Senior Estimator

A Senior Estimator is required in Edinburgh and Scotland to work on major UK civil engineering and infrastructure projects.

This home-based Senior Estimator role will suit candidates based in Edinburgh, the Central Belt or the wider Scotland region who have strong first principles estimating experience on major civils projects, ideally worth £200m or more.

Project Details

The successful Senior Estimator will be based from home in Edinburgh, the Central Belt, Scotland or a commutable surrounding area, with travel to team and client meetings in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Midlands and across the country as required.

This Senior Estimator vacancy will focus on major civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the UK, including nuclear, rail, aviation, dockyard, ports, utilities and regulated water infrastructure projects.

The role will also include work on long-term water framework projects, including water treatment, wastewater treatment, networks, pipelines, pumping stations, resilience schemes and associated civil engineering infrastructure.

This is a Senior Estimator job that will particularly suit an Edinburgh or Scotland based candidate who enjoys technically challenging civils estimating, early contractor involvement, pre-construction work and the development of robust tender submissions for high value infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Senior Estimator will be responsible for preparing accurate, detailed and commercially sound estimates for major civil engineering and infrastructure tenders. A key focus of the role will be estimating from first principles, rather than simply relying on subcontractor quotations.

This role can be home based from Edinburgh, the Central Belt, Scotland or a suitable nearby location, with travel to team meetings, tender reviews, client meetings and project meetings in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Midlands and across the UK.

Duties and responsibilities will include:

• Preparing first principles estimates for major civil engineering and infrastructure projects
• Working on tenders for projects and frameworks in nuclear, rail, aviation, dockyards, ports, water and utilities infrastructure
• Estimating large civils infrastructure projects, ideally including schemes valued at £200m or more
• Reviewing tender documentation, drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and employer’s requirements
• Building up labour, plant, material, temporary works and subcontract cost allowances
• Assessing risk, opportunity, programme, logistics, access constraints and construction methodology
• Working closely with bid teams, planners, design managers, commercial managers and operational delivery teams
• Attending team and client meetings in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Midlands and across the country when required
• Challenging design, methodology and programme assumptions to improve tender competitiveness
• Producing cost plans, tender pricing documents, adjudication packs and commercial submission information
• Supporting ECI, framework and two-stage tender opportunities where required
• Liaising with supply chain partners while retaining ownership of core civils estimating build-ups
• Contributing to tender settlement meetings and explaining key estimate assumptions to senior stakeholders
• Maintaining estimating data, benchmarking information and lessons learned from previous infrastructure projects
• Supporting junior estimators and wider pre-construction colleagues where required

Desired Skills and Experience

The successful Senior Estimator will need strong civil engineering estimating experience and a good understanding of how major infrastructure projects are planned, priced and delivered.

This Senior Estimator role is likely to suit a candidate already living in Edinburgh, the Central Belt, Scotland or a nearby region, who is comfortable working from home and travelling to meetings when needed.

Desired skills and experience include:

• Strong experience as an Estimator or Senior Estimator within civil engineering, infrastructure or major projects
• Experience of estimating major civils infrastructure projects, ideally with project values of £200m or more
• Proven ability to estimate from first principles
• Good knowledge of civil engineering construction methods, temporary works, earthworks, structures, utilities, highways, rail, aviation, water or heavy infrastructure
• Experience working for a civil engineering contractor, infrastructure contractor or major projects business
• Ability to interrogate drawings, technical documents, specifications and construction programmes
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify tender risks and opportunities
• Experience of working on framework, ECI, design and build or two-stage tenders would be advantageous
• Experience of water, nuclear, rail, aviation, dockyard, ports or regulated infrastructure projects would be beneficial
• Strong communication skills and confidence presenting estimate assumptions to senior colleagues and clients
• Ability to work effectively from home while remaining connected to colleagues, clients and project teams across Edinburgh, Scotland and the wider UK
• Good attention to detail, methodical working style and ability to work to tender deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively with bid, design, planning, commercial and operational teams

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related construction discipline would be preferred
• Relevant estimating, commercial or civil engineering experience will also be strongly considered
• Professional membership or progress towards membership of RICS, CIOB, ICE or a similar body would be advantageous
• Good IT skills and experience using estimating software, Microsoft Excel and tender management systems will be expected

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is working with a leading UK civil engineering and infrastructure contractor to identify a Senior Estimator for its growing pre-construction and work winning team.

The employer delivers complex infrastructure across Edinburgh, Scotland, the Midlands and the wider UK, with experience across water, nuclear, rail, aviation, ports, roads, utilities and other technically demanding civil engineering sectors.

The business is involved in major projects and long-term frameworks, including regulated water and wastewater infrastructure, live operational environments and large-scale multidisciplinary schemes. Its work is focused on delivering essential infrastructure, improving resilience and supporting long-term value for clients and communities.

A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Salary negotiable, subject to experience
• Home-based role from Edinburgh, the Central Belt, Scotland or a nearby suitable location
• Travel to team and client meetings in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Midlands and across the country as required
• Package details to be confirmed
• Long-term career prospects within major UK infrastructure and civil engineering
• Opportunity to work on major projects and long-term frameworks