Head of Estimating

Job description

Head of Estimating Location: Peterborough/ Hybrid Who are we? Here within the @one Alliance we are a totally collaborative organisation made up of our eight partner companies (Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska and SWECO) and our extended supply chain, delivering over half of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme. Water and the natural environment are the foundation of life, society, and our economy. The East of England is home to unique rivers, wetlands, and coastlines—but it is also one of the most water-stressed regions in the UK. With one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes in the industry, we are delivering resilient water supplies, enabling sustainable growth, tackling climate change, and protecting the natural environment. The Opportunity We are looking for an exceptional Head of Estimating to lead our estimating function across the @one Alliance during AMP8—our most ambitious investment cycle to date. This is a high-impact strategic leadership role, responsible for shaping estimating strategy, driving commercial excellence, and supporting the successful delivery of over 750 capital projects. You and your team will play a critical role in determining project value, performance, and risk—ensuring the right commercial outcomes for the business, our customers, and the environment. What You’ll Be Doing Strategic Leadership Lead and evolve the estimating strategy in line with our goals for affordability, carbon reduction, and environmental performance Take full accountability for all estimating activities across the @one Alliance Build, lead, and develop a high-performing estimating team Own and maintain the business cost base, ensuring accuracy and relevance Champion a culture of commercial excellence, transparency, and outperformance Project Delivery & Estimating Oversee estimates across key delivery milestones, including: Affordability assessments and early-stage cost assurance Optioneering with high-level budget estimates Outline & detailed design estimates, combining top-down and bottom-up methodologies Ensure consistency, robustness, and quality across all estimate outputs Stakeholder Collaboration Work closely with internal teams including Design, Commercial, Project Management, Construction, Planning and Procurement Build strong relationships with supply chain partners and cost intelligence teams Maintain integrity of the estimating process while balancing stakeholder needs Cost Capture & Intelligence Lead all cost capture activities to enhance the business cost base Collaborate with commercial and procurement teams to capture accurate project data Use insights to improve estimating accuracy and inform regulatory submissions Innovation & Continuous Improvement Drive improvements in estimating systems, tools, and processes Champion standard product use and challenge inefficiencies Support innovation initiatives with cost modelling and analysis People & Culture Develop, coach, and inspire your team to deliver high performance Champion diversity, inclusion, and a culture where every voice is heard Ensure team wellbeing, engagement, and continuous development Health & Safety Promote a strong safety culture with a goal of zero incidents Ensure compliance with H&S policies, audits, and reporting Lead by example in safe working practices About You Qualifications & Experience Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline Proven experience leading large estimating functions within major capital programmes (£100m+ annually) Background with a principal contractor on complex infrastructure or construction projects In depth knowledge of estimating, commercial, and financial processes Experience with NEC3, PSC and ECC contracts (particularly Option C) Demonstrated ability to influence strategic business outcomes Professional qualification (RICS, ICES, CIOB) desirable Skills & Attributes Strategic, innovative, and proactive mindset Strong leadership and team development capabilities Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines Confident in challenging and influencing senior stakeholders Excellent communication skills, including simplifying financial information Results-driven with a focus on quality and continuous improvement Collaborative and motivated team player Why Join @one Alliance? Be part of a purpose-driven organisation shaping the future of water and the environment Lead during our largest-ever investment programme (AMP8) Work within the innovative and collaborative alliance Make a lasting impact on communities, infrastructure, and sustainability The Anglian Water @one Alliance. Eight partners, endless opportunities.