Estimator – Mechanical Pipework

MCM Plumbing Services; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

MCM Plumbing Services is seeking a highly experienced Mechanical Pipework Estimator to price commercial pipework projects. You will pull apart tenders, define full scope, interrogate labour and material allowances, and price work to win while protecting margins.

The role requires strong background in mechanical pipework estimation, with responsibilities spanning detailed take-offs, supplier price comparisons, and tender submissions for projects ranging from smaller works to multi-million dollar

Qualifications

• Must have substantial mechanical pipework estimating experience.
• Able to prepare detailed estimates and material take-offs.
• Capable of pricing tenders to win while protecting margin.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate and competitive mechanical pipework estimates and tender submissions.
• Review drawings, specifications, schedules, addenda and RFIs to define scope.
• Identify full project scope including gaps, exclusions and discrepancies.
• Calculate labour requirements, installation hours and productivity allowances.
• Review quantities, supplier pricing and subcontractor quotations.
• Obtain and compare supplier/subcontractor pricing for competitiveness.
• Prepare tender inclusions, exclusions, assumptions and clarifications.
• Review programmes and assess cost impacts of timing and escalation.
• Identify commercial risks and ensure appropriate allowances.
• Maintain estimating records and pricing information.

Skills

Mechanical estimating

Tender submissions

Pricing analysis

Tools

simPRO

CavSoft

Microsoft Excel

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Outlook

Aconex

Procore

Job description

MCM Plumbing is looking for a highly experienced Mechanical Pipework Estimator with strong technical knowledge and proven experience pricing commercial mechanical pipework projects.

You need to genuinely understand mechanical pipework estimating.

You must be able to personally pull apart a tender, identify the full scope, interrogate labour and material allowances, understand programme and escalation risks, assess the commercial position and confidently price work to win without giving away margin.

If your background is general construction estimating or you do not have substantial mechanical pipework estimating experience, this role will not be the right fit.

This is an opportunity to join a growing mechanical plumbing contractor in a key estimating position, working closely with the Director and Project Delivery team.

The Role

You will be responsible for preparing accurate, competitive and commercially sound estimates and tender submissions for mechanical pipework projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing detailed mechanical pipework estimates and material take-offs.
• Reviewing and interpreting mechanical drawings, specifications, schedules, schematics, addenda and RFIs.
• Identifying the full project scope, including potential gaps, exclusions and discrepancies.
• Calculating labour requirements, installation hours and productivity allowances.
• Reviewing material quantities, supplier pricing and subcontractor quotations.
• Obtaining and comparing supplier and subcontractor pricing to ensure competitive rates.
• Preparing complete and professional tender submissions.
• Preparing tender inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, qualifications and clarifications.
• Reviewing construction programmes and understanding how timing affects project costs.
• Assessing labour and material escalation exposure.
• Allowing for EBA increases, delayed commencement, acceleration and programme changes.
• Identifying commercial risks and ensuring appropriate allowances are included in estimates.
• Reviewing gross profit margins and ensuring estimates meet the required commercial targets.
• Challenging labour allowances, material costs and tender assumptions where they do not stack up.
• Ensuring supplier pricing is current and obtaining price validity or fixed pricing where possible.
• Following up submitted tenders and monitoring tender outcomes.
• Reviewing successful and unsuccessful tenders to identify opportunities for pricing improvements.
• Attending tender interviews, clarification meetings and site inspections where required.
• Building and maintaining professional relationships with Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 mechanical contractors.
• Preparing and pricing project variations, including reviewing scope changes and additional works.
• Maintaining accurate estimating records and pricing information.
• Ensuring awarded projects are handed over with clear scope, pricing breakdowns, assumptions and relevant commercial information to the Pre-Construction and Delivery teams.

Technical Experience

This is a specialist mechanical pipework estimating role.

You must have strong experience pricing mechanical pipework packages, including:

• Chilled water
• Heating water
• Condenser water
• Mechanical plantrooms

You should be comfortable pricing projects from smaller works through to packages valued at approximately $15 million.

You need to be confident working from:

• Mechanical drawings
• Specifications
• Schematics
• Construction programmes
• Site inspections

You must be able to determine the full scope required to complete the works, identify gaps, challenge assumptions and accurately price the work accordingly.

Experience with plant upgrades, refurbishments, shutdowns and after-hours works will be highly regarded.

Commercial Capability

This role requires more than simply being able to produce a take-off.

You need to understand:

• EBA labour rates and future increases
• Delayed commencement
• Acceleration risk
• Gross profit margins and margin protection

You need to understand how to protect the business through both the estimate itself and the wording of the proposal.

You should be comfortable reviewing and challenging labour allowances, material allowances, GP targets and tender assumptions where they do not stack up.

Client and Opportunity Management

This is not purely a back-office role.

You will also be expected to:

• Follow up submitted tenders.
• Chase tender outcomes and maintain communication with clients.
• Understand why work was won or lost.
• Develop client-specific pricing knowledge.
• Maintain awareness of upcoming opportunities.
• Attend tender interviews.
• Attend scope clarification meetings.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with mechanical contractors.

Systems

Our current systems include:

• simPRO
• CavSoft
• Microsoft Excel
• SharePoint
• Microsoft Teams
• Outlook
• Aconex
• Procore

You do not need to know every system on day one, but you must be highly competent with estimating software and technology generally.

Who We're Looking For

The right person will be:

• Calm under pressure
• Highly organised
• Detail-oriented
• Commercially minded
• Technically capable
• Professional with clients and suppliers
• Confident reviewing and challenging assumptions
• Able to work independently
• Accountable and reliable
• Flexible and adaptable
• Comfortable working to tender deadlines
• Able to manage competing priorities

Formal qualifications are less important to us than genuine capability and experience.

As a guide, we are looking for approximately 5+ years of relevant mechanical estimating experience, although demonstrated ability matters more than a number on a CV.

Working With MCM

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

Normal hours are approximately 7:30am - 5:30pm, Monday to Friday, with additional hours occasionally required around major tender deadlines and workload.

This is not a work-from-home position.

Why MCM?

We are a growing Australian mechanical plumbing contractor with a strong team and a straightforward culture.

There is no corporate politics and very little bureaucracy.

We work hard, support each other and expect everyone to pull in the same direction.

You will work closely with the Director and Project Delivery team, playing an important role in pricing decisions, tender submissions and the commercial success of our projects.

Your estimating expertise will directly contribute to the projects we secure, the margins we achieve and the continued growth of the business.

Before You Apply

This role is intended for someone with genuine mechanical pipework estimating experience.

Please only apply if you:

• Know the mechanical plumbing industry.
• Understand how to price mechanical pipework properly.
• Can independently prepare detailed estimates and material take-offs.
• Understand labour, materials, scope, risk and margin.
• Are confident reviewing drawings and challenging estimates.
• Can prepare professional and commercially sound tender submissions.
• Know how to help win work without giving it away.

If that sounds like you, we want to hear from you.

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