The Senior Estimator will lead the preparation and development of complex and high-value civil infrastructure tenders ensuring estimates are technically sound, commercially competitive and aligned with the company s risk and margin objectives. The Senior Estimator will provide technical and commercial guidance to Estimators and coordinate the wider tender team.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the estimating process for major and complex civil infrastructure tenders
- Review contract documents, specifications, drawings, BOQs and employer requirements
- Develop detailed cost estimates, including direct and indirect costs, preliminaries, overheads and risk allowances
- Lead quantity take-offs and validate quantities produced by the estimating team
- Manage and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations
- Develop detailed cost build-ups and pricing strategies
- Identify commercial, contractual, technical and construction risks within tenders
- Prepare tender qualifications, assumptions, exclusions and clarifications
- Work closely with Pre-Contracts, Commercial, Engineering, Procurement and Operations teams
- Review construction methodologies and identify opportunities for value engineering
- Lead tender review meetings and present estimates and pricing recommendations to senior management
- Support negotiations and post-tender clarifications with clients and consultants
- Mentor and review the work of junior Estimators
- Maintain and improve estimating databases, benchmarks and historical cost information
- Monitor market conditions and provide insight into labour, material, plant and subcontractor costs
- Ensure tenders are completed accurately and submitted within required deadlines
- Prepare comprehensive first-principles cost estimates using CCS Candy for infrastructure
Essential industrial and mixed-use projects
- Degree in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or related discipline.
- Typically 7–12 years' experience in estimating/pre-contracts within civil infrastructure.
- Strong experience with major infrastructure tenders.
- Demonstrable experience in roads, bridges, utilities, drainage, earthworks and/or major infrastructure projects.
- Strong understanding of construction methodologies and sequencing.
- Advanced knowledge of quantity take-offs, cost planning, pricing and tender preparation.
- Strong understanding of subcontractor procurement and market pricing.
- Experience reviewing contractual requirements and identifying commercial risks.
- Strong Excel and estimating software capability.
- Excellent analytical, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading or mentoring Estimators.
- Ability to manage multiple tenders and tight deadlines.
- Familiar with Candy construction software.