Estimator

JV Recruitment Pty Ltd; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

JV Recruitment Pty Ltd is seeking an Estimator for our Inner Northern Suburbs Melbourne team. You will prepare detailed estimates, price preliminaries, and assemble subcontract packages for tenders.

Reporting to the Lead Estimator, you will build profitable bids while managing risk, vendor quotes, and tender processes in a collaborative builder environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years estimating in Australian commercial construction or heritage restoration.
• Ability to perform precise quantity take-offs and build up first-principle rates.
• Strong commercial acumen to evaluate methods and value engineer.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with clients and subcontractors.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed construction estimates from drawings, specs, and contract documents.
• Price preliminaries, site establishment, on-costs, contingencies, and project margins.
• Assemble comprehensive subcontract trade packages and compare quotes.
• Prepare and submit complete commercial tenders with prices, assumptions, and schedules.
• Identify risks and opportunities and document value engineering options.
• Negotiate pricing with subcontractors and material suppliers.
• Manage tender correspondence, drawing registers, version control, and inbox.
• Attend site visits, pre-tender walkthroughs, client interviews, and handovers.
• Maintain tender pipeline dashboard and supplier registers.

Skills

Estimating

Take-offs

Costing

Negotiation

Education

Construction Management

Quantity Surveying

Building

Tools

Estimating software

Excel

Document management systems

Job description

Estimator
Salary:$120,000 – $160,000 (Depending on Experience)
Location: Inner Northern Suburbs
Work Type: Full-Time, Mon-Fri
About the Role
Due to sustained pipeline growth, we are looking for a skilled and detail-oriented Estimator to join our estimating team on a full-time, permanent basis. Trusted across Victoria since the early 2000’s, our business delivers high-profile commercial construction, heritage restoration, and complex refurbishment projects across healthcare, education, government, and commercial sectors.
Reporting directly to the Lead Estimator, you will take ownership of preparing accurate, competitive, and well-qualified estimates, subcontract trade packages, and tender submissions. This position is ideal for a commercially sharp estimator who thrives on precision, enjoys building strong trade relationships, and takes pride in winning profitable projects within a collaborative and reputable builder environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed construction estimates from drawings, specifications, and contract documents, including quantity take-offs, trade-by-trade cost breakdowns, and build-up of rates.
• Price preliminaries, site establishment, on-costs, contingencies, and project margins in accordance with company estimating procedures.
• Assemble comprehensive subcontract trade packages, leveling supplier and subcontractor quotes on a like-for-like basis to identify scope gaps, exclusions, and variations.
• Prepare and submit complete commercial tenders, including tender prices, qualifications, assumptions, returnable schedules, and preliminary programs.
• Identify, price, and document project risks and opportunities, recommending value engineering and alternative materials to optimize budgets.
• Negotiate competitive pricing with subcontractors and material suppliers while recording captured cost savings.
• Manage tender correspondence, drawing registers, version control, and the shared Estimator inbox in coordination with the team.
• Attend site visits, pre-tender walkthroughs, client interviews, and manage smooth tender-to-delivery handovers for successful bids.
• Maintain the tender pipeline dashboard and supplier registers, actively contributing to process improvements and estimating software workflows.

Required Experience & Skills

• Demonstrated background (minimum 3 years) estimating within the Australian commercial construction, refurbishment, or heritage restoration sectors.
• Proven ability to perform precise quantity take-offs, level complex trade quotes, and build up competitive first-principle rates.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability to evaluate construction methodologies and identify cost-saving value engineering options.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to represent the company professionally with clients, consultants, and subcontractors.
• Solid working knowledge of the National Construction Code (NCC), Australian Standard contracts (e.g., AS 4000), and local market trade pricing.
• High computer literacy, including proficiency in dedicated estimating/take-off software platforms, Excel, and document management systems.
• Tertiary qualification in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Building, or equivalent industry background.
• Current White Card and a valid Australian Driver's Licence.