Mechanical Estimation Manager

About Designer Group

Designer Group is a leading international mechanical and electrical engineering contractor delivering complex projects from design and pre-construction through installation, commissioning and handover. Our people are central to our continued growth, and our approach is underpinned by the values Safe, Trust, Respect, Challenge and Deliver.

Role overview

The Mechanical Estimation Manager is a senior member of the Pre-Construction function. The postholder will lead the planning and delivery of mechanical tenders across Ireland and Europe, allocate and balance workload across the mechanical estimation team, establish clear tender strategies and maintain consistent estimating standards. The role combines people leadership with hands-on technical and commercial oversight.

Working in partnership with other Estimation Managers, the role will coordinate shared resources, priorities and deadlines across the wider tender portfolio. The postholder will provide clear visibility of capacity, tender status, risks and decisions to the Pre-Construction Director and will ensure that each opportunity has suitable ownership, controls and review gates.

Principal Responsibilities

Leadership, Workload & Team Management

- Lead the mechanical estimating team, setting priorities, responsibilities, deadlines and quality standards.
- Maintain resource plans covering tenders, pre-qualification activities, post-tender requirements, leave, capability and peak workloads.
- Allocate tenders based on complexity, sector knowledge, capacity and development needs.
- Chair workload and progress reviews, identifying constraints and implementing corrective actions.
- Coach and develop Senior Estimators, Estimators and Junior Estimators.
- Oversee estimating administration, ensuring tender records, enquiries, returns and reporting remain accurate and current.
- Manage objective setting, development planning and performance reviews.
- Promote collaboration, accountability and timely escalation.

Tender Leadership & Governance

- Lead mechanical estimating activities from opportunity review through adjudication, submission, clarification and handover.
- Review tender documentation to confirm scope, deliverables, interfaces and information gaps.
- Establish tender programmes, responsibilities and review milestones.
- Ensure tender queries are raised, resolved and incorporated into estimates.
- Coordinate reviews and prepare tender adjudication information for approval.
- Ensure submissions align with approved strategy, commercial objectives and delegated authority.

Estimating, Cost Planning & Technical Assurance

- Oversee preparation of lump-sum, unit-rate, cost-plus, remeasurable and budget estimates.
- Review take-offs, BOQs, labour constants, productivity assumptions, material rates, subcontract quotations, plant, logistics, preliminaries and design allowances.
- Verify competitiveness and technical alignment of supplier and subcontractor quotations.
- Review mechanical systems and specifications for completeness, buildability, value and alternative solutions.
- Ensure clear identification of costs, allowances, provisional sums, exclusions, risks and opportunities.
- Maintain estimating standards, templates, coding structures, databases, benchmarks and audit trails.
- Ensure effective use and maintenance of Trimble estimating software libraries, rates and reports.
- Deliver fully developed mechanical tenders based on available information without unsupported assumptions.

Supply Chain & Market Engagement

- Develop enquiry strategies with Procurement to maximise market coverage and competitiveness.
- Oversee enquiries, quotation management, technical clarifications and negotiations.
- Maintain strong supplier and subcontractor relationships while adhering to procurement governance.
- Use market intelligence and project feedback to improve estimating accuracy and procurement strategy across Ireland and Europe.

Risk, Opportunity & Value Engineering

- Lead risk and opportunity reviews, ensuring ownership, mitigation and escalation are clearly defined.
- Develop value-engineering solutions with Engineering, Operations, Commercial and Supply Chain teams.
- Ensure alternatives remain compliant or are clearly identified as departures requiring approval.
- Escalate significant commercial, contractual, programme, design, procurement, logistics, currency and resource risks.

Collaboration, Client Engagement & Handover

- Work closely with Estimation Managers to ensure consistency across the estimating function.
- Participate in bid/no-bid reviews, kick-offs, client meetings, site visits, interviews and negotiations.
- Coordinate mechanical contributions to executive summaries, methodologies, programmes and presentations.
- Report on tender status, workload, assumptions, risks and key decisions.
- Lead project handovers to Operations, Commercial, Procurement and Engineering teams.
- Support lessons learned, win/loss reviews and benchmarking initiatives.

Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement

- Promote disciplined use of estimating software, document control systems and approved templates.
- Standardise estimating processes, work breakdown structures, cost libraries, benchmarking and reporting.
- Ensure quality-controlled, complete and version-controlled tender records.
- Drive efficiency through digital tools, automation, standardisation and knowledge sharing.
- Protect commercially sensitive information and ensure compliance with data protection and confidentiality requirements.

Requirements

Essential

- Substantial estimating or pre-construction experience within mechanical building services or MEP contracting, including responsibility for complex tenders.
- Demonstrable experience leading, coordinating or mentoring an estimating team and managing competing deadlines.
- Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, including HVAC, pipework, public health, controls, insulation, testing and commissioning interfaces.
- Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, employer requirements and commercial tender documents.
- Competence in cost build-up, labour and productivity assessment, quotation analysis, risk review, value engineering and tender adjudication.
- Strong numerical, analytical, organisational and written communication skills.
- Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and relevant estimating, take-off and document-management tools, with experience of Trimble estimating software desirable.
- Ability to communicate credibly with clients, consultants, suppliers, subcontractors and senior internal stakeholders.

Desirable

- Relevant degree, trade qualification or professional qualification in mechanical engineering, building services, quantity surveying or construction management.
- Experience across Irish and European projects, particularly complex, high-value or technically demanding sectors.
- Familiarity with BIM-enabled estimating, digital take-off, cost databases and structured tender reporting.
- Experience of cross-border procurement, different market conditions, currencies and regional supply chains.

Leadership profile

- Visible and supportive leader who sets standards and follows through on commitments.
- Calm under pressure, able to prioritise objectively and make timely recommendations.
- Commercially astute while maintaining technical accuracy, governance and ethical conduct.
- Collaborative, open to challenge and willing to share resources and information across teams.
- Focused on practical improvement, team development and consistent delivery.