Head of Estimating

Head of Estimating

Location: Near Doncaster, South Yorkshire (UK)

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary up to £50k plus package

Venatu Recruitment are supporting our client, a specialist engineering and heavy fabrication business delivering high-quality solutions across a range of construction and civil engineering sectors. Based near Doncaster, they pride themselves on technical excellence, commercial awareness, and strong customer relationships.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Head of Estimating to lead and develop the estimating function. This is a senior role combining technical estimating expertise with commercial and sales-driven responsibilities. The successful candidate will have a strong background in heavy fabrication, a proactive approach to managing Invitations to Tender (ITTs), and the ability to support business growth through customer engagement and bid success.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Commercial Leadership

Lead the estimating department, setting standards, processes, and best practice

Prepare accurate and competitive cost estimates for heavy fabrication and engineering projects

Review drawings, specifications, and client requirements to produce robust tenders

Ensure estimates reflect labour, materials, subcontracting, overheads, and risk

Tender & ITT Management

Proactively manage, track, and chase ITTs to maximise bid opportunities

Coordinate with internal teams to gather technical and commercial inputs

Evaluate tender risks and opportunities and advise senior management accordingly

Ensure all submissions are compliant, commercially sound, and submitted on time

Sales & Business Development Support

Use sales experience to support customer engagement and tender clarification

Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and partners

Support negotiations and contribute to converting tenders into secured orders

Provide market feedback and pricing intelligence to support growth strategy

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with production, engineering, procurement, and project management teams

Support handover of successful bids into project delivery

Mentor and develop estimating staff where applicable

Key Requirements

Essential

Proven experience in estimating within heavy fabrication or engineering

Strong understanding of fabrication processes, materials, and manufacturing methods

Demonstrable experience managing and chasing ITTs

Sales or commercially focused background with the ability to influence outcomes

Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications

Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Desirable

Experience leading or managing an estimating team

Knowledge of UK engineering or fabrication markets

Familiarity with estimating software and ERP systems

Personal Attributes

Proactive, driven, and commercially minded

Confident communicator with a customer-focused approach

Organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple deadlines

Comfortable working at a senior level within the business