Senior Estimator – Infrastructure (Wastewater)

Location: Exeter (Hybrid – site and office visits across East Devon and West Dorset)

Typical Project Values: £1m – £30m

Job Purpose

Lead the preparation and submission of competitive, compliant tenders for wastewater infrastructure projects across the Southwest. Operate as a key member of the preconstruction team, combining robust civil engineering and MEICA cost knowledge with commercial acumen to secure profitable work and ensure a clean handover to delivery teams.

Key Responsibilities

Tendering & Cost Planning

Appraise tender documentation (including surveys, asset data, performance requirements and outage/over-pumping constraints) and develop winning strategies aligned to risk, programme, and delivery approach.

Prepare accurate, auditable analytical estimates and cost plans (preliminaries, indirect, risk and opportunities) using first-principles build-ups and benchmarked data.

Produce and/or interrogate Bills of Quantities/cost breakdowns to CESMM/NRM2 standards; assemble activity schedules for NEC options.

Plan and run material and subcontract enquiries; build competitive supply-chain packages for civils, MEICA, process equipment, pipelines, over-pumping, temporary works and specialist operations (confined spaces, tunnelling, linings, concrete repairs, telemetry/SCADA, MCCs).

Conduct balanced adjudications of quotations, clarifying scope gaps, interfaces and exclusions; make firm award recommendations.

Lead value engineering and buildability reviews, driving TOTEX-minded solutions (whole-life cost, operability, maintainability, carbon and programme impacts).

Maintain live risk & opportunity registers throughout the tender period; quantify and price residual risk; contribute to contingency and allowances.

Prepare tender qualifications, method statements and pricing assumptions; ensure alignment with permissions, consents and statutory undertaker requirements.

Present tenders at settlement, clearly explaining estimate basis, commercial issues, residual risks and opportunities.

Complete tender documentation and coordinate timely, compliant submissions.

Provide a structured handover to delivery teams, including estimate basis, allowances, risk, procurement plan and key supply-chain commitments.

Design & Interface Management

Work collaboratively with designers during ECI/2-stage processes to mature scope, resolve technical queries and avoid late design risk.

Review and interrogate 2D/3D information (e.g., Civil 3D/Revit/Navisworks/IFC viewers) to validate quantities, phasing and temporary works requirements.

Market & Data Intelligence

Maintain market awareness of process technologies (screens, tanks, blowers, aeration, UV, sludge/thickening/digestion, chemical dosing), pipe materials and installation techniques, and regional labour/material trends. Curate benchmark data, productivity norms and cost libraries for repeatable wastewater work types (WTW/STW upgrades, pumping stations, rising mains, CSOs, storm/storage tanks, network rehabilitation).

Governance & Collaboration

Ensure compliance with internal tender governance, estimating procedures and approvals.

Champion health, safety and environmental considerations in estimating assumptions (CDM 2015, temporary works, isolations/permits, live asset working, pollution prevention).

Support Business Continuity Planning responsibilities for the team.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

Construction-related HNC/HND/Degree (or equivalent) with substantial wastewater infrastructure estimating experience gained with a contractor or major MEICA specialist; strong wastewater experience is preferred, however candidates with significant major civils infrastructure estimating experience (e.g., highways, flood defence, heavy structures, marine) and a demonstrable ability to transition into wastewater will also be considered.

Proven track record pricing and winning wastewater projects between £1m and £30m, including live-asset interfaces and outage/over-pumping planning.

Strong first-principles estimating across civils and MEICA, including temporary works, access, lifting, commissioning and SCADA/telemetry allowances.

Competent in Conquest (or equivalent) estimating software, with advanced Excel and solid

Microsoft Office skills.

Detailed knowledge of NEC (preferably NEC4) – Options A/C/E, two-stage and framework call-offs; familiarity with D&B and ECI processes.

Proficient with CESMM/NRM2 quantification and build-ups; comfortable deriving quantities from drawings and models.

Well-developed technical construction knowledge (earthworks, PCC/RC structures, pipelines, M&E install, process plant fit out, testing & commissioning).

Commercial awareness: indirect, preliminaries, labour & plant norms, output analysis, risk pricing, and supply-chain negotiation.

Full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake site visits across East Devon/West Dorset as required.

Desirable

Awareness of AMP cycles and water-company assurance expectations (e.g., asset standards, quality gates, acceptance testing).

Experience with 3D model interrogation and quantification tools (e.g., Navisworks, BIM viewers) and cost planning from models.

Knowledge of carbon accounting principles and whole-life costing in the water sector.

Personal Attributes

Numerate, analytical and meticulous with a pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset.

Effective communicator who can influence stakeholders and lead supply-chain engagement.

Collaborative team player who can also work independently under time pressure and to fixed deadlines.

Organised, disciplined and resilient; able to prioritise and manage multiple bids concurrently.

Innovative, with a continuous-improvement outlook and commitment to mentoring junior team members.

Working Arrangements

Base: Exeter with hybrid working available by agreement.

Travel: Regular site and supplier visits across East Devon and West Dorset; occasional wider SouthWest travel for frameworks and reviews.

What we can offer you 

• Competitive salary
• Car allowance 
• 26 days annual leave (with the opportunity to buy or sell up to 3 days holiday)
• Private medical insurance for yourself (with the option to buy family cover)
• Life Assurance
• Defined contribution pension scheme matched up to 8%
• 2 days volunteering opportunities
• Flexible and Agile working (dependent on your role)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional membership fees
• Flexible Benefits scheme which includes the opportunity to purchase benefits such as:
• Critical illness insurance (with option to purchase for your partner)
• Dental Insurance
• Travel insurance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Retail vouchers/payroll giving/activity pass for top leisure attraction

Who we are 

Tilbury Douglas is a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out company. We deliver vital projects across a range of sectors including health, education, highways, justice, defence, aviation, water and environment. 

It is our people who make Tilbury Douglas a success.  We believe our inclusive culture encourages new ways of thinking, enabling us to innovate whilst remaining resilient. We value and celebrate all individual differences and look forward to receiving your application,  We have now achieved our IiD status and it is valid until 2025.

We are proud to announce that we have retained our Investors in Diversity Silver Award.

Please note we do not have a sponsorship licence.

Please note that this role is subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance which includes identity, employment history, and criminal record checks. 

We look forward to receiving your application!