Senior Estimator

Summary

The “Senior Estimator – Renewables” role is a pivotal one within Keltbray’s Energy & Digital Infrastructure sector, responsible for leading the estimating and cost planning activities across a selection of renewable grid connections, BESS Balance of Plant (BoP) and wind electrical Balance of Plant (eBoP) projects.

The role will provide authoritative cost intelligence from early development through to contract award, supporting early contractor engagement, FEED, target cost development and competitive tendering. The postholder will shape commercially robust, transparent and defensible estimates that reflect real-world delivery methodology, programme constraints and risk.

Operating at a senior level, the role contributes directly to work-winning strategy, risk management and margin protection, and plays a key role in establishing Keltbray as a trusted delivery partner in the UK renewables market.

Duties & Responsibilities

Estimating & Cost Leadership:

• Lead the preparation of estimates, cost plans and pricing submissions for renewable energy infrastructure projects, including grid connections (HV/EHV), cross-country cable routing, BESS BoP and wind eBoP scopes.
• Develop robust cost models across varying stages of design maturity, from early feasibility and optioneering through to fully detailed tender returns.
• Produce estimates covering civils, cable installation, substations, compounds, access roads, drainage, earthing and associated enabling works as well as the Electrical/MEICA delivery.
• Ensure all estimates are aligned with construction methodology, programme assumptions and delivery strategy.
• Provide clear, auditable breakdowns of assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, risk allowances and contingencies.
• Support target cost, open-book and negotiated pricing arrangements where required.

Market Intelligence & Supply Chain Strategy:

• Engage proactively with the supply chain to test pricing assumptions, capacity, productivity and risk allocation, working with the sector procurement leads.
• Develop and maintain renewable-specific cost benchmarks, rates and productivity data.
• Monitor market trends affecting renewables delivery, including grid congestion, cable pricing volatility, plant availability and labour constraints.
• Advise pre-construction and commercial teams on procurement strategies and packaging approaches to optimise cost and risk.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key specialist subcontractors and suppliers.

Risk, Opportunity & Value Engineering:

• Identify, quantify and articulate cost risk and opportunity across all estimating activities.
• Support value engineering, optioneering and scope optimisation to balance cost, programme and technical risk.
• Collaborate with design and planning teams to assess alternative methodologies, construction sequencing and access strategies.
• Ensure appropriate risk allowances are applied in line with design maturity and delivery certainty.
• Support sensitivity analysis and scenario modelling for investment and executive decision-making.

Interface with Commercial, Design & Delivery Teams:

• Work closely with commercial managers to ensure alignment between pricing, contract strategy and margin objectives.
• Support bid teams with commercial narratives, clarifications and pricing strategy.
• Provide cost input into design development, FEED studies and constructability reviews.
• Support smooth transition from pre-construction to delivery by clearly communicating cost assumptions and risk positions.
• Assist with assessment of variations, compensation events and change during early delivery where required.

Governance, Assurance & Reporting:

• Ensure all estimates comply with internal governance, approval processes and client requirements.
• Participate in tender adjudications, peer reviews and executive gateways.
• Prepare high-quality cost summaries and briefings for senior leadership, clients and investment stakeholders.
• Maintain estimating standards, templates and quality controls across the renewables portfolio.
• Capture lessons learned and feed actual cost data back into future estimates.

Strategic Alignment:

• Translate Keltbray’s renewables strategy into credible, risk-adjusted cost intelligence that supports early engagement and investment decisions.
• Enable informed go / no-go decisions through transparent, defensible estimating at development, FEED and pre-FID stages.
• Support scalability and repeatability by developing benchmark-driven estimating approaches across grid, BESS and wind portfolios.
• Align cost strategy with programme, design and construction methodology to protect margin and manage delivery risk.
• Provide senior-level cost insight to support portfolio planning, workload forecasting and resource strategy.
• Strengthen Keltbray’s market credibility with developers, Owners Engineers, OEM’s, EPC’s and investors through consistent, high-quality pricing.

Requirements

Essential:

• Significant experience in estimating renewable energy or major infrastructure projects.
• Strong technical understanding of grid connections, BESS BoP and/or wind eBoP works.
• Proven ability to lead complex estimates across multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• High level of commercial acumen and numerical capability.
• Ability to interpret contracts, technical scopes and employer’s requirements.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present and defend estimates at senior level.
• Highly organised, detail-focused and comfortable operating in fast-moving pre-construction environments.

Desirable:

• Experience working with developers, Owners Engineers, OEM’s, EPC’s and regulated network operators.
• Familiarity with FIDIC, NEC and other collaborative contract forms.
• Experience supporting FEED, early contractor engagement or negotiated procurement routes.
• Professional qualification or working towards RICS or equivalent.
• Prior involvement in large-scale grid or energy transition projects.

Diversity & Inclusion

We advocate for difference and champion diversity to foster an inclusive environment that allows our people to bring their true selves to their work every day and enable our people to thrive by promoting health and preventing harm. Keltbray welcomes everyone who shares our values, regardless of their age, belief, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, maternity status, marital status, pregnancy, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

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