Quantity Surveyor / Estimator

Contract: Full-time
Company: UK Quantity Surveying & Cost Consultancy Practice

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Construction Estimator to support our UK-based QS team. The ideal candidate will have strong measurement skills, experience preparing competitive estimates, and the ability to work from drawings using software such as Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, and other estimating tools. This role focuses primarily on measuring, quantifying, and pricing construction work across a variety of project types.

This is a full-time role with the opportunity for long-term collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Measurement

Carry out detailed measurement and take-offs from drawings using Bluebeam or similar tools
Prepare accurate cost estimates for construction projects (all trades or specific trades depending on experience)
Build and maintain pricing spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel
Assist in developing BOQs, cost plans, tender submissions, and comparisons
Benchmark costs, analyse subcontractor and supplier quotes
Prepare estimates at various design stages (concept, pre-tender, tender)
Support value engineering and option cost analysis

Project & Admin Support

Organise estimate files, drawings, and supporting documents within Microsoft 365
Maintain consistent and clear cost breakdowns
Provide summaries, rationales, and markup descriptions for estimates
Coordinate information between clients, QS team, and contractors where needed

Requirements

Proven experience as a Construction Estimator or Assistant QS with strong estimating background (2+ years ideal)
Excellent measurement skills and experience taking off from digital drawings
Proficiency with Bluebeam (or similar measurement software)
Strong Microsoft Excel skills (formulas, formatting, structured estimates)
Good understanding of construction methods, materials, and UK pricing norms
Ability to work from incomplete or early-stage drawings and apply logical assumptions
High attention to detail and accuracy
Strong written communication and ability to meet deadlines independently

Preferred (Not Essential)

Experience with residential, commercial, refurbishment, or fit-out projects
Ability to create or improve pricing templates and rate libraries

How to Apply

To help us evaluate your skills, please answer the following six screening questions in your application.

Screening Questions

Measurement & Take-Off Skills:
Describe how you would approach measuring a set of drawings using Bluebeam when some dimensions or details are unclear. What steps would you take to ensure your quantities are accurate and defensible?

Building an Estimate:
Explain your process for creating a construction estimate from scratch. What information do you need, how do you structure your Excel workbook, and how do you check the accuracy of your pricing?

Attention to Detail:
If you receive two subcontractor prices that differ significantly, what checks would you perform before d ---------- which to include in your estimate?

Communication & Clarification:
Draft a short, professional message requesting clarification from a designer or contractor about a missing or conflicting detail in the drawings.

File & Data Organisation:
We run multiple estimates at once. Explain how you would organise drawings, take-off files, and estimate spreadsheets within Microsoft 365 for consistency and easy retrieval.

Week/Month-End Reporting:
Describe how you would prepare a summary report of all estimates completed that week/month, including what data you would include and how you would ensure accuracy.

Please also include:

A short cover message
Your CV
Examples of past estimates, take-offs, or anonymised work samples (if available)

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