About Howarth & Our Buildpack Division
With over 180 years of heritage, Howarth Timber & Building Supplies is one of the UK’s largest and most trusted independent merchants. While our branch network supports regional trades every day, our specialised Buildpack Division operates at a national scale, acting as a critical supply-chain partner to the UK’s leading volume housebuilders.
Rather than just selling individual materials, our Buildpack team delivers comprehensive, plot-specific “first-fix and second-fix packages” nationwide. Leveraging Howarth’s immense timber expertise and manufacturing capability, we transform complex architectural blueprints into precision-managed material packs — from structural timber carcasses, engineered joists, and trusses, to internal door sets, skirtings, and ironmongery — delivered directly to site exactly when developers need them.
The Role
We are seeking a detail-oriented Materials Estimator/Takeoff Specialist to join our fast-growing Buildpack team.
In this role, you won’t just be pricing ad-hoc trade quotes. You will be analysing large-scale housing developments, performing meticulous digital material takeoffs from structural plans, and specifying complete first and second-fix packages for hundreds of plots at a time. This is a fast-paced, back-office commercial role where your technical accuracy directly impacts nationwide construction schedules and Howarth’s contract margins.
Key responsibilities
Material Take-Offs & Scheduling
• Produce accurate material take-offs from architectural drawings, door schedules and project specifications.
• Create and maintain detailed plot-by-plot schedules covering doors, linings, ironmongery, mouldings, stair parts, sheet materials, fixings and associated products.
• Organise schedules by phase, plot, elevation, house type and delivery drop to support site programmes.
• Keep take-offs and schedules accurately version-controlled, with clear assumptions and exclusions.
Product Specification & Compliance
• Interpret customer specifications and select products that meet approved ranges, standards and project requirements, including fire, acoustic, finish and certification needs.
• Recommend suitable product alternatives when required, ensuring approvals are recorded and communicated.
• Maintain accurate specification and substitution records to minimise errors and issues on site.
Customer & Internal Technical Support
• Provide technical support on joinery products, schedules and plot pack contents.
• Work with housebuilder commercial, site, design and procurement teams to clarify information and resolve drawing or specification queries.
• Give sales, procurement, warehouse and transport teams clear schedules and delivery requirements to support accurate, on-time fulfilment.
Order Coordination & Handover
• Turn completed schedules into clear requirements for pricing, purchasing and picking.
• Work closely with procurement to confirm product availability, lead times and suitable alternatives.
• Prepare clear operational handover packs, including plot references, delivery sequences and special handling instructions.
Continuous Improvement
• Spot recurring specification issues, information gaps and process inefficiencies, and help put them right.
• Help develop templates, standard schedules and working practices that improve speed, accuracy and consistency.
• Monitor key measures such as take-off turnaround, query resolution, schedule accuracy and specification-related credits or returns.
What you’ll need
• Proven Experience: Background as an Estimator, Takeoff Specialist, or Assistant QS—ideally within a builders merchant, timber importer, joinery manufacturer, or contractor environment.
• Technical Blueprint Literacy: Exceptional ability to read, interpret, and accurately scale blueprints, section drawings, and manufacturing details.
• Timber & Joinery Knowledge: A solid understanding of first and second-fix materials, with particular strength in structural timber, engineered wood systems, or internal joinery packages.
• Software Skills: Proficiency with digital takeoff software (e.g., Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Adobe Pro) and advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Commercial Mindset: High attention to detail with an understanding of trade sales, margins, and the commercial importance of accuracy in multi-plot contract pricing. Experience of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Availability to work full-time, Monday to Friday inclusive.
What we offer
We’re proud to have been officially recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026!🎖
As a family-owned business, we want our colleagues to feel valued and supported. Our benefits include:
• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• 31 days’ holiday, including bank holidays.
• The option to buy up to five additional days’ annual leave or sell up to three days each year.
• Colleague referral bonus scheme: receive a £500 bonus when someone you refer for an HGV Driver role successfully completes their probationary period. Terms and conditions apply.
• Length-of-service awards.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme, including a 24/7 helpline, remote GP appointments and counselling, legal, debt and life-management support.
• Benefits Hub offering discounts on gift cards, travel, cinema tickets and more.
• Generous colleague discount at our merchant branches.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
How to apply
If you are ready to bring your expertise, commercial focus and commitment to outstanding customer service to our Buildpack team, we would be delighted to hear from you. To apply, please email your CV to Mark Griffiths, Business Development Director, at mgriffiths@howarth-timber.co.uk.