What Does A Junior Estimator Do?

WHAT DOES A JUNIOR ESTIMATOR DO?

Published: Jan 16, 2026 - The Junior Estimator receives and analyses tender enquiries, unpacks documentation, takes off quantities, and prepares accurate lump-sum quotations while coordinating with suppliers, subcontractors, and client teams. This role involves raising RFIs, suggesting value-engineering options, attending tender and pre-contract meetings, and supporting negotiations to secure orders. The individual also hands over secured projects to the delivery team, provides ongoing commercial support, and maintains consistent compliance with Health & Safety and QA requirements.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Junior Estimator

1. Junior Estimator Essential Functions

Bid Management: Manage the weekly bid list to ensure the team pursues appropriate opportunities.
Strategic Prioritisation: Prioritise bid activity for preferred clients in line with business objectives.
Scope Analysis: Review project plans and specifications to gain a clear understanding of project scope.
Cost Estimation: Develop project estimates by pricing materials, labor, equipment, and related expenses.
Budget Preparation: Prepare project budgets suitable for bid submission.
Quantity Takeoffs: Perform accurate quantity takeoffs from blueprints in accordance with company guidelines.
Proposal Compliance: Review the scope of work and bidder instructions to ensure proposals are complete.
Risk Assessment: Identify and address potential risks prior to bid submission.
Bid Review: Follow the established bid review process and make required bid revisions.
Margin Analysis: Collaborate with the team on bid margins and support recommendations for margin adjustments.

2. Junior Estimator Additional Details

AutoCAD Drafting: Produce AutoCAD 2D drawings to support and accompany customer quotations.
Customer Support: Assist with incoming customer enquiries in a professional and timely manner.
Requirements Gathering: Gather required technical and commercial information from customers.
Quotation Preparation: Prepare accurate quotations based on customer requirements and drawings.
Process Compliance: Issue quotations to customers in line with internal processes.
Sales Follow-Up: Follow up on submitted quotations to encourage progression.
Sales Volume: Generate a consistent volume of quotations to support sales activity.
Conversion Optimization: Work to improve quotation conversion rates into confirmed orders.
CRM Data Management: Record quotations and customer data accurately within the ODOO CRM system and file related paperwork appropriately.

3. Junior Estimator Roles

Estimate Preparation: Prepare complete project estimates through detailed review of proposal specifications, drawings, takeoff data, and contractual requirements.
Scope Analysis: Analyze scope, assumptions, and exclusions to ensure estimate accuracy and completeness.
Estimating Coordination: Coordinate estimating inputs to support reliable project pricing and approvals.
Construction Oversight: Oversee construction execution to ensure work aligns with approved design documents.
Schedule Management: Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with agreed schedules and milestones.
Cost Control: Control project costs to maintain alignment with approved budgets.
Site Supervision: Direct and coordinate on-site superintendents through administrative oversight.
Contract Management: Manage all financial aspects of contracts, including cost control, reporting, and compliance.

4. Junior Estimator Tasks

Plan Analysis: Read and understand plans and specifications, and develop complete cost estimates for projects.
Bid Preparation: Prepare bids for projects up to high-value thresholds.
Pre-Bid Coordination: Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits.
Quantity Take-Offs: Perform quantity take-offs.
Work Breakdown: Build bid item work breakdown structures.
Cost Estimation: Estimate project costs by compiling and analyzing gathered data.
Estimate Review: Review estimates with Senior Management.
Project Handover: Attend and lead project hand-off meetings with the project management team.
Close-Out Review: Attend project close-out meetings and incorporate lessons learned into future estimates.
Relationship Management: Develop productive relationships with clients, vendors, subcontractors, and engineering firms in pursuit of work opportunities.

5. Junior Estimator Details and Accountabilities

Drawing Analysis: Analyze drawings, interpret specifications, prepare material take-offs, and obtain quotations and lead times from suppliers for use in estimates.
Supplier Relations: Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and general contractors.
Stakeholder Communication: Interact with and maintain positive, efficient, and productive working relationships with internal staff, external suppliers, and contractors.
Product Knowledge: Maintain up-to-date product knowledge and participate in educational and training opportunities.
Team Participation: Participate in staff meetings.
Estimate Preparation: Prepare work to be estimated by gathering drawings, specifications, and related documents for various disciplines.
Issue Resolution: Resolve discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.
Estimate Support: Assist in preparing estimates by assembling and displaying numerical and descriptive information.
Report Preparation: Prepare reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
Cost Database: Maintain the cost database by entering and backing up data.
Technical Development: Maintain technical knowledge by attending educational workshops and reviewing technical publications.
Team Contribution: Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results.

