Head of Estimating

Competitive payHead of EstimatingLocation: Homebased – Remote, with UK travelContract: Full-time, PermanentHours: 40 per week, Monday to Friday Salary: Competitive, plus £6,900 car allowanceMears Group is seeking an exceptional Head of Estimating to lead our commercial estimating and tendering function at a strategic level. This is a pivotal senior leadership role, shaping how we price, win and mobilise major contracts across the organisation. If you are commercially astute, influential at senior levels, and passionate about driving excellence in tendering, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact on the future growth of our business.About the RoleAs Head of Estimating, you will take ownership of developing robust, compliant and commercially competitive bids across a wide range of workstreams, including Repairs & Maintenance (such as M&E and Planned Works), Central Government housing and support services, Decarbonisation and Net Zero programmes, and DLO support. You will shape the commercial strategy behind each opportunity, building cost models from first principles, driving value engineering, and ensuring risks and assumptions are clearly understood. Working closely with Business Development, Operations and Legal teams, you will influence strategic bid decisions and ensure our proposals support sustainable growth and margin protection. Your leadership will set the standard for commercial governance, pricing excellence and the continuous improvement of our estimating function.Key ResponsibilitiesCommercial LeadershipLead the creation of high‑quality commercial proposals tailored to individual opportunitiesDevelop cost models from first principles and drive pricing strategy and value engineeringProvide senior leadership with clear commercial analysis, risk positions and recommendationsPartner with internal teams to shape strategic bid decisions and contract risk assessmentsTender Governance & Risk ManagementEnsure all submissions are compliant, well‑documented and commercially soundLead competitive dialogue, clarifications, RFIs and post‑tender negotiationsOversee commercial review of contracts and legal documentationEnhance estimating methodologies, tools, templates and documentation standardsStakeholder EngagementPresent commercial proposals to Directors and the Senior Management TeamEmbed tender assumptions and methodologies into mobilisation and operational teamsEngage with supply chain partners to secure competitive and deliverable pricingMobilisation & Continuous ImprovementPlay a key role in mobilisation of successful tenders, challenging assumptions to drive profitabilityTranslate estimating assumptions into operational cost monitoringAnalyse outturn performance to inform future bids and build a commercial knowledge basePeople LeadershipLead, mentor and develop the Estimating Team, fostering technical excellence and collaboration.Identify capability gaps and champion learning, systems improvement and performance managementEssential ExperienceExtensive experience in social housing estimating, including expert knowledge of NHF Schedule of Rates.Proven ability to develop pricing strategies and deliver value engineering solutions.Strong track record in post‑tender negotiations and contract award processes.End‑to‑end tender lifecycle experience, from pricing to mobilisation.Strong working knowledge of standard forms of contractExperience presenting commercial proposals at senior leadership level.Ability to manage multiple bids under demanding deadlines.Demonstrable leadership experience in building high‑performing teams.DesirableExperience at Head of / Senior Manager level within a large contracting or housing services organisationFamiliarity with sector‑standard estimating systems and analytical toolsProfessional qualification in Quantity Surveying or Construction ManagementKey Skills & AttributesStrategic commercial thinker with strong influencing capabilityExcellent communicator, able to simplify complex commercial reasoningHigh numerical accuracy and attention to detailProactive problem solver committed to continuous improvementCollaborative leader with a passion for developing peopleBenefits:Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and much more 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays3 x Life assuranceFamily private medical£6,900 car allowanceGenerous Pension Scheme and sick payEmployee Assistance ProgrammeMears Rewards – discount voucher scheme for a host of household name retailers, including supermarkets, offering savings on purchasesExcellent training and development opportunitiesMears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work! Previous years include, Alton Towers, Drayton Manor etcVolunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake volunteering in the community for two days per year, in support of our social value commitmentIf you’re ready to shape the future of estimating at Mears Group and lead a high‑performing team in a role with real strategic influence, we’d love to hear from you.All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:Laura Crosby ([email protected])If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. 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