Contracts Estimator
Service: Grounds Services
Grade scale: Grade 2 Level 4
Reports to: Amenities Officer
Purpose of the job
Responsible to the Amenities Officer for the provision of contract estimating functions in relation to (refuse collections, street cleansing, civic amenity sites, waste transfer stations, grounds maintenance, amenity horticulture and cemeteries) within a designated administrative area.
Key tasks and responsibilities
To assist with the co-ordination and preparation of contract documentation.
To assist in the preparation of new contracts and ad hoc works to enable contract variations to be implemented within Commercial Operations.
To assist in the preparation of job costing for specific areas of work and to provide research data relating to performance indicators and the Council’s best Value initiative.
To undertake as required other projects, research work and to report to assist with the development of the service to maximise income generation where appropriate.
To liaise with other departments and user groups and where appropriate to identify measure and establish maintenance costs for new areas of work.
To prepare such reports as may be deemed necessary.
To undertake any other associated duties as directed by the Amenities Officer.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|---|
|
Education, qualification and training |
Proficiency in estimating materials, labour costs and timescales. Good working knowledge of grounds, construction and street practices. |
Qualification in estimating, Quantity Surveying or similar. |
|
Skills, knowledge, experience |
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to create clear documents, manage data, and communicate effectively. Experience with public procurement processes and contract management. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills in a grounds, streets, construction environment. Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail, ensuring information and documentation are accurate and complete. |
Previous experience as a contracts estimator or similar role, ideally in the grounds maintenance sector. |
|
Personal qualities
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Good interpersonal skills with team mindset. Demonstrate a professional, discreet and courteous manner when dealing with colleagues and customers Ability to follow instruction or work on changing project conditions. Self motivated, reliable and dependable with a positive and proactive approach to work. |
Multi organisational skills, with the ability to accept change and adapt accordingly. |
|
Other |
Ability to work professionally as part of a small team covering a diverse range of duties, covering gaps when required. To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect |
An understanding of local authority policy and procedures, including procurement, health and safety and risk management. |
Safer recruitment checks
As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks:
- Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK.
- Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from their present or most recent employer. Internal candidates require 1 reference from their current line manager.
- Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable.
Behaviour framework
The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:
Efficient
- Punctual and conscientious in your approach to work.
- Use council resources efficiently, avoiding waste and unnecessary expense.
- Identify inefficiency in processes and communicate this to your manager.
- Meet deadlines and targets in your day-to-day work.
- Understand the impact of wasteful behaviours on the environment and you act to minimise this impact.
Flexible
- Willing to learn new tasks and accept new ways of working.
- Willing to be flexible in your approach to work to meet changing service delivery needs, deadlines, and urgent priorities.
- Help team members when they have urgent deadlines and prioritise your work accordingly.
- Understand the need for change and are open to this across your working life.
Performing
- Is polite, professional and friendly to customers and apply customer care standards and attitudes at all times.
- Works safely to maintain the safety of yourself and other raising concerns about unsafe working practices.
- Meets standards of work required in your role in terms of quality and output.
- Uses initiative to solve problems and raise potential issues.
- Acknowledges when mistakes are made and learns from them.
- Seeks feedback on your performance to learn and improve.
Working with others
- Works alongside internal and external colleagues to meet common objectives.
- Has professional relationships with colleagues and is aware of dignity at work standards.
- Actively and respectfully listens to people in order to understand them and their views.
- Contributes appropriately in team and other meetings and discussions.
- Presents words and views clearly in a way that other people find meaningful.
- Respect diversity and promote equality of opportunity when working with colleagues and members of the public.
Leading
- Role models the standards of behaviours expected of a South Lanarkshire Council employee.
- Displays and enables leadership through sharing knowledge and skills, seeking guidance and providing support to your colleagues, team and the wider community.
- Is aware of and adheres to professional codes of practice and the council’s code of conduct and understand how these impact on employment with the council and public perception of council employees.