Senior Estimator
Location: Bedford
Salary: £40,000–£60,000 DOE
Hours: 8:30–17:00
Benefits
- 25 days holiday per year, with 2–4 days reserved for Christmas shutdown
- Discretionary bonus
- Pension scheme, including salary sacrifice option after 3 months and company‑matched contributions
- Supportive, family‑run culture
- Long‑term progression within a growing department
- Stable business with 50+ years’ trading history
The Company
A long‑established manufacturer and subcontractor delivering high‑security solutions for the UK construction sector. They design and install specialist products including ballistic and blast‑resistant doors, walls, windows and louvres for government, healthcare and critical‑infrastructure projects.
With continued expansion in the estimating department, they are now recruiting a Senior Estimator to lead pricing activity and manage a team of three within a diverse and technically specialist workload.
The Role: Senior Estimator
A senior-level position overseeing all estimating activity, managing a team of three, and taking ownership of tender strategy, pricing accuracy and submission quality. You will review complex technical specifications, produce detailed cost plans, and work closely with engineering, production and project teams to validate costs and support commercial decision‑making.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of three estimators, including workload planning and quality control
- Review tender documents, drawings and specifications for high‑security products
- Prepare detailed cost estimates, pricing schedules and bills of quantities
- Oversee tender submissions, ensuring accuracy, competitiveness and compliance
- Liaise with suppliers, subcontractors and internal technical teams
- Support value engineering, risk assessment and commercial strategy
- Maintain organised records of estimates, revisions and submissions
- Contribute to continuous improvement across the estimating function
Required Skills & Experience
- Strong estimating background within manufacturing, specialist products or construction
- Experience managing or mentoring junior estimators
- Ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications
- Confident using Excel and estimation software, with Bluebeam or PlanSwift beneficial
- Knowledge of AutoCAD beneficial
- Strong analytical skills, commercial awareness and attention to detail
- Organised, proactive and able to lead within a growing department
Why Join Them
- Leadership role managing a team of three
- Highly specialist, secure-sector projects
- Supportive family-run culture
- Long-term progression within a stable, expanding business
- Competitive salary and benefits package