Estimator /Cost Manager

Reports to – Lead Cost Manager

Purpose of the Job - Collating and Commercialising Cost Estimates for Tender Submissions.

Accountabilities

Support the Pricing and Competitiveness team or performs the calculation independently, to build a clear picture of market pricing and the price to win landscape.

Leads and drives the production of early pre-tender indicative estimates from norms and standards, using available high-level information and assesses the potential price impact of unclear or variable scope.

Demonstrates the validity and accuracy of indicative pricing based on appropriate calculations of a suitable market price.

Collate all estimates received from discipline heads and subcontractors into an overall project cost build up.

Undertake reviews on the precision and accuracy of all internal estimates, challenging discipline owners on omissions or differences in scope requirements where possible and highlight areas where pricing appears outside International and UK Market norms. Commercialise cost build up by adding risks, inflation, finance costs and overhead/margin as directed.

Support the tender manager in challenging the business to find ways to meet the price to win.

Provide different pricing scenarios and commercial/financial models to reflect the tender pricing structure as required.

Populate the Clients’ Pricing Document/Bill of Quantities as required.

Maintain a fully auditable trail of all cost build-ups.

Continuously develop and update the cost build-up modelling tool.

Prepare cash flow analysis and other financial information as required.

Provide cost breakdown/budget to Commercial Manager/Project Manager against which project implementation costs are to be measured.

Assist in the overall tender process as required.

Directly support the continuous improvement of tendering performance through simplification, use of new techniques, approaches & modelling, data driven analysis to drive better pricing outcomes.

Supports in the coordination of the ‘Estimator/Cost Manager’ by fulfilling a mentorship role, offering training and experience-based guidance to aid development.

Performance Measurement

Achievement of tender preparation timescales.

Cost and price build ups are precise and accurate, reflecting tender scope requirements and expectations (margins etc.). Ability to use bespoke software capable of rapid calculations to understand the impact of change (in margins etc.), producing pricing analyses and preparing reports for management.

Budget breakdown fully understood by receiving party.

Ability to assist in other non-cost related areas where appropriate.

Clients’ bill populated on time and accurately.

Full visibility and traceability of cost build-up.

New tool fully operational and provides the data analysis in the format required by management.

Cost reports produced as required.

Additional staff trained up and able to use the system where applicable.

Ability to explain coherently the cost/price build-up to peers.

Show flexibility towards novel estimating activities and embrace challenges.

Accuracy of winning price analysis.

Strong commercial/pricing tender evaluation scores.

Demonstrate mentorship and technical support provided to new and less experienced members of staff.

Proven decision maker on tender costing methodology and takes ownership of novel costing challenges on their allocated bid.

Educational Requirements

Degree qualified in a discipline with a high mathematical content or an equivalent Engineering qualification

A-level or equivalent qualified in Mathematics

Experience

Experience of fulfilling the ‘Estimator/Cost Manager’ role with success across a demonstrable number of different types of project and commercial models.

Competencies & Skills

Skills Essential:

Computer literacy including a detailed knowledge of Word and PowerPoint.

Highly proficient in Excel, comfortable in using large datasets and advanced formulae.

Outline knowledge of the procurement process.

Outline knowledge of financial processes and commercial awareness.

Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.

Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively.

Good communication skills.

Team orientated.

Ability to provide information to a high degree of accuracy within short timescales.

Excellent problem solving and decision-making abilities.

Must be highly dependable with the ability to foresee potential situations and provide necessary initiative to follow through and assure that problems are handled in an efficient and expedient manner.

Data analysis and statistical skills.

Skills Desirable:

Signalling background and understanding of signalling products and systems.

General engineering background.

Knowledge of key elements of a tender process.

Demonstrable experience in producing complex estimates.

Ability to code macros.