Associate Estimating Director

City, Derby
People Group Limited

Role: Associate Estimating Director

Sector: Major Defence Infrastructure Programme

Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom (Hybrid Working)

Duration: 12 months+

The client

Our client is a leading international consultancy and delivery partner specialising in programme management, project controls, commercial management, cost consultancy and construction delivery services. Operating across major infrastructure, defence, transportation, manufacturing, aviation, energy and property sectors, the organisation supports some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile capital investment programmes.

The Opportunity

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced estimating leader to join a nationally significant defence programme supporting the development of a major advanced manufacturing and production facility.

Working as part of a senior leadership team, the Associate Estimating Director will provide strategic direction and technical leadership across all estimating activities, supporting project development, business case approvals, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), target cost development and programme governance.

The successful candidate will lead the estimating function across a complex, multi-billion pound capital investment programme, ensuring the delivery of robust, transparent and commercially sound cost information to support key investment and delivery decisions.

This role would suit an individual with significant experience in major infrastructure, defence, nuclear, industrial manufacturing, energy, aerospace or other highly regulated sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Estimating Leadership

• Lead and oversee all estimating activities across major capital projects and programme workstreams.
• Establish estimating strategies, methodologies, governance frameworks and assurance processes.
• Provide executive-level advice on cost planning, investment decisions and programme affordability.
• Develop and maintain programme-wide estimating standards and best practice. Early Contractor Involvement & Target Cost Development
• Lead estimating support during ECI phases.
• Drive the development of robust and deliverable target costs.
• Challenge contractor proposals, productivity assumptions, rates, quantities and risk allowances.
• Advise on cost implications associated with change management, compensation events and risk allocation.
• Ensure alignment between estimating outputs and programme commercial objectives. Risk, Opportunity & Investment Assurance
• Lead cost risk and uncertainty assessments.
• Support programme governance reviews, investment approvals and business case development.
• Develop contingency and management reserve strategies.
• Ensure estimates are underpinned by transparent assumptions and robust evidence. Stakeholder & Client Management
• Act as the senior estimating lead for client and programme stakeholders.
• Present cost strategies, estimates and investment recommendations to executive leadership teams and governance boards.

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience leading estimating functions on major infrastructure, construction, industrial or engineering programmes.
• Proven experience operating at Senior Manager, Associate Director or Director level within a consultancy, client-side or contractor environment.
• Strong experience supporting projects through Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phases.
• Significant experience developing and assuring target costs.

Desirable Experience

• Defence, nuclear, aerospace, manufacturing, rail, utilities or energy sector experience.
• Experience supporting major capital programmes valued in excess of 500m.
• Familiarity with NEC4 ECC Option C and Option D contracts.
• Experience supporting government, MOD or highly regulated programmes.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline
• .Membership of a recognised professional body such as RICS, CIOB, ICES or ACostE.

Security Requirements

• BPSS Clearance required or ability to obtain.
• Active SC Clearance highly desirable.