proven estimating experience in social housing and strong commercial awareness required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
If you're an experienced Estimator with a background in social housing, planned maintenance or refurbishment, this is an opportunity to take ownership of high-value tenders and play an important role in the growth of a major national property services business.
We're looking for a commercially astute Senior Estimator who knows how to build competitive, profitable tenders, understands the complexities of large-scale housing programmes and can bring fresh thinking to the estimating process. This is a UK-wide, hybrid based position. You'll have the flexibility to work remotely, with travel to local regional offices when required.
The Opportunity
- You'll be joining an established national property maintenance and compliance business, delivering essential services across social housing, education, healthcare, defence and commercial property.
- With a workforce of over 2,500 people, 23 offices nationwide and more than 400,000 repairs completed each year, the business has the scale, experience and infrastructure to deliver some of the UK's most significant property improvement programmes.
As Senior Estimator, you'll be instrumental in securing the next generation of strategic contracts, producing robust and commercially competitive tenders across a diverse range of works.
What You'll Be Doing
- Preparing and managing high-value tenders across planned maintenance, social housing refurbishment and retrofit programmes.
- Developing accurate cost estimates from drawings, specifications, schedules of rates and first-principles cost build-ups.
- Pricing labour, materials, plant, subcontract packages, preliminaries and associated on-costs.
- Working with NHF Schedules of Rates, reviewing existing rates and identifying opportunities to improve commercial returns.
- Managing subcontractor and supplier enquiries, analysing quotations and benchmarking costs.
- Identifying commercial risks, opportunities, specification gaps and areas requiring clarification.
- Working closely with operational, technical and commercial teams to develop competitive and deliverable solutions.
- Contributing to tender adjudications and leading commercial handovers to operational teams.
- Supporting continuous improvement across estimating processes, cost databases and tender management.
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience in a Senior Estimator or similar estimating position.
- A background in social housing, property services, planned maintenance or refurbishment.
- Strong knowledge of tender preparation and commercial pricing.
- Experience working with schedules of rates, ideally NHF.
- The ability to build accurate estimates from first principles.
- Experience pricing subcontractor, direct delivery and labour-only packages.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify risks and opportunities.
- Confident communication skills and the ability to work with stakeholders across multiple teams.
- Experience in whole-house retrofit, decarbonisation, energy-efficiency programmes and block refurbishment would be particularly advantageous.
What's On Offer
- £80,000–£100,000 salary, depending on experience.
- UK-wide hybrid working.
- Car allowance.
- Performance-related bonus.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Pension and medical scheme options.
- Life assurance.
- Ongoing development and progression opportunities.
- The opportunity to influence major national contracts and strategic business growth.
Interested? If you're an experienced Estimator looking for a role that combines significant commercial responsibility, a strong pipeline of work and genuine flexibility around where you work, we'd be interested in speaking with you. Apply today or get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Senior Estimator employer: Skilled Careers
At Skilled Careers, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer in the construction industry, offering a supportive work culture that values teamwork and personal growth. Our employees benefit from comprehensive training opportunities, competitive pay, and a commitment to safety, all while working in the vibrant community of Barton Le Clay. Join us to not only advance your career but also to be part of a company that truly cares about its workforce and their development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Estimator
✨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 Skilled Careers, 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 Estimator at Skilled Careers.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Estimator
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 Skilled Careers
✨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!
