Mears Group Plc
Provider of UK housing repairs, maintenance, care services, development and facilities management
13 hours ago
Expert & Leadership (13+ years), Experienced (8-12 years)
Full Time
Gloucester, England, United Kingdom
Hybrid
Company Size
5,500 Employees
Service Specialisms
Sector Specialisms
Description
cost modelling
pricing strategy
estimating tools
tender submissions
risk assessment
team leadership
The Head of Estimating will lead the commercial estimating and tendering function, shaping pricing strategy and winning major contracts across diverse workstreams such as repairs and maintenance, social housing, decarbonisation programmes and DLO support. The role works closely with Business Development, Operations and Legal teams to ensure proposals drive sustainable growth and protect margins.
In this senior leadership position you will set the standard for commercial governance, drive value‑engineering, oversee tender risk management, and embed estimating assumptions into mobilisation and operational cost monitoring. You will also mentor a high‑performing estimating team, identify capability gaps and champion continuous improvement.
- Lead creation of high‑quality commercial proposals tailored to opportunities
- Develop cost models from first principles and drive pricing strategy
- Provide senior leadership with clear commercial analysis, risk positions and recommendations
- Partner with internal teams to shape strategic bid decisions and contract risk assessments
- Ensure submissions are compliant, well‑documented and commercially sound
- Lead competitive dialogue, clarifications, RFIs and post‑tender negotiations
- Oversee commercial review of contracts and legal documentation
- Enhance estimating methodologies, tools, templates and documentation standards
- Present commercial proposals to Directors and Senior Management
- Embed tender assumptions into mobilisation and operational teams
- Engage supply‑chain partners to secure competitive, deliverable pricing
- Play a key role in mobilisation of successful tenders, challenging assumptions to drive profitability
- Translate estimating assumptions into operational cost monitoring
- Analyse outturn performance to inform future bids and build commercial knowledge base
- Lead, mentor and develop the Estimating Team, fostering technical excellence and collaboration
- Identify capability gaps and champion learning, systems improvement and performance management
Requirements
nhf schedule
value engineering
bid management
estimating tools
quantity surveyor
leadership
The ideal candidate has extensive experience in social housing estimating, expert knowledge of the NHF Schedule of Rates, and a proven track record of developing pricing strategies, value engineering and post‑tender negotiations. Desirable attributes include prior senior management experience in a large contracting or housing services organisation, familiarity with sector‑standard estimating tools, and a professional qualification in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management. Strong strategic thinking, influencing, communication and numerical accuracy are essential.
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and will be subject to background and security checks. Interested candidates should contact Laura Crosby at [email protected] for further information or to submit their application.
- Extensive experience in social housing estimating, with expert knowledge of NHF Schedule of Rates
- Proven ability to develop pricing strategies and deliver value‑engineering solutions
- Strong track record in post‑tender negotiations and contract award processes
- End‑to‑end tender lifecycle experience, from pricing to mobilisation
- Strong working knowledge of standard forms of contract
- Experience presenting commercial proposals at senior leadership level
- Ability to manage multiple bids under demanding deadlines
- Demonstrable leadership experience in building high‑performing teams
- Head of/Senior Manager experience in a large contracting or housing services organisation (desirable)
- Familiarity with sector‑standard estimating systems and analytical tools (desirable)
- Professional qualification in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management (desirable)
- Strategic commercial thinker with strong influencing capability
- Excellent communicator able to simplify complex commercial reasoning
- High numerical accuracy and attention to detail
- Proactive problem solver committed to continuous improvement
Benefits
Mears Group is offering a full‑time, permanent Head of Estimating role based remotely in the UK with occasional travel. The position provides a competitive salary, a £6,900 car allowance and a 40‑hour work week from Monday to Friday.
Mears Group offers generous family‑friendly policies, 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, private medical cover, a pension scheme, employee assistance, and a car allowance. Additional perks include discount vouchers, training and development, an annual fun day, volunteering leave and a commitment to diversity, inclusion and support for veterans.
- Family‑friendly policies, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Three‑times life assurance
- Family private medical cover
- Generous pension scheme and sick pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mears Rewards discount voucher scheme
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Annual Mears Fun Day for staff appreciation
- Volunteering leave – two days per year
Training + Development
Interview process
Visa Sponsorship
- candidates must have entitlement to work in the uk; visa sponsorship is not offered.
Security clearance
- all roles are subject to relevant background, identity & security checks before employment.
Overview
Revenue Tops £1.13亿
Annual Revenue
The company achieved over £1.13 billion in revenue during 2024.
Founded in 1988
Year Established
The company was established in Gloucestershire in 1988.
Over 700,000 Homes
Social Homes Managed
The company maintains over 700,000 social homes across the UK.
- Rapid growth through acquisitions and organic expansion.
- Specialist teams provide rapid-response and planned maintenance, refurbishment, boiler servicing, fire safety, and retrofitting services.
- Delivers tailored care-with-housing schemes and manages tenancies, leaseholds, and emergency accommodation.
- Builds affordable homes, handles capital works, and offers full lifecycle facilities management.
- Strategic acquisitions have shaped its full-service housing platform.
Culture + Values
- Customer First – We put our customers at the heart of everything we do.
- Make a Difference – We work with passion and drive to make a real difference.
- Be Accountable – We take ownership and are responsible for our actions.
- Teamwork – We believe in the power of collaboration and working together.
- Integrity – We act with honesty and transparency in everything we do.
Environment + Sustainability
Net zero target
By 2050
A commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
50% reduction target
Carbon emissions by 2030
Aiming to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030.
- Sustainable construction practices and solutions.
- Investment in low-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources.
- Reducing waste to landfill through effective recycling programs.
- Partnerships with suppliers to improve sustainability across the supply chain.
Inclusion & Diversity
40% by 2025
Women in Leadership
Aim to achieve a gender balance target with 40% women in leadership roles by 2025.
- Continuous monitoring and reporting on gender diversity.
- Annual training on unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.
- Support for gender pay gap reporting and reduction initiatives.
- Encouraging flexible working to support diverse teams.