Head of Estimating

Job Description

The role:

The Head of Estimating is United Utilities’ enterprise authority for cost estimating, accountable for delivering robust, market‑evidenced estimates that underpin all capital investment decisions and regulatory submissions. The role leads a blended team of internal estimators and external specialist partners, ensuring the organisation has the capability, insight and assurance required to develop credible, auditable and regulator‑ready cost estimates.

This role shapes and delivers the estimating strategy for a capital programme exceeding £13bn over the next five years, including the Price Review submission. It provides leadership across processes, systems, data, methodologies and supply chain engagement, ensuring that all estimates reflect industry best practice, market intelligence and real‑world delivery performance.

The role also provides strategic advice to senior leaders, ensuring that cost estimates support confident decision‑making, risk management and long‑term investment planning.

Main responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Set and lead the enterprise‑wide estimating strategy, ensuring alignment with capital delivery, regulatory expectations and corporate objectives.
• Act as the organisation’s Head of Profession for estimating, providing authoritative guidance, challenge and assurance to senior leaders.
• Provide the estimating evidence base for all regulatory submissions, including the Price Review, ensuring estimates are robust, transparent and market‑tested.
• Represent the estimating function at executive forums, investment panels and regulatory challenge sessions.

Estimating Excellence & Methodology

• Oversee the processes, organisation, people, information and technology that underpin cost, estimating and budgeting processes (from the uploaded document: “Oversight of the processes, organisation, people, information and technology that underpin cost, estimating and budgeting processes” ).
• Define and implement best‑practice estimating methodologies across all project types and lifecycle stages.
• Ensure estimating libraries, benchmarking datasets and the UU Cost Book are maintained, accurate and reflective of market conditions, project outturns and lessons learned.
• Drive innovation in estimating tools, software and data analytics to enhance accuracy, efficiency and insight.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and grow a hybrid team of internal estimators and third‑party specialists, ensuring capability, consistency and high performance.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities and development pathways for the estimating profession.
• Identify and deliver training, coaching and capability‑building initiatives across the team and wider organisation.
• Create a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Supply Chain & Market Engagement

• Build strong relationships with the supply chain to ensure high‑quality estimating submissions and market‑aligned cost intelligence.
• Support and coach suppliers on UU processes and requirements for cost submissions at all lifecycle stages (from the uploaded document: “Support and coach the supply chain on UU process and requirements for cost submissions at all stages of the lifecycle” ).
• Lead the development of market intelligence and benchmarking to ensure estimates reflect real‑world delivery conditions.

Assurance, Controls & Performance

• Ensure all project and programme estimates support the Performance Management Baseline (PMB) and provide confidence in outturn costs.
• Lead independent assurance reviews to confirm appropriate application of estimating processes and methodologies.
• Provide senior stakeholders with clear, evidence‑based insights and corrective actions where required.
• Support the PMO and Capital Delivery continuous improvement agenda, driving enhancements across systems, processes and data quality.

Skills, qualifications and experience:

• Degree level education or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.
• Extensive experience in programme controls, cost management or estimating, ideally within major infrastructure.
• Proven leadership of large, complex capital programmes (e.g., £5bn+ portfolios or £500m+ major projects).
• Deep understanding of industry standard estimating techniques, cost management principles and benchmarking.
• Strong technical knowledge of estimating and budget management systems.
• Experience leading hybrid teams (internal and external) and developing organisational capability.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at executive level.
• Demonstrated ability to drive system and process improvements.
• High attention to detail with the ability to “deep dive” into complex issues (from the uploaded document: “Strong attention to detail and the ability to ‘deep dive’ into situations” ).
• Resilience and ability to work under pressure to tight timelines.
• Professional qualification such as MAPM, ACostE or equivalent.
• Experience in the utilities or water sector.
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions or working in a regulated environment.
• Experience shaping investment plans at enterprise scale.

What we offer:

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• £5000 car allowance
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme

At UU, we champion flexible ways of working. In-person attendance is required three days per week to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

About United Utilities:

United Utilities’ (UU) mission is to deliver high-quality water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We are proud to be ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.