Senior Estimator

Senior Estimator / Cost Planner

Location: Manchester

Salary: Up to £95,000 + Car Allowance + Excellent Package

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Estimator / Cost Planner to lead and support the preparation of construction bids from feasibility and early-stage cost planning through to contract award.

You will be responsible for developing robust cost plans, estimating strategies and commercial submissions across complex, large-scale developments. Working closely with the Cost Planning & Estimating Director and wider project teams, you will coordinate estimating, preliminaries, fees, value engineering, risk and opportunity, and cost plan governance.

The role will involve leading bids independently or working as part of a wider commercial team, depending on the scale and complexity of the opportunity. You will also play an important role in mentoring and developing junior members of the estimating and cost planning team.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate cost planning and estimating activities from feasibility through to contract price.
Develop cost planning strategies, programmes and resource requirements for bids.
Prepare, review and present cost plans, preliminaries, fees, cost commentary and commercial submissions.
Coordinate inputs from design, procurement, project management, planning, legal, insurance, construction and commercial teams.
Ensure cost plans comply with the project brief, client requirements, funding parameters and internal governance processes.
Quantify and price projects from RIBA Stage 0/1 through to Stage 4, including the analysis of subcontractor and market pricing.
Manage external cost consultants and quantity surveying resources where required.
Challenge design teams to deliver efficient solutions within cost plan parameters.
Lead and support value engineering, value management and design-to-cost initiatives.
Assess commercial risk, opportunity, contingency, inflation and market conditions.
Maintain change control and cost movement records through design development and project delivery.
Develop and maintain benchmarking data, cost databases and market intelligence.
Analyse design metrics and benchmark data to support cost planning decisions.
Prepare clear cost narratives and present recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance reviews.
Support the development of best practice, standards, processes and knowledge sharing across the team.
Mentor and develop junior estimators and cost planners.
Contribute to safety, design risk management and the elimination of hazards through the design and conversion process.

Essential Experience and Skills

Extensive experience in construction estimating, cost planning and commercial management.
Experience of large-scale, complex and multi-phase developments.
Strong knowledge of construction methods, sequencing, building technology and procurement routes.
Proven experience across multiple sectors, ideally including commercial and public sector projects.
Experience leading bids through initial tender and conversion stages.
Strong understanding of subcontractor markets, tendering and package analysis.
Experience in value engineering, design-to-cost and risk and opportunity management.
Strong benchmarking, data analysis and cost forecasting capabilities.
Advanced Excel and cost management software skills; experience with CostX and Power BI is desirable.
Ability to peer review work and provide technical guidance to colleagues.
Strong commercial acumen and the ability to influence and build relationships with stakeholders.
Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
Strong organisation, prioritisation and time management skills.

Qualifications

Relevant professional construction qualification or equivalent experience.
MRICS, MCIOB or relevant professional chartership preferred.
Valid CSCS card appropriate to the role.

Key Behaviours

We are looking for someone who demonstrates accountability, ownership and attention to detail, with the ability to manage complexity and deliver to key deadlines.

You will be collaborative, commercially focused and confident in influencing stakeholders. You will also be committed to safety, quality, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, with the ability to lead, mentor and develop others