Estimator (Main Contractor) | Permanent | Colchester, Essex

Overview

In this role, you join a growing main contractor in Colchester to support the Senior Estimator on tenders up to £12m. You will review incoming tenders, prepare returns, and identify non-cost requirements with the Construction Director. You’ll chase responses, handle post-tender queries, and develop cost-saving or value engineering options for use after submission. You will participate in tender interviews and pre-contract handovers, applying your drawing take-offs to build accurate estimates. This is a hands-on, collaborative role in a dynamic multi-sector team with a clear path to senior commercial leadership.

Responsibilities

• Review incoming tenders and report to the Senior Estimator
• Produce tender returns according to the scheduled format
• Identify non-cost tender requirements and align with Construction Director
• Chase tender responses and feedback regardless of outcome
• Attend post-tender queries, clarifications and value engineering options
• Assess and schedule cost-saving / value engineering opportunities during tender
• Attend tender interview meetings as arranged with Commercial Director
• Attend internal pre-contract meetings to hand over to the management team
• Measurement from drawings manually and electronically

Key requirements

• Degree qualified or other relevant qualification (ideally)
• Experience with a reputable Main Contractor
• Experience on projects across multiple sectors up to 12m
• Ability to take off from drawings
• Commutable to Colchester daily

• take-off from drawings
• measurement from drawings (manual and electronic)
• tender preparation and value engineering

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