Job Description
Are you an experienced Senior Estimator with a strong background in rail civils, including station builds, bridge refurbishments, embankment stabilisation, earthworks or structural works?
Do you have experience producing detailed first-principles estimates within a competitive tendering environment?
Are you looking for a permanent opportunity with a successful infrastructure contractor offering varied projects, long-term career development and a collaborative working environment?
Location: Wakefield + 1 day working from home per week
Salary: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum DOE, with flexibility for an experienced Senior Estimator
Benefits:
·£6,335 car allowance or company car
·26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
·Option to purchase an additional five days of annual leave
·4.5% employer pension contribution
·£150 health cash plan
·One day working from home each week
·Flexible working with core hours of 9:30am to 4:00pm
·40-hour working week
·Award-winning training and professional development opportunities
·Two paid volunteering days each year
Role Overview:
My client is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Estimator to join its pre-construction and work-winning team, based from its Wakefield office.
The position will involve preparing high-quality, commercially viable tenders across a varied portfolio of civil engineering and infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on rail, transportation, highways, active travel schemes and water infrastructure.
Projects will include new build railway stations, station refurbishments, bridge works, embankment stabilisation, earthworks, soil nailing, drainage, surfacing and general civil engineering schemes. The business is involved in delivering projects through established frameworks with clients including Network Rail, NEPO and local authorities, alongside opportunities across the wider transportation and infrastructure sectors.
Typical projects range from £1 million to £5 million, with opportunities to work on larger schemes, including new station developments valued at approximately £25 million.
The successful candidate must have strong experience producing detailed estimates from first principles, including labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, preliminaries and production outputs. You will be comfortable working within competitive tendering environments, often managing challenging deadlines, incomplete tender information and complex pricing requirements.
You will manage tenders from initial allocation through to submission and contract award, working closely with operational, commercial, procurement and delivery teams to develop robust construction methodologies and competitive pricing strategies.
The successful candidate will join a small, collaborative estimating team and will have the opportunity to take ownership of tenders, contribute to the continued growth of the Eastern region and support the business in diversifying across rail, transportation and water infrastructure markets.
The role would ideally suit someone with a strong rail civils background, although candidates with broader civil engineering, highways, structures or infrastructure experience will also be considered. Experience in track laying or rail systems is not required, as the focus is predominantly on civil engineering works.
Candidates from both main contractor and multidisciplinary subcontractor backgrounds will be considered, provided they can demonstrate strong first-principles estimating experience and a practical understanding of construction delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
·Manage multiple tenders from initial enquiry and allocation through to submission, negotiation and contract award
·Produce detailed first-principles estimates covering labour, plant, materials, subcontractors and preliminaries
·Prepare competitive estimates for rail civils, bridges, structures, earthworks, highways, drainage, active travel and general infrastructure projects
·Review drawings, specifications, bills of quantities, contract documents and tender information
·Assess construction methodologies, resource requirements, temporary works and production outputs
·Interrogate and challenge resource levels, cost models, assumptions and pricing strategies
·Apply relevant methods of measurement, including CESMM, MCHW and similar industry standards
·Identify and evaluate tender risks, opportunities, exclusions and commercial considerations
·Make informed pricing assumptions where tender information is incomplete or ambiguous
·Obtain, review and negotiate competitive quotations from subcontractors and suppliers
·Develop value engineering proposals, efficiencies and alternative delivery solutions
·Lead tender meetings and coordinate input from operational, commercial and technical teams
·Maintain clear communication with clients, suppliers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders
·Prepare accurate tender submissions that are commercially competitive and technically robust
·Support post-tender negotiations and respond to client clarifications
·Prepare detailed project handovers, clearly communicating allowances, assumptions, risks and opportunities
·Attend occasional site visits to develop an understanding of project requirements and construction constraints
·Support lessons learned and continuous improvement across estimating and work-winning activities
·Provide support, guidance and mentoring to less experienced members of the estimating team where required
Essential Requirements:
·Ideally ten or more years'' estimating experience within civil engineering or infrastructure construction
·Proven experience operating at Senior Estimator level, or a strong Estimator with the technical ability to progress into a senior position
·Strong experience producing detailed first-principles estimates rather than relying solely on subcontractor quotations
·Proven experience working within competitive tendering environments
·A strong civil engineering background, ideally covering rail civils, highways, earthworks, structures, drainage or associated infrastructure works
·Experience reviewing tender documentation and identifying pricing, contractual and delivery risks
·Ability to manage tenders independently and work effectively under tight deadlines
·Confidence in making informed assumptions and developing estimates where tender information is incomplete
·Strong understanding of construction methodologies, resource requirements and subcontractor management
Desirable Requirements:
·Previous estimating experience with a main contractor or multidisciplinary civil engineering subcontractor
·Experience pricing rail civils projects, including stations, bridges, embankments, structures and refurbishment works
·Experience estimating highways, active travel, earthworks, drainage, reinforced concrete or water infrastructure projects
·Knowledge of Network Rail requirements and experience working within operational railway environments
·Experience pricing projects for Network Rail, local authorities, NEPO, combined authorities or Tier 1 contractors
·Knowledge of CESMM, MCHW and other recognised methods of measurement
·Experience using estimating software such as Causeway or Candy
·A practical construction, site engineering or operational background
·HNC or higher qualification in Construction, Civil Engineering, the Built Environment or a related discipline
Working Arrangements:
The successful candidate will be based in the Wakefield office for a minimum of four days per week, with one day available to work from home. Occasional travel to project sites, client meetings and other regional offices may also be required.
The business places a strong emphasis on collaboration and team development, with estimators working closely alongside bid management, operational and commercial colleagues.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a financially secure and growing infrastructure contractor delivering projects across multiple sectors. The business offers a supportive, family-oriented working environment where employees are valued, senior management remains approachable and individuals have the opportunity to make a genuine impact.
For candidates looking to move away from larger Tier 1 environments, the position offers greater involvement in the full tendering process, exposure to a broader range of civil engineering projects and the opportunity to develop within a close-knit, experienced team.
If you are interested in applying for this Senior Estimator position, please email your CV to (url removed) or contact us for a confidential discussion.