Turner & Townsend
Estimating Associate Director/ Project Director Defence

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
At Turner & Townsend, we’re passionate about making the difference. That means delivering better outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realise their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society. Every day, we help our major global clients deliver ambitious and highly technical projects in over 110 offices worldwide.
Turner & Townsend within the UK has a wide range of key clients in various sectors, including Health, Local Authorities, Higher Education, Highways, Utilities, Rail, and Defence. Our diverse portfolio of clients provides our team members with unique and rewarding opportunities to gain experience across a broad range of major programmes and projects.
Turner & Townsend are a key Tier 1 supplier of project and programme management services to the Ministry of Defence and strategic Defence suppliers in the UK. We play a crucial role in supporting the defence of the United Kingdom, whilst ensuring our clients achieve better outcomes.
Job Description
Important: Before applying, due to the sensitive nature of these projects, you must be a SOLE UK National who is able to achieve and maintain UK MoD Security Clearance (SC). See Security Clearance Section.
Turner & Townsend is one of the leading consultancy providers to the Infrastructure sector and we have a thriving UK Estimating team making the difference for a large number of clients both in the UK and Overseas. We are now looking for talented Associate Directors and Project Directors with proven estimating leadership skills to work with a number of our key Defence sector clients across the the South East, South West and Midlands on a wide variety of exciting projects/programmes.
Our team deliver a wide range of estimating outputs for our clients, to support their decision making, including:
- Estimate production (from Order of Magnitude estimates through to detailed estimates built up from first principles)
- Estimating assurance
- Major programmes estimating strategy
- Estimating data
As a Associate Director/ Project Director within the Estimating team at Turner & Townsend you will be responsible for:
- Leading or managing the production of accurate and comprehensive estimates and cost plans for projects/programmes
- Playing a leading role in the development and promotion of estimating good practice within Turner & Townsend;
- Playing a leading role in the achievement of departmental objectives;
- Staying abreast of developments within own technical area of expertise
- Supporting or leading bids for new work
- Providing direction to staff working for you and with you on specific tasks.
- Acting as a role model for less experienced staff
- Taking a lead role in interfacing with the client and other consultants, at all project stages
- Taking responsibility for developing new business opportunities with existing and new Turner & Townsend clients
- Identifying and acting upon cross-selling opportunities
- Staff management (where appropriate)
- Knowledge management
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Qualifications
Qualifications / Experience
- Proven Estimating Leadership experience
- Defence sector estimating experience
- Qualified to high standard in Estimating or Quantity Surveying with proven relevant experience
- Previous experience of working with estimating software packages;
- Desirable membership of RICS / CIOB / A. Cost E.
- Experience of working on Major Programmes and Projects
- Experience of working in the Defence sector
- Experience in leading and managing teams
Additional Information
Security Clearance
Important: Before applying, due to the sensitive nature of these projects, you must be a Sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain UK MoD Security Clearance (SC).
Many of the clients and projects we support are subject to MoD security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance and working parents.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and have active networks who are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community. Our “One Employee Network (OEN)” is a unified umbrella, developed to influence, champion and support Turner & Townsend’s ambition to become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. As well as advocating for employees who identify with specific groups and communities, our networks such as but not limited to DE&I, Unity, Womens Network, Wellbeing, Military, Parents and Carers enhance and share best practice and encourage dialogue across our business.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
Videos to Watch
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills