Estimating Lead — Civil Water & Utilities Tendering

Saltire Infrastructure®; Australia; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Saltire Infrastructure is seeking an experienced Estimating Lead to own and advance the estimating function across water, utilities and pipeline projects in Australia. You will lead tenders from review to handover, develop first-principles estimates, and challenge methodologies to drive commercial strength.

You will work closely with Directors and Operations, maintaining high-quality estimates while mentoring the team and building strong supplier relationships.

Qualifications

• Significant estimating and tender management experience in civil water infrastructure.
• Experience leading an estimating team with senior accountability for the estimating function.
• Ability to build estimates from first principles and assess commercial risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead tenders from initial review through to submission, negotiation and handover.
• Develop and review first-principles estimates across labour, plant, materials, productivity and subcontracted works.
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes and contracts to identify risk, opportunity and tender requirements.
• Develop construction methodologies and challenge productivity and pricing assumptions.
• Obtain, assess and negotiate supplier and subcontractor pricing.
• Provide clear commercial recommendations and support bid/no-bid decisions.
• Manage estimating priorities, tender workload and deadlines across the function.
• Maintain and improve estimating systems, benchmarking and historical rates.

Skills

Tender management

First principles estimating

Civil water infrastructure

Leadership of estimating team

Commercial and financial judgement

Vendor/supplier negotiation

Communication to senior management

Drawing/specs interpretation

Education

Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or related discipline

Job description

Saltire Infrastructure is seeking an experienced Estimating Lead to own and advance the estimating function across water, utilities and pipeline projects in Australia. You will lead tenders from review to handover, develop first-principles estimates, and challenge methodologies to drive commercial strength.

You will work closely with Directors and Operations, maintaining high-quality estimates while mentoring the team and building strong supplier relationships.