Lead Estimator

About Dalkia UK At Dalkia, we're driven by a shared purpose: tackling climate change and building a better, more sustainable future. We bring together talented people who share knowledge, challenge each other and grow together.

Backed by EDF, Britain's biggest generator of low carbon electricity, we're a people-first culture. With 5,000+ employees and £600m+ turnover, we combine the strength of a major group with a great culture, innovative mindset and inclusive values making Dalkia a great place to work and grow your career.

Summary of Role: As the Estimating Lead, you will be responsible for leading and managing the estimating function across both Mechanical and Electrical Building Services disciplines at Dalkia Engineering- Nuclear. Reporting as a key member of the Dalkia Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic leadership, governance, commercial oversight, and technical guidance to the Mechanical and Electrical Estimators while ensuring the delivery of high-quality, competitive, and compliant tender submissions.

The role will act as the primary interface between estimating, operations, commercial teams, supply chain partners, and clients, ensuring that all opportunities are appropriately assessed, resourced, priced, and reviewed to support the business's growth objectives. You will lead the development of estimating best practice, drive continuous improvement, manage resource allocation across the estimating team, and represent Dalkia professionally with key stakeholders both internally and externally.

This is a leadership role requiring a strong understanding of Mechanical, Electrical and integrated MEP Building Services, combined with excellent commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.

Key responsibilities: Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Mechanical and Electrical Estimators, providing clear direction, coaching, and performance management.
• Manage workload allocation across the estimating team to ensure effective resource planning and timely submission of tenders.
• Establish and maintain estimating standards, procedures, and governance processes.
• Support recruitment, succession planning, and talent development within the estimating team.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on quality, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Promote a positive safety culture aligned with Dalkia and Hinkley Point C standards and expectations.

Estimating Governance & Oversight

• Provide oversight of all mechanical and electrical estimates prior to submission.
• Review tender documentation to ensure scope completeness, risk identification, and pricing accuracy.
• Ensure consistency in estimating methodologies, labour allowances, productivity assumptions, and commercial mark-ups.
• Chair internal tender review meetings and challenge estimates where necessary to maximise competitiveness and profitability.
• Ensure all estimates are fully aligned with contractual requirements, technical specifications, programme constraints, and client expectations.
• Maintain governance procedures including approval processes, tender settlement meetings, and authorisation documentation.

Commercial & Strategic Management

• Support the development and delivery of the business bidding strategy.
• Evaluate tender opportunities and provide bid/no-bid recommendations to senior leadership.
• Lead the commercial assessment of risks, opportunities, exclusions, assumptions, and value engineering proposals.
• Review project margins, risk allowances, contingency levels, and commercial submissions.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through innovation, procurement strategies, and value engineering initiatives.
• Contribute to business planning, forecasting, pipeline management, and workload assessments.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary estimating interface with Hinkley Point C stakeholders, clients, consultants, framework partners, and key supply chain members.
• Attend client briefings, tender interviews, pre-construction meetings, and project review meetings.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with clients to understand future opportunities and business requirements.
• Represent Dalkia professionally at both operational and strategic levels.
• Respond to client queries during tender periods and lead commercial and technical clarification discussions.
• Support negotiation activities during tender and post-tender stages.

Tender Management

• Oversee the preparation and delivery of compliant Mechanical, Electrical, and integrated MEP tender submissions.
• Ensure tender programmes and deliverables are managed effectively and completed within required deadlines.
• Review tender returns to ensure clarity, accuracy, and commercial robustness.
• Ensure technical and commercial risks are appropriately identified, documented, and mitigated.
• Oversee the development of clarification schedules, exclusions, assumptions, and risk registers.
• Support bid teams with technical content, commercial narratives, and estimating intelligence.
• Participate in post-tender reviews and lessons learned exercises.

Supply Chain & Procurement Engagement

• Develop strong relationships with key subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and specialist partners.
• Ensure robust enquiry processes are followed and competitive market testing is achieved.
• Review supplier and subcontractor quotations for compliance, value, and technical suitability.
• Support supply chain engagement strategies to improve competitiveness and innovation.
• Assess market conditions and provide intelligence on pricing trends, labour availability, and material risks.

Technical Oversight

• Maintain a detailed understanding of Mechanical, Electrical, and integrated Building Services installations.
• Review technical solutions to ensure buildability, compliance, and cost effectiveness.
• Provide technical support and guidance to estimating staff throughout the tender process.
• Ensure appropriate consideration of mechanical and electrical interfaces, commissioning requirements, controls systems, and Building Management Systems (BMS).
• Promote innovative and sustainable engineering solutions aligned with client and business objectives.

Senior Management Team Responsibilities As a member of the Dalkia Hinkley Point C Senior Management Team, you will:

• Contribute to strategic planning and business growth initiatives.
• Support decision-making across operational, commercial, and functional activities.
• Participate in leadership meetings and provide regular reports on estimating performance, pipeline opportunities, and market intelligence.
• Collaborate with Operations, Commercial, Planning, Procurement, and Project Delivery teams to support successful project outcomes.
• Champion company values, safety standards, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support organisational change, innovation, and business transformation activities where required.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience in a senior estimating, estimating management, commercial management, or pre-construction leadership role within Building Services or Construction.
• Strong understanding of Mechanical, Electrical, and integrated MEP building services systems.
• Demonstrable experience leading estimating teams and managing multiple tender opportunities simultaneously.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of contract forms, procurement routes, and tendering strategies.
• Experience of working on complex and highly regulated projects within sectors such as Nuclear, Defence, Energy, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Data Centres, or Major Projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• High level of competency in estimating software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with MCA estimating systems or equivalent software desirable.
• Degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• Professional membership with a relevant institution (CIBSE, IMechE, IET, RICS, CIOB, or equivalent) desirable

Building Services Experience: Mechanical Services

• HVAC Systems
• Heating and Cooling Systems
• Chilled Water Systems
• Public Health Services
• Pipework Installations
• Domestic Water Services
• Above and Below Ground Drainage
• Renewable Energy Technologies
• Mechanical Plant and Equipment

Electrical Services

• Power Distribution
• Small Power Installations
• Lighting Systems
• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
• Security and Access Control Systems
• Structured Cabling and Data Networks
• UPS and Standby Power Systems
• LV Infrastructure

Integrated Services

• Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Controls and Automation
• Commissioning and Validation
• Energy Management Solutions
• Smart Building Technologies
• Mechanical and Electrical Coordination
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