United Utilities
Estimating Manager
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Estimating Manager
Shape Investment Decisions That Matter
At United Utilities, we're investing in the future of water and wastewater services across the North West. To help deliver this investment successfully, we're looking for an experienced Estimating Manager to lead our estimating function and provide the cost insight that supports confident, evidence-based decision making.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a team of estimating professionals, influence major investment programmes, and help ensure billions of pounds of investment deliver value for customers, communities, and the environment.
You'll combine technical expertise with strong leadership, helping to develop our estimating capability while driving continuous improvement, innovation, and consistency across our capital delivery portfolio.
What You'll Do
As Estimating Manager, you'll lead the development and delivery of high-quality estimating services across a diverse portfolio of projects and programmes.
Lead and develop the estimating function
- Provide leadership, direction and support to a team of Estimators and Senior Estimators.
- Create an environment where people can grow, collaborate, and perform at their best.
- Build capability through coaching, mentoring, and development opportunities.
- Promote professional standards and continuous improvement across the team.
Deliver trusted cost insight
- Ensure estimates are accurate, transparent, evidence-based, and aligned to business and regulatory requirements.
- Provide cost information and analysis that supports investment decisions and programme planning.
- Help senior leaders understand opportunities, risks, assumptions, and confidence levels associated with project costs.
- Support the development of robust and credible business cases.
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Drive governance and quality
- Establish and maintain effective estimating processes, controls, and assurance activities.
- Ensure estimates are consistently developed, reviewed, and maintained to a high standard.
- Support internal and external assurance activities and drive improvements as required.
- Promote consistency of approach across programmes and projects.
Use data and insight to improve performance
- Make the most of historical performance data, market intelligence, and benchmarking information.
- Develop and enhance cost databases, productivity rates, and estimating tools.
- Identify trends, opportunities, and lessons learned to continuously improve estimate quality and accuracy.
- Champion data-driven decision-making across the estimating community.
Influence across the business
- Partner with Engineering, Project Management, Finance, Commercial, Planning, and Risk teams.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Capital Delivery.
- Provide constructive challenge and recommendations to support better outcomes.
- Contribute to the ongoing development of investment planning and delivery practices.
What We're Looking For
We're interested in your experience, potential, and leadership capability. If you meet most of the criteria below, we'd encourage you to apply.
Essential
- Significant experience leading estimating activities within a capital delivery, infrastructure, engineering, or utilities environment.
- Strong understanding of estimating principles, cost management, and assurance processes.
- Experience leading, developing, and motivating high-performing teams.
- Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret and communicate complex cost information.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge constructively.
- Experience driving process improvement, innovation, or capability development within an estimating function.
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Desirable
- Degree qualification or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience working within a regulated industry.
- Professional membership of ACoste, RICS, ICE, or a similar professional body.
- Knowledge of estimating systems, benchmarking techniques, and cost data management.
Why Join Us?
At United Utilities, you'll help shape investment decisions that directly impact millions of customers and communities.
We offer:
- 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after four years, plus bank holidays
- Competitive pension with up to 14% employer contribution
- Up to 20% performance-related bonus
- Car allowance
- Company-funded healthcare plan
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Learning and development opportunities to support your career ambitions
- The opportunity to work on some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure investment programmes
About United Utilities
United Utilities proudly serves the North West, delivering high-quality water and wastewater services that support healthier communities, a stronger economy, and a greener environment.
We're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. If you're excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you. Diverse perspectives help us build stronger teams and better outcomes for our customers and communities.
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