Head Estimator

Overview

The Head Estimator leads the estimating division, ensuring comprehensive commercial evaluation and governance of all tender submissions. This role is pivotal in delivering precise cost planning, implementing thorough risk assessments, and maintaining rigorous tender management. Acting as a strategic leader, the Head Estimator steers the bidding activities to secure profitable and strategically aligned projects while upholding high governance and estimating benchmarks.

Key Focus Areas

• Leadership and governance of tender strategy
• Commercial oversight, cost planning, and risk management
• Bid strategy formulation, monitoring performance, and ensuring profitability
• Guidance and development of the estimating team
• Driving continuous improvement and process enhancements

Primary Responsibilities

• Define and control the commercial strategy for the tender portfolio, aligning with growth goals, margin targets, and acceptable risk levels.
• Lead top-level bid evaluations, offering strategic insights on opportunity selection, bid positioning, and pricing methodologies.
• Authorize pricing strategies for major bids to maximize profitability, competitiveness, and optimized risk returns.
• Maintain and enforce estimating standards, controls, and procedures ensuring consistency and compliance in all tenders.
• Supervise creation, review, and validation of intricate cost structures to guarantee robustness and accuracy.
• Guide commercial aspects during bid adjudications, negotiations, and value engineering to safeguard margins and reduce exposure.
• Identify and assess major commercial, contractual, technical, and operational risks linked to tender opportunities.
• Incorporate adequate contingencies, risk allocations, and commercial assumptions within pricing and tender submissions.
• Stay informed of market trends, supplier pricing, subcontractor dynamics, and labor costs affecting project expenses.
• Develop competitive bidding strategies balancing profitability, feasibility, commercial appeal, and organisational risks.
• Collaborate closely with Commercial, Procurement, Operations, Engineering, and Project Leadership teams throughout tender processes.
• Ensure smooth handover post-tender award with clear communication of key assumptions, exclusions, risks, and commitments.
• Monitor bid portfolio results, analysing cost deviations and commercial outcomes to inform future improvements.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Estimating team fostering high professional standards and clear goals.
• Build organisational capability via training, succession planning, knowledge sharing, and ongoing professional growth.
• Encourage a collaborative and accountable culture driving departmental and company-wide objectives.
• Champion Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives supporting sustainability and corporate social responsibility within the function.
• Promote continuous process improvement, automation, and innovation to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Support the implementation and optimisation of digital estimating tools, analytics, and process automation techniques.
• Apply technical expertise and discipline-specific insights to ensure superior commercial and estimating results.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by management in line with organisational needs.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Robust understanding of enterprise-level commercial acumen and margin governance.
• Comprehensive expertise in estimating, tendering, cost planning, and commercial management practices.
• Proven ability to evaluate bids strategically and manage portfolio decisions.
• Deep insight into project costs, commercial risks, tender assumptions, and pricing strategies.
• Executive-level skills in negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management.
• Strong governance capabilities and effective process management with commercial controls.
• Experience leading and nurturing high-performing estimating teams.
• Superior analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in financial, commercial, and risk modelling techniques.
• Extensive market intelligence aptitude and competitive positioning expertise.
• Practical experience with digital estimating platforms and process transformation efforts.
• Knowledge in enterprise risk management and corporate governance frameworks.
• Track record in implementing continuous improvement, automation, or digitalisation in estimating or commercial roles.

Educational Background and Experience

• Degree or professional certification in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a relevant field.
• Alternatively, equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• At least 12 years of pertinent experience in Estimating, Tendering, Cost Management, Commercial Management, or related disciplines.
• Proven capability managing high-value and complex tenders.
• Demonstrated success in developing pricing strategies, detailed cost models, comprehensive commercial evaluations, and risk assessments.
• Experience in leading and advancing estimating teams effectively.
• Background in construction, engineering, MEP, infrastructure, or contracting industries is highly advantageous.