6. Junior Estimator Overview

Project Estimation: Participate in the estimation of each project.
Quantity Take-Offs: Execute take-offs of construction documents.
Client Coordination: Assist with client meetings, notes, and documentation.
Design Tracking: Track design progress.
Job Setup: Create new job startup information and folder setup.
Permit Management: Secure building permits as required by the city and local codes.
Scope Review: Review construction documents and understand the scope of work to bid.
Resource Development: Develop and maintain resource information on products, vendors, subcontractors, government requirements, builder approvals, building regulations, and covenants.
Drawing Management: Manage construction drawings, shop drawings, and landscaping plans.
Industry Research: Attend building trade shows and study new housing trends and styles.

7. Junior Estimator Functions

Client Liaison: Liaise and support client engagement before, during, and following the bid process to fully understand client requirements.
Tender Submission: Prepare and ensure tender submissions are submitted accurately and on time.
Cost Sourcing: Engage with manufacturers, suppliers, and subcontractors to obtain accurate quotes for materials and services to establish true cost estimates.
Subcontractor Review: Understand and scrutinise subcontractor quotations, ensuring accuracy, value for money, and resolving cost discrepancies while maintaining profitability.
Financial Analysis: Understand and present financial overviews of bids and their value for adjudication.
Business Development: Help develop new business by introducing new tender opportunities.
Tender Preparation: Work with the existing team to view drawings and complete tenders.
Specification Writing: Undertake the writing of work specifications.

8. Junior Estimator Accountabilities

Department Support: Support the Contracts and Operations departments by completing fire and security system takeoffs from layout drawings.
Quantity Take-Offs: Perform takeoffs manually and using BlueBeam software.
Data Organization: Tabulate and organize takeoff data clearly and accurately.
Costing Software: Use costing software packages to prepare quotations and tenders for fire and security systems.
Quotation Preparation: Compile quotations using standardized company quotation templates.
Requirements Interpretation: Interpret client requirements from drawings and technical specifications with strong attention to detail.
Supplier Communication: Communicate with suppliers to obtain competitive pricing and confirm lead times.
Pricing Coordination: Coordinate pricing information to ensure accurate and timely submissions.
Site Surveys: Attend client sites to carry out system surveys following completion of required training.

9. Junior Estimator Responsibilities

Quantity Takeoffs: Produce detailed quantity takeoffs for a variety of steelwork fabrication projects.
Cost Estimation: Prepare accurate estimates based on drawings, specifications, and scope requirements.
Quotation Development: Develop complete estimates and quotations covering the full scope of works.
Internal Coordination: Liaise internally with the project and engineering teams to validate estimate accuracy.
External Liaison: Liaise externally with suppliers and subcontractors during the estimating process.
Enquiry Management: Manage and respond to all incoming customer and project enquiries efficiently.
Price Negotiation: Negotiate with subtrades to obtain competitive and compliant pricing.
Sales Execution: Execute a targeted number of enquiries personally each week.
Team Support: Support the wider Estimating team in achieving individual and overall performance targets.

10. Junior Estimator Details

Workflow Management: Work closely with the Head of Sales and Business Development to manage and prioritize estimating workflow.
Resource Coordination: Coordinate estimating activities to ensure resources are aligned with bid demands.
Tender Submission: Prepare and submit fully compliant tenders in accordance with bid deadlines.
Technical Support: Provide customers with technical guidance and pricing support during the tender stage.
Pre-Construction Support: Support customers with technical and pricing information during pre-construction phases.
Scope Analysis: Review plans and specifications to determine project scope and appropriate delivery methods.
Trade Scoping: Define the scopes of work for individual trades based on project requirements.
Subcontractor Enquiries: Distribute subcontractor enquiries to obtain accurate and competitive pricing.
Margin Planning: Propose appropriate profit margins in line with current pricing and margin guidelines.
Bid Review: Review bids jointly with the Head of Sales and Business Development and the Head of Operations in accordance with approval thresholds.

