J3A Recruitment
Senior Estimator
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Senior Estimator – Civil Engineering
Location: Greater Manchester
Salary: Up to £90,000
Package: 10% car allowance, company bonus, private healthcare and 24 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
Employment: Permanent, full-time
J3A Recruitment is supporting a well-established civil engineering and infrastructure contractor in the appointment of an experienced Senior Estimator.
Operating across the North West, the business delivers essential projects within utilities, highways, wastewater, and major infrastructure. With a strong pipeline of work secured through long-term frameworks and strategic client partnerships, this is an excellent opportunity to join a growing and highly regarded pre-construction team.
The Role
As Senior Estimator, you will take responsibility for preparing competitive and commercially robust tenders across a varied portfolio of civil engineering projects.
Working closely with the commercial, operational, and bid teams, you will assess tender requirements, develop accurate first-principles estimates, and help create winning tender strategies.
Key Responsibilities
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- Preparing detailed estimates and cost plans from first principles
- Reviewing tender documentation, drawings, and specifications
- Completing quantity take-offs and assessing project scope
- Identifying commercial risks, opportunities, and value-engineering solutions
- Managing subcontractor and supplier enquiries
- Analysing quotations and negotiating with the supply chain
- Assessing construction methodologies, resources, and programme requirements
- Producing accurate, high-quality tender submissions
- Participating in tender reviews and project handovers
- Maintaining pricing databases and benchmarking information
- Supporting continuous improvement across the estimating function
About You
We are looking for an experienced civil engineering estimator with strong technical knowledge, sound commercial judgement, and the ability to manage complex tenders within challenging deadlines.
Ideal Qualifications
- At least five years’ estimating experience within civil engineering
- A minimum of five years’ previous site-based civil engineering experience
- An HNC, HND, or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
- Experience pricing infrastructure, highways, utilities, wastewater, or reinforced concrete projects
- Strong first-principles estimating capability
- Experience using estimating software such as Valesco, Causeway, Conquest, or Candy
- A good understanding of CESMM, HMM/HWMM, and SMM7
- Working knowledge of NEC contracts
- Strong commercial, analytical, and supply-chain management skills
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Beneficial Experience
- Experience working within framework environments or pricing projects for utilities, local authorities, or aviation clients
What’s on Offer
- Salary of up to £90,000
- 10% car allowance
- Company bonus scheme
- Private healthcare
- 24 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Professional development and accredited training
- Genuine opportunities for career progression
- A strong pipeline of major infrastructure projects across the North West
If you are an experienced Senior Estimator looking to join a successful and expanding civil engineering contractor, apply today or contact J3A Recruitment for a confidential discussion.
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