Principal Estimator

Cumming Group is an international project and cost management consultancy delivering innovative solutions in construction, real estate, and infrastructure. With a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and performance excellence, we support some of the world's most respected clients across diverse range of sectors.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

- Provide technical leadership and assurance across estimating activity, with a focus on complex, high-value or strategically important projects and frameworks. Ensure estimates are clear, robust and aligned with Cumming Group governance, client requirements and the agreed estimating approach.

- Support the Director for Cost Intelligence and Regional Director with technical assurance, estimating priorities, delivery risks and opportunities to improve estimating quality and consistency.

- Review and challenge quantities, pricing documents, analytical estimates, cost models, tender submissions and benchmark information, including methodology, productivity assumptions, exclusions, risk allowances, escalation and the level of confidence in the estimate.

- Lead and review first-principles, analytical and comparative estimates, including labour, plant, materials, temporary works, preliminaries, indirect costs and subcontractor inputs, ensuring assumptions, pricing and allowances are appropriate and well supported.

- Prepare and review Basis of Estimate reports, including scope, methodology, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, risks and key cost drivers.

- Review construction methods, challenge assumptions and develop alternative proposals where appropriate to improve deliverability, value for money, risk management and client outcomes.

- Support the development of regional cost intelligence, including benchmark data, productivity assumptions, lessons learned, market insight and supply chain intelligence.

- Support cost risk, sensitivity and contingency reviews, considering escalation, programme risk, procurement route, construction methodology and the maturity of the scope.

- Present estimates to clients and senior stakeholders, clearly explaining the assumptions, risks, cost drivers, confidence level and available options.

- Champion the consistent use of estimating systems, digital tools, cost databases and quality assurance processes across the region.

- Lead and support site visits, tender reviews, estimate review meetings and client workshops during procurement, bid and project delivery phases.

- Build strong client relationships and support opportunities for repeat work, frameworks and wider Cumming Group services.

- Share good practice and help improve estimating quality and consistency across the team.

Knowledge & Skills Required:

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- Provide technical leadership across complex estimating work in a client-facing environment, balancing quality, programme, commercial priorities and stakeholder expectations.

- Provide technical assurance across infrastructure estimating, cost intelligence, benchmarking and bid support, with a focus on review, challenge and consistency.

- Produce accurate, well-supported estimates from drawings, specifications, scope documents, supplier quotations, benchmark data and construction methodology information.

- Support the planning and prioritisation of estimating work across multiple projects, frameworks and client accounts.

- Prepare, review, challenge and assure estimates, applying strong commercial judgement, technical understanding and attention to detail.

- Develop trusted relationships with clients, internal stakeholders, contractors and supply chain partners.

- Communicate complex estimating information clearly through written reports, presentations and review meetings.

- Lead, mentor and support team members, helping to develop capability, consistency and professional standards.

- Use sound judgement and take ownership of work in a busy project environment.

Preferred Education and Experience:

- Experience of pricing work under various forms of contract including Fixed Price, Target Cost, Design & Build, Specification & Drawing or ECI bids.

- Degree qualified, or equivalent, in civil engineering, quantity surveying, construction management or a related discipline.

- Chartered status, or working towards chartership, is desirable.

- Extensive experience in preparing, reviewing or assuring complex estimates, cost plans, tender submissions or framework pricing within infrastructure, civil engineering or major programme environments.

- Good technical understanding of civil engineering and the ability to promote alternative solutions.

- Strong numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail.

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Cumming Group is committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All job applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, "race" (includes nationality, national / ethnic origin, colour), marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, gender assignment, religion and belief.

Note for Recruitment Agencies:

We prefer to hire directly, and we will be in touch with our PSL Agencies if this role is eligible for release.