Senior Estimating Manager

Senior Estimating Manager

Location: Homebased – Remote, with UK travel

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 40 per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £91,000, plus £4,800 car allowance

About the Role

The Senior Estimator is a key role within the commercial estimating and tendering function, responsible for producing high‑quality, competitive and compliant bids across all business streams. You will develop robust cost models, assess risk, collaborate with operational and commercial stakeholders, and ensure all estimating outputs meet the standards set by the Head of Estimating.

This role works closely with Business Development, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance to support sustainable growth and protect margin. You will report directly to the Head of Estimating.

Key Responsibilities

Purpose

• Lead the preparation of robust, compliant and competitive estimates aligned to company commercial strategy
• Ensure pricing, methodology, risk and assumptions are clearly articulated and aligned with operational delivery
• Provide analytical insight, industry knowledge and commercial judgement to support tender adjudications
• Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating processes, knowledge bases and governance frameworks

Estimating & Commercial Proposal Development

• Prepare detailed estimates and commercial submissions for tenders across Repairs & Maintenance (including M&E and Planned Works), Central Government housing and support, Decarbonisation and Net Zero programmes, and DLO support
• Build cost models from first principles with accuracy and commercial integrity
• Support value engineering, scenario modelling and pricing strategy development
• Analyse tender documentation, specifications and operational data to ensure deliverable proposals
• Provide clear written and verbal summaries of assumptions, pricing logic and risks

Tender Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure all estimating outputs meet internal governance standards for completeness and compliance
• Support tender clarifications, RFIs and responses to client queries
• Assist with commercial review of contracts and legal documents alongside Legal and Operations
• Identify and document key financial and delivery risks for adjudication

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Work collaboratively with Business Development and Operations to ensure bids reflect operational capability
• Engage with supply chain partners to secure competitive quotations and maintain market intelligence
• Present estimating outputs and recommendations to senior stakeholders when required

Mobilisation & Continuous Improvement

• Support mobilisation teams post‑award, ensuring clarity of estimating assumptions
• Participate in post‑contract reviews and outturn cost analysis to improve future pricing
• Contribute to enhancements in systems, templates, cost databases and knowledge repositories

Team Support & Development

• Act as a senior technical resource, providing mentoring to junior estimators
• Promote accuracy, commercial discipline and collaborative working
• Deputise for the Head of Estimating when required

Essential Experience:

• Significant experience in social housing, R&M, planned works or related construction estimating
• Strong working knowledge of NHF Schedule of Rates
• Proven experience producing cost models and pricing strategies for medium–large tenders
• Experience engaging with clients, supply chain and internal stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple bids to tight deadlines
• Good understanding of NEC and JCT contract forms
• Strong analytical skills and commercial awareness

Desirable Experience:

• Experience in a large contracting or housing services environment
• Familiarity with estimating software and data analytics tools
• Professional qualification in QS, Construction Management or similar (or working towards)

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong numerical ability and exceptional attention to detail
• Clear, confident communicator able to explain commercial reasoning to all audiences
• Proactive problem‑solver with a continuous improvement mindset
• Ability to interpret complex specifications and technical documentation
• Highly organised, deadline‑driven and able to prioritise effectively
• Collaborative team player with mentoring capability
• Strong commercial judgement and ability to challenge assumptions constructively

Benefits:

• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and much more  
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 3 x Life assurance
• private medical care for you and your family
• £4,800 car allowance
• Generous Pension Scheme and sick pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mears Rewards – discount voucher scheme for a host of household name retailers, including supermarkets, offering savings on purchases
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work! Previous years include, Alton Towers, Drayton Manor etc
• Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake volunteering in the community for two days per year, in support of our social value commitment

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.

Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.

Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.

At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.