Senior Estimator — Specialising in Bespoke Residential Construction
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
£65,000–£75,000 + car allowance + bonus
Weatherark is looking for an experienced Senior Estimator to take a central role in a growing specialist construction business delivering exceptional architect-led homes across the Three Counties and the Cotswolds.
This role extends beyond measuring drawings and populating rates. Our projects are individual, technically demanding and frequently involve complex detailing, developing designs and unusual construction challenges.
We need someone who wants to understand how the building will actually be built — and what it will genuinely cost to build it well.
The Role
You will take ownership of estimating from initial tender review through detailed pricing, subcontract enquiries, first-principles rate build-ups, risk assessment, value engineering and final tender recommendation.
But your involvement won't end when the project is won.
You will remain commercially connected to the project, helping the delivery team protect the assumptions and margin established at tender stage, monitoring cost performance and managing variations professionally with architects, clients and consultants.
You'll work directly with Weatherark's Managing Director and experienced project team, with considerable autonomy and the opportunity to shape how the business approaches estimating and its wider commercial activity as it grows.
We are looking for Someone who can:
- Price complex and non-standard construction confidently.
- Read architectural and technical information critically rather than simply measure it.
- Build costs from an understanding of labour, materials, methodology, sequencing and risk.
- Obtain and interrogate subcontractor quotations.
- Recognise omissions and uncertainty before they become expensive problems.
- Produce commercially sound tenders with clear assumptions and qualifications.
- Transfer tender knowledge effectively into the project team.
- Monitor actual project cost against the estimate.
- Identify and price variations promptly.
- Discuss and negotiate commercial matters confidently with architects and clients.
- Protect Weatherark's position without damaging the relationships on which great projects depend.
- Exercise sufficient judgement to know when to negotiate, when to hold a position and when something requires escalation.
About You
You are likely to be an experienced Estimator or Senior Estimator from a main contractor or specialist construction background.
Experience in bespoke residential, heritage, complex refurbishment or other technically demanding construction environments would be particularly relevant.
You may alternatively have developed through Quantity Surveying or commercial management but have strong hands-on estimating experience.
Formal qualifications are welcome, but they are not a substitute for what matters most to us: construction knowledge, estimating judgement, commercial intelligence and the confidence to take ownership.
Why Weatherark?
Weatherark builds design-led homes of exceptional quality. We are deliberately not a volume contractor. Our work rewards thought, judgement, craftsmanship and close collaboration with talented architects and specialist trades.
This is an opportunity to become an important senior member of a relatively small business rather than one part of a large estimating department.
You will have direct access to the decision maker, genuine influence over how projects are priced and managed and the opportunity to develop the estimating and commercial function as the company grows.
Salary: £65,000–£75,000 depending on experience, plus car allowance and performance bonus.
For further information on Weatherark and its projects, please visit www.weatherark.com
Pay: £65,000.00-£75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application question(s):
- Have you personally prepared detailed estimates for main-contractor construction projects of approximately £500,000–£3m+?
- Do you have experience pricing bespoke, architect-led, refurbishment or otherwise non-standard construction projects?
- Have you personally managed variations or other commercial discussions with clients, architects or professional consultants after contract award?
Work Location: In person
