Principal Estimator

First Nations Jobs; Australia; Hybrid; AUD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible location

Perks@Downer discounts

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Downer is seeking a Principal Estimator to provide national estimating leadership across our Transport & Infrastructure business in Australia. You will lead estimating governance, drive consistency, mentor estimators and support major tenders across the country.

You will collaborate with operations, commercial and procurement leaders to strengthen tender competitiveness, manage risk, and ensure high-quality estimating practices that align with business goals.

Qualifications

• Experience in infrastructure or civil construction tendering.
• Strong capability in estimating governance and pricing strategies.
• Proven track record leading major tenders.

Responsibilities

• Lead national estimating framework and governance.
• Mentor estimators and develop capability.
• Support bid teams with pricing strategies and risk assessments.
• Collaborate with clients, suppliers and stakeholders on tenders.
• Drive tender competitiveness through market analysis.

Skills

Estimating leadership

First-principles estimating

Cost planning

Pricing governance

Tender leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring estimators

Education

Quantity Surveying

Job description

At Downer we plan, create and sustain. Downer is the leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand. Through trusted relationships and world leading insight we work closely with our customers to design, build and sustain assets, infrastructure, and facilities.

Downer is seeking an experienced Principal Estimator to provide national estimating leadership across our Transport & Infrastructure business. This pivotal role is responsible for leading estimating governance, driving consistency and capability across the estimating function, and supporting the successful pursuit of major and strategically significant projects across Australia.
Working closely with operational, commercial, procurement and business development leaders, you will provide functional leadership to estimating teams nationally, champion best-practice estimating methodologies and contribute to the sustainable growth and long-term success of the business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of a national estimating framework that promotes consistency, quality and commercial discipline.
• Drive estimating governance through robust review processes, pricing methodologies, approvals and tender controls.
• Provide functional leadership, mentoring and coaching to estimators nationally, fostering capability development and succession planning.
• Support bid teams with tender planning, pricing strategies, methodology development and risk assessments.
• Provide estimating leadership on major, high-value and strategically significant tenders.
• Monitor market conditions, supply chain trends, productivity benchmarks and regional cost drivers to strengthen tender competitiveness.
• Facilitate effective tender handovers and contribute to lessons learned reviews to improve future project outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, consultants and industry stakeholders.

ABOUT YOU

• Tertiary qualifications in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, Commerce or a related discipline are highly desirable.
• Significant experience within infrastructure, civil construction or related contracting environments.
• Extensive experience in senior estimating, pre-contracts, bid leadership or commercial tendering roles.
• The ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across multiple functions and regions.
• Proven success leading complex, major or strategically significant tender submissions.
• Strong leadership capability, with experience mentoring and developing estimators and tendering teams.
• Strong expertise in first-principles estimating, cost planning, productivity analysis, benchmarking and pricing governance.
• Sound commercial and contractual knowledge, including risk management, procurement strategy and margin protection.
• A proactive, detail-oriented and commercially focused approach with the ability to perform under pressure.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.

Downer is a company that believes people are our greatest asset. We take pride in providing career opportunities, work-life balance, and above benchmark services. We also offer a range of benefits including:

• Flexible location - can be based out of most capital Australian cities.
• Be part of a culture that values safety, integrity and excellence in everything we do.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future success of the business.
• Access to Perks@Downer, which offers discounts and savings on various products, including retail items, travel deals and entertainment options.

Downer Group is an employer that acknowledges and embraces the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from everyone.