Michael Taylor are delighted to be working alongside a valued client of ours in a search for an Assistant Pre Construction Manager. They are a commercial interiors business offering end-to-end workspace consultancy, design, project management, construction, and furniture provision. Working across sectors including retail, education, light industrial, life sciences, and other commercial clients.
Role Purpose
To support the pre-construction function by assisting in the accurate estimation of fit-out projects, managing tender processes, liaison with design & technical teams, and helping ensure projects are set up for success before they move into delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in preparing detailed cost estimates for fit-out projects, including materials, labour, sub-contractors, plant, and other associated costs.
- Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, and tender documents, identifying ambiguities, risks, and value engineering opportunities.
- Collaborate with the design, technical, and procurement teams to ensure estimates reflect design intent and material/finish selections.
- Develop and maintain a database of cost rates, supplier quotes, labour rates, local sub-contractor performance and costs.
- Assist in tendering: issuing RFQs, evaluating bids, preparing comparisons, and presenting recommendations.
- Support the Senior Pre-Construction Manager in producing pre-construction reports, risk assessments, budgeting, and programme forecasts.
- Monitor cost changes, variations, inflation or any market changes that could impact estimates, and communicate these to senior management.
- Participate in pre-construction meetings and site surveys as required.
- Assist in producing project documentation required for handover to construction teams, ensuring all pre-construction deliverables are in order.
Requirements / Qualifications
Essential:
- Previous experience in fit-out, commercial interiors, or construction estimating roles.
- Strong numerical, analytical and commercial awareness; ability to interpret design drawings and specifications.
- Knowledge of cost estimating software, spreadsheets, and ability to build and manage estimate models.
- Good ability to identify risks, cost drivers, and value engineering potential.
- Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, ability to manage multiple tasks/projects.
- Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—for liaising with design, procurement, senior management, and external suppliers/subcontractors.
Desirable:
- Degree or relevant qualification in construction management, quantity surveying, architecture or similar.
- Prior experience with regional or national supply chains in commercial interiors.
- Familiarity with furniture provision, interior finishes, and technical design (e.g. joinery, M&E, lighting).
- Experience of using specialist estimating or project management software.
Competencies & Personal Attributes
- Proactive and self-motivated: able to take ownership of tasks and follow through.
- Team player: works closely with design, procurement, technical, commercial, and operations teams.
- Problem solving: able to spot issues early and contribute to solutions.
- Adaptable: able to respond to changing project scopes, designs, or cost pressures.
- Commercial mindset: always considering value, cost efficiency and budget implications.
