Electrical Estimating Manager

Company Overview

Our client is a specialist electrical contractor with live programmes running across a broad range of European markets. Their work spans major energy infrastructure, data centres, life sciences facilities and renewables, delivering high-value electrical packages within some of the most technically demanding and capital-intensive sectors in construction.

What distinguishes the business is genuine multi-market delivery capability. Operating simultaneously across numerous European jurisdictions requires more than an export ambition — it demands local supply chain knowledge, familiarity with differing contract forms and regulatory regimes, and a pricing function robust enough to produce reliable numbers across all of them. That capability has taken years to build and is difficult for competitors to replicate quickly.

Demand across their core sectors continues to run strongly, driven by European energy investment, sustained data centre construction and ongoing life sciences capital programmes. The result is a substantial and diverse bid pipeline, and a corresponding need for senior estimating leadership capable of managing both volume and complexity.

The estimating function sits at the front of the business rather than at its margins. Pricing decisions determine which work is pursued, on what terms and at what risk, and the estimating lead is closely involved with commercial and operational leadership in shaping those decisions. This is a role with real influence over the direction of the business, not simply over the numbers submitted.

Working Environment & Projects

You will lead the electrical estimating function, taking responsibility for the pricing of high-value packages extending to around €30 million in value. Scope typically covers MV and LV cable installation, containment systems, earthing and lightning protection, lighting and small power, fire alarm and life safety systems, and the associated testing and commissioning content.

The work is genuinely varied. Enquiries arrive from multiple sectors and multiple countries, which means constantly assessing not only quantities and rates but also local labour markets, material availability, currency and logistics, and the commercial terms attached to each opportunity. Producing consistent, defensible pricing across that spread is the central challenge of the role and what makes it considerably more interesting than single-market estimating.

You will manage and develop a team of estimators, establish and maintain rate libraries and benchmark data, and own the quality and consistency of submissions leaving the business. Working closely with operations, commercial and procurement colleagues, you will contribute to bid strategy, risk assessment and the go or no-go decisions that shape the order book.

The position is Dublin-based with hybrid working, alongside periodic travel to project locations, client meetings and supply chain engagements across Europe. Handover into delivery is a structured part of the process here, giving estimators visibility of how their pricing performs in execution — a feedback loop that many contractors talk about and comparatively few actually operate.

Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical estimating function, owning the quality, accuracy and consistency of all submissions
• Price high-value electrical packages extending to approximately €30 million across multiple sectors and European markets
• Take off and quantify MV/LV cabling, containment, earthing, lighting, small power and fire alarm scope
• Manage and develop the estimating team, setting standards, processes and workload priorities
• Build and maintain rate libraries, labour norms and benchmark cost data across markets
• Assess local market conditions including labour rates, material availability, logistics and currency exposure
• Engage the supply chain to secure competitive and reliable subcontract and material pricing
• Review contract terms and identify commercial and technical risk within tender documentation
• Contribute to bid strategy and go or no-go decisions alongside commercial and operational leadership
• Manage structured handover of successful bids into the delivery team and support post-tender negotiation

What You Need

• Minimum ten years’ experience in electrical estimating or commercial delivery within an electrical or M&E contracting environment
• Proven capability pricing high-value electrical packages from first principles
• Strong technical understanding of MV/LV cable installation, containment, earthing, lighting, small power and fire alarm systems
• Experience managing or mentoring estimating staff, or clear readiness to step into a leadership role
• Sound commercial judgement, including the ability to identify risk within tender documentation and contract terms
• Confident engaging with clients, main contractors and the supply chain during the tender process
• Electrical engineering degree, quantity surveying qualification or electrical trade background preferred
• Sector background is open — energy, data centre, life sciences, renewables, industrial and commercial experience all considered
• European or multi-market estimating experience is beneficial but not essential
• Familiarity with estimating software and with FIDIC, NEC or other international contract forms is beneficial but not essential

What You'll Get in Return

A salary of €130,000 is on offer alongside a comprehensive package including pension, healthcare, bonus and vehicle or car allowance, with hybrid working from a Dublin base. The role carries genuine leadership scope from the outset and a clear progression route into pre-construction and commercial leadership as the business continues to expand.

The sector and market breadth is the standout feature. Rather than pricing the same package type in the same jurisdiction year after year, you will build estimating experience across energy, data centre, life sciences and renewables work in multiple European countries — a combination that is rare, difficult to acquire and consistently in demand across the European electrical contracting market.

There is also real influence attached to the position. Estimating sits at the front of the business here, with direct input into which opportunities are pursued and on what terms, which offers considerably more scope than a purely production-focused pricing role.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity in confidence, please forward your CV or project profile to [email protected] or contact 07481 954446 for an initial confidential discussion.