Estimating Manager - Rooming Accomodation Builder

Development Careers; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Development Careers is seeking a Residential Estimating Manager in Brisbane to lead an estimating team on custom rooming accommodation projects. The role combines hands‑on take-offs, bills of quantities, budgets, pricing and supplier negotiations with close collaboration to ensure accurate, cost‑efficient outcomes.

You will work with the Managing Director and in teams across construction, operations and development, maintaining Databuild proficiency and an up‑to‑date cost‑code catalogue while

Qualifications

• Strong Databuild skills and cost‑code database management.
• Extensive knowledge of take-offs, bills of quantities, budgets and pricing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the estimating team while remaining hands‑on with take-offs, bills of quantities, budgets and supplier negotiations.
• Collaborate with Managing Director, construction, operations and product development teams to ensure cost‑effective, buildable projects.
• Maintain cost‑code database and catalogue; understand suppliers and subcontractors across South East Queensland.
• Drive cost savings and ownership of the estimating function from initial cost plan to site handover.

Skills

Databuild skills

Cost estimation

Take-offs

Budgets

Pricing

Supplier negotiations

Leadership

Communication

Tools

Databuild

Job description

Are you a Residential Estimating Manager who has worked for a mixture of builders—and now wants something different?

This is an interesting role with a company that builds rooming accommodation. Their clients clients are private developers undertaking knockdown rebuilds or developing greenfield sites and converting them into income-generating properties.

Every project is different due to the land, design and local council requirements, so it won’t be boring. They use Databuild and have many of the bones of a residential project home builder, but the projects themselves are custom.

They have built more than 40 projects over the past few years and have a strong pipeline due to the continued demand for this style of accommodation.

The current Estimating Manager is retiring, so there will be a good handover and established systems for you to take ownership of.

This is a hands‑on management role. You will lead and mentor the estimating team while remaining involved in take-offs, bills of quantities, budgets, pricing, plan reviews and supplier negotiations. You will work closely with the Managing Director and the construction, operations and product development teams to ensure projects are accurate, cost-effective and ready to move to site.

You will need strong Databuild skills and know how to maintain the cost-code database and catalogue. You will also have a good understanding of suppliers, subcontractors and construction costs across South East Queensland.

As this is a niche product, we need someone with strong construction knowledge who can participate in all facets of the project—from the initial cost plan and preliminary plans through to working drawings, final budgets and getting the project to site with the building team.

This role would suit someone who is a strong communicator, commercially minded and committed to accuracy. You will enjoy improving systems, finding cost savings and taking ownership of the estimating function.

This is a full-time, office-based role in Eagle Farm.