11. Junior Estimator Duties

Email Management: Manage incoming emails professionally and respond on time.
Call Handling: Handle incoming phone calls politely and efficiently.
Data Entry: Record and update information accurately within spreadsheets.
Database Management: Maintain and review databases in line with business process requirements.
Data Integrity: Ensure data integrity and consistency across reporting tools.
Team Collaboration: Build strong working relationships with branch teams.
Relationship Management: Develop and maintain positive relationships with suppliers and customers.
Workload Prioritisation: Prioritise daily workloads to consistently meet agreed deadlines and timescales.

12. Junior Estimator Role Purpose

Contract Analysis: Analyze contract documents, plans, and specifications, and evaluate project work scopes.
Resource Planning: Verify necessary work quantities and assign appropriate resources and productivity rates.
Design Evaluation: Evaluate design options and recommend alternative solutions or approaches to secure work.
Bid Proposals: Create and submit bid proposals.
Contract Negotiation: Negotiate and secure contracts.
Project Scheduling: Schedule equipment, personnel, materials, and subcontractors in cooperation with the Project Superintendent to complete projects efficiently and effectively.
Issue Resolution: Recognize and resolve problems on assigned projects in cooperation with the Project Superintendent.
Cost Control: Monitor daily job costs and implement cost control plans to construct projects under budget.
Financial Management: Manage project finances during construction, including job-to-date revenues and cost to complete.
Billing Approval: Review and approve pay estimates and generate billings.
Transaction Authorization: Authorize all project transactions for materials and subcontractors.
Safety Compliance: Ensure implementation of safety programs.
Policy Compliance: Ensure company procedures, policies, and quality standards are met.
Customer Relations: Maintain positive customer relationships and ensure customer satisfaction.

13. Junior Estimator General Responsibilities

Bid Support: Support estimators in the preparation of bids and formal proposals.
Quantity Takeoffs: Complete detailed quantity takeoffs from project drawings and specifications.
Material Takeoffs: Prepare material takeoffs to determine required quantities and costs.
Labor Takeoffs: Prepare labor takeoffs based on scope and productivity assumptions.
Rate Application: Apply material unit rates or approved allowances to build accurate estimates.
Labor Costing: Apply base labor productivity rates to calculate labor costs.
Document Control: Maintain bid document control by organizing and archiving all estimating information.
Project Handover: Ensure estimate documentation is structured for smooth handover to the project team.
Bid-Day Support: Support the lead bid runner with assigned bid-day activities and tasks.
Subcontractor Sourcing: Solicit competitive pricing from subcontractors for assigned trade packages.
Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain strong working relationships with estimators, bid runners, subcontractors, and suppliers.

14. Junior Estimator Key Accountabilities

Team Support: Assist and support the Estimating and Project Teams.
Job Pricing: Price jobs based on the scope of work, plans, and tender documentation.
Subcontractor Relations: Forge strong relationships with subcontractors to achieve the best possible market pricing.
Tender Preparation: Produce, prepare, and review subcontractor quotes and tenders.
Margin Control: Ensure tenders meet company target margins and agreed timescales.
Tender Tracking: Manage and track project tenders and follow-ups.
RFI Administration: Administer RFIs to clients, architects, and consultants.
Variation Pricing: Process variation pricing and submissions.
Project Assistance: Perform general tasks to assist the project management team.

15. Junior Estimator Roles and Details

Cost Research: Research materials, equipment, and labour costs.
Quote Sourcing: Gather quotes from subcontractors and suppliers.
Risk Assessment: Assess levels of risk on a project and communicate risk internally.
Data Analysis: Analyse company data, exchange rates, and prices using software packages.
Quotation Preparation: Prepare and submit quotations.
Final Accounts: Complete final accounts.
Tender Support: Support new contract tenders.
Procurement Support: Support buying activities.
Cost Monitoring: Monitor stages of a project to ensure costs are kept in line with forecasts and the correct level of profits is achieved.

