Lead Estimator
Sector – Civil Engineering, Rail, Aviation, Power, Environment & Highways
Locations: Warrington or Barnsley
We are seeking a skilled and experienced
Lead Estimator to join our pre-contract teams in the East and West regions. You will work on a diverse portfolio of multi-disciplinary engineering projects across sectors including rail, highways, aviation, environment, and power. The successful candidate will lead the development and pricing of tenders that are commercially viable, competitive, and cost-effective, aligned with client needs. Additionally, you will provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to regional estimating teams to support their growth and success.
The Role
As the Lead Estimator for the North (East & West) regions, based in either Barnsley or Warrington, you will report to the Regional Senior Pre-Contracts Manager. Your key responsibilities will include leading the development and pricing of tenders, supporting the long-term growth of the regional estimating team, and managing major frameworks across the region, such as EA CDF and National Highways SDF. You will also oversee the national tender book and Causeway, ensuring these are managed responsibly.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the distribution and updating of the companywide tender book for your region.
- Collaborate with procurement to establish and maintain key supply chain relationships.
- Lead and facilitate the supplier feedback process during tendering.
- Provide support, mentorship, and guidance to the estimating team and other department members.
- Review tender information for completeness and flag potential issues.
- Produce quantity take-offs from tender documents and drawings using traditional methods or software like Causeway.
- Analyse Sub-Contractor, supplier, and merchant quotations, including normalisation.
- Benchmark data from past projects against first principles estimates.
- Support bid teams by developing methodologies for works delivery where appropriate.
- Work closely with other departments to develop and implement bid strategies.
- Collaborate with tender planners to ensure tender programmes meet or exceed client expectations.
- Prepare tenders and pricing using first principles estimating techniques.
- Independently review and verify pricing submitted by others, identifying areas for improvement.
- Ensure all tender documentation is checked by senior team members before submission.
- Liaise with Sub-contractors, suppliers, and merchants to gather competitive quotations.
- Identify and evaluate project risks, recommending mitigation strategies.
- Develop clear, comprehensive tender and pricing documentation for internal review.
- Prepare client-facing tender submissions with accuracy and appropriate level of detail.
- Assist in final commercial reviews and in preparing responses for post-tender clarifications.
- Support the handover process to the commercial team upon successful bid award.
Candidate Profile
- Proven experience in a senior estimating role (Head of, Lead, or Principal Estimator) within rail and civil engineering projects.
- Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and mentorship skills.
- Experience managing major frameworks and national tenders.
- Strong relationship-building skills with clients, suppliers, and internal teams.
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
- Proactive leadership style that fosters continuous improvement.
- Confident in taking the lead and inspiring peers to collaborate effectively.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary (negotiable based on experience)
- Company car or car allowance
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life insurance
- Westfield Health Cash Plan & Rewards
- Opportunities for personal and professional development
- A safe working environment
- Employee forums providing a platform for your voice
If you are passionate about leading estimations in a dynamic environment and want to be part of a forward-thinking organisation, we look forward to hearing from you.
The Company
Why AmcoGiffen?
You will be joining a reputable and firmly established, engineering contractor operating nationally in rail, civils and engineering markets. AmcoGiffen are renowned in the market as a specialist civil, building, mechanical and electrical renewals and maintenance business with ongoing and successful projects and frameworks across the country, you will become part of our expert outfit.
AmcoGiffen has a wealth of experience working on sensitive, live assets in highly regulated environments, we deliver exceptional peace of mind for our customers, creating and maintaining assets across a growing range of high-quality public and private sectors. These include rail, power generation, electricity distribution, flood defence, aviation, waterways and much more.
Diversity & Inclusion at AmcoGiffen
We value collective expertise, but also the spark that one person can bring. As one of us, you can be you, because your individuality is an asset to our business and the communities in which we work and represent.
We are working hard as part of the civil engineering and construction industry, to improve diversity & inclusion. Our Diversity and inclusion journey at AmcoGiffen, is constantly evolving and is designed to break down barriers and promote the principles of a diverse workforce through multiple channels. This includes delivering training, raising awareness, regular forums and sharing our engagement calendar of activities and events to encourage participation at all levels throughout our organisation.
Diversity & Inclusion is embodied throughout our SPIRIT core Business values and lies at the heart of our culture of Safety, Professionalism, Innovation, Respect, Integrity and Teamwork.
AmcoGiffen is an Equal Opportunities Employer, offering challenging, worthwhile careers to everyone and is pro-actively committed to improving our understanding year on year to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees as well as for the customers and communities in which we serve and operate within. It doesn’t matter to us what your age, disability, employment status, gender, health, marital status, sexual preference, membership or non-membership of a trade union, nationality, race, religion or social class are, or indeed any other personal characteristics not directly related to the relevant job. Anyone who meets the requirements of the job is eligible for employment with AmcoGiffen.
Health & Wellbeing
Operating from a people first perspective we support safety and wellbeing in the workplace as a priority. We have large number of colleagues that are trained and qualified mental health first aiders to support and listen where appropriate. We enrol all of the AmcoGiffen family onto an employee assistance programme which provides 24 hour, 7 days a week counselling and advice services.
Is AmcoGiffen your next career challenge? If so, apply now!
For more information or to arrange a private and confidential discussion about AmcoGiffen career opportunities, please contact our Recruitment Team:
[email protected]
Recruitment Manager
