Estimator

We have an exciting opportunity for an Estimator to join our team within Vistry Northern Home Counties, at our Milton Keynes office. As our Estimator, you will work as part of the wider Commercial team and be responsible for preparing whole development budgets, estimates and cashflows from pre-land purchase to final budget estimate, prior to the handover to the Quantity Surveying and Buying teams. The candidate will be capable of working on their own initiative and closely with the land team and will be responsible for maintaining a competitive cost database.We value in-person collaboration and team culture, but we’re also committed to supporting flexible working where possible. We encourage you to raise any specific requirements during the interview process so we can explore how this could be accommodated. Let’s cut to the chase, what’s in it for you...

• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
• Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
• Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees
• Up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to up to 39 days with service
• 2 Volunteering days per annum
• Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice
• Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary
• Share save and share incentive schemes
• Employee rewards portal with many more benefits...
  
  

In return, what we would like from you...

• Behave in line with our company values – Integrity, Caring and Quality
• Have or be working towards a minimum of an HNC in Building or equivalent
• Internal BOQ production
• House Building experience, or have gained experience within the Construction Industry
• Be computer literate
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Strong commitment to achieving deadlines
• Able to work efficiently on own initiative, prioritising as necessary
• A full driving licence
• Positive attitude towards teamwork
• Strong commitment to achieving deadlines
• Delegate work activities where required
• Maintaining confidentiality of work-related information and materials
• Willing to work extra to meet deadlines as and when the business needs require it
  
  

Desirable...

• Roads and sewers and infrastructure
• S106
• Having house building / residential experience
• Working knowledge of ConQuest Estimating software
• Working knowledge of Bluebeam measurement software
  
  

More about the Estimator role...

• In advance of a land purchase, you will prepare construction land budgets for the Land Manager to evaluate the site, assisting the Land Manager/Sales Team to determine the best house mix for the site.
• Evaluate risks and cost of construction abnormalities in formulating the budget, discussing and reviewing specifications in association with the relevant departments prior to the land bid.
• Update construction budgets on a regular basis and prepare a schedule of standard house type prices for land feasibility purposes.
• Liaise with Architects/Design Engineers on matters of preliminary Design and Engineering solutions.
• Post the purchase of land, you will propose improved economical design and engineering solutions for the team to consider, including new building methods and products.
• Assist the Associate Director in reviewing new product specification suitable for development, preparing comments on preliminary layouts prior to the formal issue of DCO.
• Liaise with the Development department regarding best solutions for house type designs and internal layouts, preparing Planning Packs which ensure the feasibility reflects all changes and financial implications.
• Ahead of start on site, you will prepare budget packs, liaising with all departments to ensure all latest material, preliminaries, subcontracts, sales and development costs are included in the financial review.
• You will be responsible for providing budgetary framework to assist the Surveyors/Buyers in their financial control of the development post start on site.
• Review construction databases on a regular basis, reviewing the construction price at the end of contract.
• Prepare cash flows for management accounts and forecasting purposes, providing a cost advisory and investigation service to senior management.
• Development of a measurement and pricing strategy.
• Attendance at opportunity launch, mid-tender, settlement and handover meetings.
• Preparation of proposed supply chain enquiry schedules in conjunction with the buying team.
• Pre-enquiry communication with key supply chain partners.
• Submission of lump sum and BOQ supply chain enquiries utilising ConQuest Estimating software.
• Internal take off and measurement utilising Bluebeam software.
• Internal BOQ production utilising ConQuest Estimating software.
• Arranging key supply chain tender review meetings.
• Maintain working relationships with our local and national supply chains.
• Completion of design, specification and value engineering reviews.
• Coordinating pricing in conjunction with design information provided by the D&C team.
• Coordinating pricing in conjunction with the Planner.
• Undertaking subcontractor and material supplier quotation analysis, ensuring compliance and competitiveness.
• Undertaking fixed price analysis.
• Preparing job pricing comparisons and resources for settlement meetings.
• Completion of project CSA.
• Provide any supporting information for the quality submission.
• Provide input into post tender clarifications and negotiations.
• Attendance at Client / Stakeholder meetings as required.
• Provide continual pricing updates following the tender submission.
• Preparing documentation for handover meetings to production and commercial teams.
• Secure land opportunities within our market sector and geographic operational area to generate development work and contracting opportunities.
• Undertake appraisals for development sites based on information provided.
• Review site constraints, risks and opportunities in conjunction with the D&C team and cost mitigation strategies.
• Review Planning / S106 requirements assessing any financial implications.
• Develop a strategy with the team and manage the measure and financial element of the development.
• Supporting value engineering or negotiating exercises where required.
• Update financial appraisal at key stages of the development process – including offer stage, acquisition approval, planning application and planning approval stages.
• Financial modelling of cost and revenue streams to determine funding requirements of each development.
  
  

We build more than homes, we’re making Vistry. Being a responsible developer and award-winning employer means we live each day through our ethos - doing the right thing. Our behaviours reflect this, as well as our values of integrity, caring and quality. Shaping all we do; they empowerus to develop sustainable communities across affordable and private housing. We work in a partnership-led way, and you’ll recognise our renowned brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes. Together with Vistry Works, our manufacturing operation, and the functional support of Vistry Services, we’re a proud UK Green Building Council member, UK top five housebuilder with a five-star House Builders Federation (HBF) customer satisfaction rating, and winner of many awards including Top Employer, Global Top Inspiring Workplaces, and Best for Talent Attraction and Outreach. Join us in making Vistry.