16. Junior Estimator Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Preconstruction Collaboration: Collaborate with general contractors, developers, and architects during the preconstruction phase of projects.
Specification Review: Review project specifications to understand framing scope requirements.
Drawing Review: Review drawings to accurately define framing work on each project.
Material Estimation: Prepare detailed material estimates using takeoff software.
Price Maintenance: Update and maintain current material pricing to ensure estimate accuracy.
Estimate Review: Attend internal estimate review meetings before proposal submission.
Bid Preparation: Assist in preparing complete and compliant bid proposals.
Bid Submission: Submit bid proposals to clients in a timely and professional manner.
Bid Tracking: Log project bid details into the online tracking system.
Vendor Sourcing: Obtain vendor quotes to support accurate and competitive estimates.

17. Junior Estimator Duties and Roles

Scope Review: Review project documentation to determine the scope, feasibility, and suitability of the work.
Estimate Preparation: Prepare detailed estimates for projects and formal tender submissions.
Material Costing: Develop accurate costings for materials based on specifications and quantities.
Labor Costing: Calculate labor costs using appropriate rates and productivity assumptions.
Service Pricing: Price external services required to complete the project scope.
Cost Variations: Monitor design and scope revisions and apply required cost variations.
Takeoff Sourcing: Prepare material take-offs and source subcontractor services.
Supplier Negotiation: Negotiate pricing and terms with suppliers to achieve best value.
Client Negotiation: Negotiate costs and variations with clients in line with project requirements.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the Project and Production teams and actively participate in project and team meetings.

18. Junior Estimator Roles and Responsibilities

Estimator Training: Work closely with the Senior Estimator, receiving on-the-job training and one-to-one tutoring.
Bid Collaboration: Collaborate within the Bid team to successfully tender, design, negotiate, and secure projects.
Enquiry Review: Review customer enquiries to understand scope, requirements, and commercial objectives.
Quote Templates: Prepare standardized quote templates to support clear and professional customer proposals.
Supply Chain Liaison: Liaise with supply chain partners to accurately compile tenders and quotations.
Pricing Coordination: Coordinate pricing and scope information with suppliers and subcontractors.
Supply Chain Development: Support supply chain development to strengthen pricing competitiveness and reliability.
Variation Management: Create, manage, and track variations with operatives and clients in accordance with contract requirements.
Variation Control: Ensure variations are documented, priced, and approved correctly.
Project Handover: Complete formal handover of successful tenders to the project team to support smooth project delivery.

19. Junior Estimator Essential Functions

Scope Definition: Review engineers’ recommendations and client requests to define the scope for minor works.
Quotation Preparation: Produce accurate quotations for minor works based on technical and client inputs.
Order Securing: Secure minor works orders through effective pricing and client communication.
Parts Procurement: Procure required parts to support approved repair and maintenance works.
Repair Scheduling: Schedule repairs efficiently in coordination with administrative and repair teams under direct control.
Workload Management: Manage workloads to ensure repairs are completed promptly.
Financial Targets: Achieve annual turnover and profit margin targets for minor works activities.
Client Satisfaction: Ensure client requirements and service expectations are consistently met.
Quality Compliance: Operate in full compliance with the company quality management system in an estimating capacity.
Operational Reporting: Provide the Regional Director or Service Manager with operational data, including quotation volumes and minor works order intake.

20. Junior Estimator Additional Details

Estimate Preparation: Prepare work to be estimated by gathering project briefs, specifications, drawings, schedules, and related documents.
Resource Identification: Identify labour, materials, and schedule requirements based on project needs.
Costing Systems: Use the in-house costing system to generate full estimates, quotations, and project schedules for evaluation by Senior Staff in line with company procedures.
Budget Advisory: Advise on project budgets with relevant members of the Project and Production Management Team.
Client Meetings: Attend client meetings to discuss potential and ongoing projects.
Client Liaison: Liaise with clients regarding project requirements within available budgets.
Quotation Preparation: Prepare project quotations in line with company procedures.
Internal Coordination: Attend internal meetings, project briefings, and debrief meetings with all relevant departments.

