Estimator / Cost Planner - Developer Builder

Contec Recruitment; Sunshine Coast Regional; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Contec Recruitment is partnering with a leading Queensland residential developer-builder to hire from their Sunshine Coast office. The package ranges from $130k-$220k, depending on experience.

We are seeking an Assistant/Intermediate QS, Estimator or Senior Estimator. The role centers on cost planning, benchmarking and in-house delivery of major residential projects, from initial design through to costed development.

Qualifications

• Experience in quantity surveying, estimating or cost planning.
• Strong measurement skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret construction documentation and measure from drawings.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed measures and cost plans for projects.
• Develop estimates from early design information and progressively detailed plans.
• Benchmark against existing rates and schedules; review trade breakdowns.
• Monitor trade lettings and cost reports to improve benchmarking.
• Identify costs, risks and opportunities not evident from drawings.
• Assist with value management pricing and trade budgets.

Skills

Measurement skills

Attention to detail

Numerical/analytical capability

Communication skills

Relationship building with subcontract

CostX experience

Education

Construction Management/Quantity Surveying qualification

Tools

CostX

Job description

An outstanding opportunity has become available to join one of Queensland's most highly regarded residential developer-builders, working from their Sunshine Coast office across an impressive pipeline of residential developments ranging from approximately $60m through to $300m.

This opportunity could suit an Assistant/Intermediate Quantity Surveyor, Cost Planner or Estimator looking to take the next step in their career, through to a highly experienced Senior Estimator seeking a long-term opportunity on the Sunshine Coast.

You do not necessarily need to come from a principal contractor. We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates currently working within a Quantity Surveying consultancy who would like to move into a developer-builder environment and gain greater exposure to how projects are designed, costed, developed and ultimately delivered.

Sunshine Coast | $130k-$220k package depending on experience

The Opportunity

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.

Projects typically begin with relatively limited design information, with the estimating team progressively developing cost plans as documentation evolves.

You will work alongside an experienced Estimating Manager and use extensive benchmarking from current and completed projects to develop your understanding of construction rates, methodology and the true cost of delivering high-quality residential projects.

Responsibilities will include:

• Completing detailed measures and preparing project cost plans
• Working with early-stage design information to develop progressively detailed estimates
• Building upon existing schedules of rates and benchmarking information
• Completing elemental and trade breakdown reviews
• Monitoring trade lettings and cost reports to continually improve project benchmarking
• Identifying costs, risks and opportunities that may not be immediately obvious from the drawings
• Preparing value management pricing
• Assisting with trade budgets for handover to Construction teams
• Preparing purchaser variation and upgrade pricing
• Supporting Development and Construction teams with project-specific measures and cost advice
• Liaising with subcontractors and suppliers to validate rates and improve pricing accuracy
• Using CostX for measurement and cost planning

About You

There is genuine flexibility around the background and experience level of the successful candidate.

You may currently be an Assistant or Intermediate QS within a cost consultancy, an Estimator/Cost Planner with a builder, an experienced subcontract estimator looking to broaden your construction knowledge, or an established Senior Estimator.

More important than extensive local market knowledge is your ability to measure accurately, understand construction documentation and think beyond what is immediately shown on the drawings.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience in Quantity Surveying, estimating or construction cost planning
• Strong measurement skills and excellent attention to detail
• The ability to concentrate on detailed measurement and analysis for extended periods
• A sound or developing understanding of construction methodology and trade packages
• Strong numerical and analytical capability
• Good communication skills and the ability to build relationships with subcontractors and suppliers
• A Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or related qualification is highly regarded
• CostX experience is advantageous but not essential

Training & Career Development

A major attraction of this position is the level of direct training and mentoring available within the Sunshine Coast office.

The successful candidate will work closely alongside the Estimating Manager, allowing for immediate feedback and ongoing technical development.

For a less experienced candidate, the onboarding process will be deliberately measured and can include shadow measuring completed projects before progressing onto live developments, structured CostX training and targeted support to address any technical knowledge gaps.

For someone currently working within a QS consultancy, this represents an excellent opportunity to take your existing measurement and cost planning skills and gain much broader exposure to development, design, procurement and construction delivery.

You will be joining a business with an established project pipeline, sophisticated cost benchmarking and developments ranging from approximately $60m, 8-storey projects through to $300m, 50-storey residential towers.