Assistant Estimator

Willmott Dixon are currently recruiting for an Assistant Estimator to join our London and East construction business. Based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, we deliver projects across multiple sectors within north London, the northern home counties and East Anglia. This will be a hybrid role with a mix of remote and office-based working. This is an exciting time to join our London & East business that has been very successful over the last couple of years and has a strong looking order book for the next 2 to 3 years.

As an Assistant Estimator you will support with calculating the build cost for our customers, ensuring we deliver the right net cost, on time, and to the highest quality for cost accuracy.

You will collaborate with our wider preconstruction team and supply chain partners to ensure that we provide an accurate cost in line with the customer’s requirements, project scope and current legislation.

An Assistant Estimator will ensure the service and standards we provide place customer value at the forefront of delivering a perfect product.

Within the role some of the key duties/responsibilities will include:

• Assist with creating robust accurate cost plans through the various design gateways up to target price.


• Assist with guiding the design team and inform the customer with respect to affordability.


• Use technical experience to assist in identifying opportunities and risks along with solutions to add value.


• Collaborate with the project team to identify and value alternative design solutions where required and present to the customer for review.


• Assist in developing a procurement strategy to meet the needs of the project.


• Seek to gain knowledge of the key trades packages.


• Collaborate with the design team by assisting the costing changes being tracked through the change control process.


• Broadening your knowledge of contractual and framework requirements.


• Ensure you understand the estimating system (Conquest) and its functionality.


• Assist with completion of standard documentation.


• Help provide a detailed cost information package to the commercial build team at handover to include completed comparisons, bills of quantities, tender book, and quotations.

Essential and Desirable Criteria

Essential:

• Good numeracy skills and written and spoken English.


• 5 GCSEs (A-C Grade) or equivalent, including maths.


• A BTEC in Building Studies, Building Engineering or Building Management or a HNC/HND/Degree in Quantity Surveying/Construction Management/Civil Engineering (or equivalent work experience)


• Minimum relevant level 4 qualification (HNC/NVQ4 etc).

Desirable:

• Working towards MCIOB / MRICS.

Personal Qualities

• Analytical skills – ability to analyse project specifications and technical documents to accurately estimate cost.


• Attention to detail – precision in reviewing project details and understanding scope of work and considering all relevant factors that affect cost.


• Mathematical proficiency – strong mathematical skills are essential for calculations.


• Resourcefulness – ability to gather and utilise information from multiple sources.


• Time management skills - Able to meet deadlines and schedule and workflow with a methodical approach.


• Communication skills – effectively communicate internally and externally to gather necessary information.

Benefits

Willmott Dixon embraces diversity in the workplace and will consider flexible and agile working. We are a disability confident employer.

Benefits: In return we reward our people generously with a competitive package that gives you flexible benefits to fit your lifestyle and priorities. This includes but is not limited to, an enhanced pension scheme, full / heavily discounted private medical, life assurance, incentive bonus and a car scheme which will make us a market leader in sustainable company travel. Applicable roles will benefit from a motoring expenditure allowance (MEA) and everyone can access a new generation of low carbon and electric cars via the Willmott Dixon run car leasing scheme.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was awarded No 1 in the Best "big" Companies (2022) to work for and the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2024 and is the first major contractor and developer to win a King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.