Job Title: Senior Estimator

Location Chippenham preferred (location is flexible)

Length of Contract 6 Months

Role Definition

This individual will be working closely with all other disciplines throughout the company to ensure that high quality consistent Signalling estimates are produced. They will work closely with Project Manager & the Bid Manager on larger bids and in parallel be producing smaller estimates and variations to existing contracts. The job covers the collation and checking of estimates from multidisciplinary teams which are to be prepared in all offices. This role takes guidance from and reports to the Estimating Manager.

Key Duties

· Responsible for the effective management of all their allocated estimates from initial enquiry through negotiations to submission of final offer, including determination of the appropriate structure of the estimate.

· Input of estimate data into the estimating database (RIB or equivalent) and checking this data for consistency, errors, omissions and accuracy.

· Large schemes require close liaison with the Bid Manager, Project Manager and Project Team. The Estimator, however, remains responsible for managing the pricing process; evaluating, assessing and co-ordinating inputs from all other costing disciplines, ensuring high levels of consistency and quality.

· Input and direction into the project plan, and the establishment of the appropriate pricing structure aligning with the company Work Breakdown Structure and Tender Template

· Challenging estimates in multidisciplinary team review panels.

· Involvement in tender pricing presentations to the board and the client as required.

· Involvement in subsequent negotiations with the client encompassing financial and commercial considerations.

· Analysing current and historical data to justify costs and pricing accuracy and competitiveness.

· Creation of reports for presentation to Executive and Director level reviews.

Measures

· A good grounding in the requirements for engineering activities as laid down in customer, national and international standards and procedures as part of the overall project lifecycle.

· Experience in the development and implementation of project delivery programmes.

· Strong computing skills especially regarding databases and MSExcel.

· Financially and commercially aware.

Specific Skills/Tasks

Essential:

· Have experience of producing multi-disciplined high value, high quality tender submissions - This ideally would be the experience of Estimator / Senior Estimator duties working under own initiative or part of a team.

· Have detailed knowledge of methods and outputs for undertaking rail related activities. - This would normally be first hand-construction knowledge gained in a major Rail Discipline. Ideal choice would be Railway Signalling, Civils, E&P or PWAY (or a combination).

· Have a Technical background in a relevant discipline Ideally Signalling, but should be prepared to work on other rail related disciplines where required e.g Civil, Electrical, or Permanent Way Engineering - See above the ability to be flexible and a willingness to tackle other disciplines within rail and outside of rail is a must.

· Have knowledge of Network Rail forms of contract and their interaction with other standard forms Commercially aware and highly numerate - The ability to participate in Commercial and Pricing Strategy is desirable, however the pre-requisite for this role is an individual that can read and understand a Contract and assess where the main commercial opportunities / risks would arise.

· Have the ability to communicate complicated financial and contractual issues to senior management. – Would need to be able to discuss at Senior Commercial Manager Level, supported by a Tender Commercial manager but still be required to Understand and communicate these issues especially at Tender Settlement / Finalisation meetings.

Desirable:

· A minimum of 5 years experience within engineering teams in a main line or metro project delivery company for the design period of the project lifecycle.

· Willingness to travel to other offices and possible Client offices.

· The ability to work alone in a high pressure environment.

· Strong customer focused skills, understanding that we are the face the client sees.

· Minimum of HNC or HND qualified in relevant engineering technical or commercial discipline is desirable but not essential as experience will be taken into account.

· Signalling Design and / or Systems Engineering experience, preferably with large signalling schemes.

· Comfortable with operating at a senior level as part of the Tender and Estimating Team.