21. Junior Estimator Roles

Scope Review: Review proposal specifications and drawings to clearly determine project scope and estimating requirements.
Document Analysis: Analyze drawings and documents to confirm the full content of work to be priced.
Estimate Development: Prepare discipline-specific estimates by completing detailed quantity takeoffs.
Quantity Accuracy: Calculate quantities accurately to ensure full coverage of the defined scope.
Document Control: Maintain organized files of working documents to support estimate figures.
Pricing Management: Keep current and accurate pricing information from suppliers through direct contact and reference materials.
Estimating Software: Use estimating software to build comprehensive and well-structured project estimates.
Vendor Communication: Communicate with vendors to obtain quotations and clarify pricing or availability.
Value Engineering: Review design options and recommend optimal solutions based on cost efficiency, engineering quality, and material availability.

22. Junior Estimator Tasks

Tender Review: Review Bills of Quantities and tender documents for accuracy and completeness.
Variation Management: Manage and assess project variations in line with contractual requirements.
Price File Management: Maintain and regularly update the Databuild price file catalogue.
Supplier Pricing: Obtain and review supplier quotations to ensure competitive pricing.
Internal Coordination: Liaise with internal teams to support construction delivery requirements.
Stakeholder Communication: Communicate with external stakeholders, including suppliers and subcontractors.
Invoice Verification: Check supplier and subcontractor invoices against agreed quantities and prices.
Cost Monitoring: Monitor quantities and identify cost overruns or discrepancies.
Purchase Orders: Prepare and issue purchase orders for suppliers and subcontractors.

23. Junior Estimator Details and Accountabilities

Drawing Analysis: Analyze drawings, blueprints, survey reports, and maps using engineering and design software to understand project scope.
Technical Interpretation: Interpret technical documents to identify construction requirements and constraints.
Labor Takeoffs: Prepare detailed project takeoffs quantifying required labor.
Material Quantification: Calculate material quantities needed for each project.
Equipment Costing: Estimate equipment and incidental costs associated with project execution.
Cost Summarization: Develop cost summaries based on quantified takeoffs.
Quotation Tracking: Maintain ongoing communication regarding the status of all quotations.
Document Management: Prepare, track, and monitor all project documentation, including submittals, permits, and certifications.

24. Junior Estimator Overview

Plan Interpretation: Interpret plans and construction materials to propose and verify estimates.
Scope Control: Identify and resolve deviations from the proposal, including scope and specifications.
Work Oversight: Oversee work progress, complete logs, and update supervisors on challenges.
Technical Documentation: Write technical reports, subcontracts, purchase orders, project updates, and proposals.
Cost Analysis: Conduct accurate cost analyses and estimations.
Preliminary Estimating: Prepare preliminary estimates for conceptual projects.
Estimator Support: Assist estimators with direct cost reports and pricing schedules.
Proposal Support: Participate in proposal preparation.
Risk Analysis: Complete risk analyses of data related to program costs.
Estimate Approval: Assist with pre-approval of estimates.
Post-Project Review: Conduct post-project cost analyses.
Data Modeling: Collect data and develop models.
Customer Quotation: Work with customers and staff to produce acceptable quotations.
Stakeholder Liaison: Act as liaison between customers, engineers, subcontractors, internal production, and the sales team.

25. Junior Estimator Functions

Tender Intake: Receive tender enquiries and note the requested submission dates.
Deadline Compliance: Adhere to all submission deadlines.
Document Review: Unpack tender documents thoroughly to understand client requirements.
RFI Management: Raise RFIs before commencement of pricing.
Price Enquiries: Send information to suppliers and subcontractors for bespoke prices in good time for the tender return.
Trade Knowledge: Maintain a robust understanding of business units, including Drylining and Ceilings, SFS and Rainscreen, and Carpentry, with motivation to learn to price these trades.
Variation Pricing: Price variations and suggest value engineering options.
Client Engagement: Engage positively with client teams at every opportunity.
Quantity Takeoffs: Take off drawing quantities and load onto the software for lump sum quotations.
Tender Interviews: Attend pre, mid, and post-tender interviews with clients.
Pre-Contract Meetings: Attend internal and external pre-contract meetings to qualify the programme, scope of works, and subcontractor details.
Commercial Negotiation: Consult with the client and line manager regarding possible negotiations and commercial decisions to obtain orders and letters of intent.
Project Handover: Hand over projects to the project team, including better buying targets, and continue to support the project team throughout installation and material scheduling.
Phone Enquiries: Deal with phone enquiries.
H&S Compliance: Understand and implement the Company Health and Safety policy and QA at all times.

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