About Kinley:
Kinley designs and supplies engineered systems for roof terraces, podium decks and external landscapes — pedestals, support framing, surfaces, aluminium edging, planters, edging and seating. We work with architects, landscape architects, main contractors, landscape contractors and fit-out specialists on some of the UK’s most ambitious commercial and commercial residential projects. We’re growing fast, and the quality and speed of our quotations is central to how we win.
The role:
This is not a back-office estimating job. You are the commercial front end of our estimating function — the person who takes every technical enquiry, gets under the skin of it, and decides how we win it before a single line is priced.
You will scope each enquiry as it lands: what the project actually needs, which of our systems apply, where the technical risks and opportunities sit, and what should — and should not — be quoted. You will set the required margin for each opportunity based on the project, the competition and our position, then brief the estimating team with a clear, complete package so they can build the quotation quickly and accurately.
You’ll work hand-in-glove with the sales team. When drawings are ambiguous, you pick up the phone. When there’s scope the client hasn’t spotted, you flag it. When an enquiry isn’t worth chasing, you say so. We want someone who treats every enquiry as a deal to be won, not a document to be processed.
What you’ll do:
- Scope every enquiry — Own the front end of every technical enquiry — review drawings, specifications and tender documents to establish the true scope of works.
- Set the margin — Decide the required margin on each opportunity, taking account of project type, contract route, competition and our specification position.
- Define the quote — Identify exactly what needs to be quoted — systems, quantities, assumptions, exclusions and value-engineering options — and what to leave out.
- Brief the estimators — Produce a clear scoping brief and hand over to the estimating team to compile the quotation, then quality-check what comes back.
- Drive it forward — Chase missing information proactively — call architects, contractors and our own sales team rather than waiting for answers to arrive.
- Think commercially — Spot upsell and cross-sell opportunities within enquiries and feed intelligence back to sales on projects.
- Get in the room — Attend project, client and sales meetings occasionally to support technical scoping and help win the work.
- Manage the pipeline — Prioritise the enquiry pipeline so the biggest and most winnable opportunities move fastest. Always consider key accounts and providing world-class service.
- Improve the system — Help sharpen our estimating tools, templates and processes as volumes grow.
- Offer VE options – help provide the customer with pricing options considering the good, better and best product ranges to ensure every price point is considered.
- Embrace AI – look for ways to improve efficiency through the use of AI and Automation
What we’re looking for:
- Experience in technical estimating, quantity surveying or technical sales within construction — ideally building envelope, landscaping, roofing or a related specialist system.
- Confident reading architectural drawings, specifications (NBS or similar) and tender documentation, and taking off quantities from them.
- Genuinely commercial: comfortable setting margins, making judgement calls on bid/no-bid, and defending a price.
- Proactive by instinct — you chase, you question, you close gaps; you don’t wait to be asked.
- A strong communicator on the phone and in writing, credible with architects and contractors alike.
- Organised and quick, able to run multiple live enquiries without letting quality slip.
- Comfortable with CRM and estimating software; we run our pipeline through Zoho and are investing in our own take-off tooling.
- Results orientated
- Key fit with the 5 Kinley values
- A team player, outgoing, friendly, flexible, enthusiastic, and ambitious
What success looks like:
- Every enquiry is scoped, margin-set and briefed to the estimating team within agreed turnaround times.
- Quotations go out complete, accurate and pitched to win — with fewer revisions and queries coming back.
- Win rates and average margins improve because we’re quoting the right things at the right price.
- Sales trust your scoping so completely they build their follow-up around it.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
- A visible, influential role in a growing business with ambitious plans.
- Investment in tools, training and progression — this role can grow as we do.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £35,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Experience:
- Estimating: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence due to location of offices (required)
Work Location: In person
