DCS Engineering
Head of Commercial & Estimating
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Head of Commercial & Estimating - Rainham, Essex
£5,800 car allowance or company car
Hybrid working – typically 1-2 days from home depending on business requirements
Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
The Opportunity
We are supporting an established construction and building solutions business delivering refurbishment and new build projects across a range of sectors.
They are looking to appoint an experienced Head of Commercial & Estimating to take ownership of an established estimating function and lead its development across multiple business units.
This is a hands-on leadership role, with the successful candidate expected to remain closely involved in tendering while also overseeing and developing the wider estimating function. The role will be approximately 80% hands-on tendering and 20% leadership/oversight.
Projects span sectors including social housing, healthcare, education and commercial fit out, with values ranging from smaller works through to major schemes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the estimating function across multiple business units and sectors
- Prepare, develop and review detailed cost estimates for refurbishment and new build projects
- Manage and contribute to multiple tender submissions, ensuring accuracy and consistency
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, operational teams and other business functions
- Manage, support and develop a team of estimators
- Drive improvements to estimating processes, systems and tools
- Support the business in securing new work across a range of project values
- Ensure robust cost planning and estimating throughout the tender process
- Remain hands-on with complex and commercially significant tenders
- Provide leadership and strategic direction to the estimating function
- Identify opportunities to improve consistency, efficiency and commercial performance
- Contribute to the wider pre-construction strategy and development of the business
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What We're Looking For
- Proven experience within construction estimating, building solutions or a similar environment
- Experience leading, managing or influencing an estimating function
- Strong hands-on tendering and estimating experience
- Experience across refurbishment and/or new build projects
- Ability to manage multiple tenders across different sectors and project values
- Strong commercial awareness with excellent attention to detail
- Experience managing and developing estimating teams
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
- Ability to operate at both strategic and operational level
- Strong communication and organisational skills
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites when required
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The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be an experienced Estimator, Senior Estimator, Estimating Manager or Head of Estimating who enjoys remaining close to the detail while also taking responsibility for the wider estimating function.
You will be confident managing complex tenders, reviewing costs and developing estimating processes, while providing leadership and direction to an established team.
Experience across refurbishment, social housing, healthcare, education or commercial fit out would be particularly relevant.
What's on Offer
- 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Generous pension contribution
- Life assurance
- Training and development opportunities
- Opportunity to take ownership of an established estimating function
Please contact Coral at DCS to apply.
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