Estimator / Cost Planner - Developer Builder

Contec Recruitment; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Contec Recruitment is seeking an experienced Estimator or Cost Planner to lead cost planning for multiple residential developments in Brisbane. You will develop detailed cost plans from early designs, benchmark rates, and manage estimates as projects progress toward documentation and procurement.

You will work closely with Development and Construction teams, leveraging CostX and market data to improve accuracy and add value from concept through to handover.

Qualifications

• Experience in construction estimating and/or cost planning.
• Ability to interpret incomplete design information and identify broader construction costs.
• Experience maintaining construction rates and benchmarking data.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed measures and cost plans for multiple residential developments.
• Develop estimates from early-stage design information.
• Develop and maintain schedules of rates and benchmarking data.
• Identify risks and opportunities affecting cost and value.

Skills

Cost planning

Estimating

Measurement

Benchmarking

Commercial capability

Education

Construction Management/Quantity Surveying

Tools

CostX

Job description

Brisbane | $180k – $220k package depending on experience

An outstanding opportunity has become available to join one of Queensland’s most highly regarded residential developer-builders, working across an impressive pipeline of projects ranging from approximately $60m boutique developments through to $300m, 50-storey residential towers.

This is not a traditional hard-dollar estimating role. All projects are developed and delivered in-house, with approximately 80% of the position focused on cost planning during the early and pre-construction phases.

Working closely with the Estimating Manager, Development and Construction teams, you will use extensive benchmarking from current and completed projects to develop accurate cost plans as designs progress from early concepts through to detailed documentation and procurement.

The Role

You will take responsibility for cost planning and estimating across multiple residential developments, including:

• Completing detailed measures and preparing accurate project cost plans
• Developing estimates from early-stage and sometimes limited design information
• Completing elemental reviews and detailed trade breakdowns
• Identifying project risks, opportunities and costs that may not be immediately evident within the drawings
• Maintaining and developing schedules of rates and project benchmarking
• Monitoring trade lettings and cost reports to continually improve benchmarking accuracy
• Preparing value management pricing and assessing design alternatives
• Developing trade budgets for handover to Construction teams
• Preparing purchaser variation and upgrade pricing
• Working closely with Development and Construction teams on project-specific cost advice and measures
• Engaging with subcontractors and suppliers to validate rates and improve pricing accuracy
• Using CostX for detailed measurement and cost planning

About You

We are seeking an experienced Estimator or Cost Planner with a strong technical understanding of construction and the ability to confidently work with evolving design information.

You may currently be working with a principal contractor, developer-builder or quantity surveying/cost consultancy and be looking for an opportunity to become more involved at the front end of projects.

You will ideally bring:

• Demonstrated experience in construction estimating and/or cost planning
• Strong measurement capability and exceptional attention to detail
• The ability to interpret incomplete design information and identify the broader construction costs required to deliver a project
• Experience developing and maintaining construction rates and benchmarking data
• A sound understanding of construction methodology and trade sequencing
• Strong analytical and commercial capability
• The ability to build productive relationships with subcontractors, suppliers and internal project teams
• Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or similar qualifications
• CostX experience is highly regarded

Local market knowledge is not essential, with extensive benchmarking across the existing project portfolio providing a strong foundation of current and historical rates.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Estimator or Cost Planner to move away from the constant cycle of competitive hard-dollar tendering and become genuinely involved in the commercial and cost planning strategy of projects from their earliest stages.

You will work across a significant pipeline of high-quality residential developments ranging from approximately $60m to $300m, collaborating directly with Development, Design and Construction teams within an integrated developer-builder environment.

A structured onboarding period will provide the opportunity to understand the company's systems, benchmarking, quality expectations and approach to cost planning before progressively taking ownership of live projects.

$180k – $220k package depending on experience