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The Estimator analyses available information to support investment decisions for portfolios, programmes, or projects. They determine the cost, time required, and likely carbon impacts of delivery. Estimators also verify quotes and estimates from third parties and provide insights that inform commercial negotiations. They work closely with project and programme managers, commercial and finance officers, and suppliers.
| Responsibility | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimation | Contributes to producing estimates. |
| Quote/tender assurance | Analyses third-party quotes and tender documents, and report findings to programmes and projects to support negotiations. |
| Estimating model management | Helps identify, collect, benchmark, and manage relevant time, cost, and carbon data. Contributes to developing and using information and insights drawn from available data. |
| Risks and opportunities | Identifies risk and opportunity drivers for projects or initiatives. Facilitates the collection of comprehensive risks and opportunities from stakeholders. Analyses and quantifies the estimated impact of risks or opportunities on a project or initiative based on factors like scale, proximity, probability, and severity. |
| Uncertainty | Identifies uncertainty drivers for projects or initiatives and ensures their potential impact on the project or initiative is understood. |
| Stakeholder engagement | Provides briefings, advice, guidance, and support to stakeholders on specific estimates and estimating topics for programmes, projects, or other initiatives. |
| Quality management | Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement and contributes to such activities. |
| Governance | Completes assigned tasks in line with relevant processes and standards. Presents deliverables for peer review and participates in reviewing others' deliverables. |
| Digital and data | Uses digital tools for accurate cost estimation and forecasting. Analyses data to anticipate challenges and devises strategies to mitigate risks. |
Suitable for individuals with awareness of providing cost planning, estimating, or equivalent services in a project environment.
Suitable for individuals strong in mathematical or scientific disciplines, with an analytical mindset, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle ambiguity and incomplete information. Also suitable for those with awareness of providing cost planning, estimating, or equivalent services in a non-project environment.
None: No knowledge and no experience.
Awareness: Basic knowledge and limited or no experience. You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Working: Working knowledge and practical experience. You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Practitioner: Detailed knowledge and significant experience. You have a deep understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in medium and/or highly complex projects. You advise and may supervise others in the delivery of this competence. You can adapt your approach to meet the requirements of the project.
Expert: Expert knowledge and experience. You are considered an expert within government and in the wider profession. You have applied this competence in multiple complex projects. You have been responsible for developing unique variations to suit specific situations. You champion capability development in this area.
| Competency area | Level |
|---|---|
Commercial and procurement
The ability to work with commercial colleagues to procure goods and services and manage contracts effectively to deliver the work.
|
Awareness |
Requirements management
The ability to capture stakeholder needs, assess, define and justify those needs to arrive at an agreed schedule of requirements for the work.
|
Awareness |
Solutions development
The ability to identify, document and analyse the various delivery options and select the optimal solution for the work.
|
Awareness |
Budgeting and cost management
The ability to estimate costs, produce a budget and control forecasts and actual spend against budget.
|
Awareness |
Risk and issue management
The ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate or respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.
|
Awareness |
Stakeholder engagement
The ability to systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests.
|
Awareness |
Digital and data
The ability to effectively leverage digital tools and data analytics for better project delivery outcomes. Combining an understanding of digital technologies with the ability to manage, interpret and utilise data to make informed decisions, improve efficiency and achieve outcomes and benefits.
|
Working |
Sustainability
The ability to incorporate environmental and social considerations into the strategic objectives of the work and to effectively identify, assess and manage these throughout the lifecycle, seeking to maximise benefits and mitigate negative impacts.
|
Awareness |
None: No knowledge and no experience.
Awareness: Basic knowledge and limited or no experience. You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Working: Working knowledge and practical experience. You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Practitioner: Detailed knowledge and significant experience. You have a deep understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in medium and/or highly complex projects. You advise and may supervise others in the delivery of this competence. You can adapt your approach to meet the requirements of the project.
Expert: Expert knowledge and experience. You are considered an expert within government and in the wider profession. You have applied this competence in multiple complex projects. You have been responsible for developing unique variations to suit specific situations. You champion capability development in this area.
| Competency area | Level |
|---|---|
Visible leadership
The ability to engage, motivate and coach others. To act as a role model and inspire and empower others. Aligned to the leadership Civil Service behaviour.
|
Awareness |
Credible action
The ability to promote the wider public good in all actions and to act in a morally, legally and socially appropriate manner at all times. Challenges unacceptable behaviour. Aligned to the leadership Civil Service behaviour.
|
Awareness |
Working with ambiguity
The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. Aligned to the making effective decisions Civil Service behaviour.
|
Awareness |
Collaboration
The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project. Aligned to the working together Civil Service behaviour.
|
Awareness |
This role profile is for an estimator at EO grade. It could also be advertised as an estimating support officer.
Hiring managers should refer to the standardised job titles framework for guidance on which titles to use for recruitment.