Senior Commercial Estimator

McMahon Services; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

McMahon Services is seeking a seasoned Senior Estimator to join our Building & Construction team at our Dry Creek head office. You will lead tender planning, take-offs and first-principles estimates on complex projects across South Australia.

Reporting to the Estimating Manager, you will mentor others, review RFQs, and develop winning tender strategies to secure major works while upholding safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience estimating large-scale commercial building projects.
• Strong understanding of construction methodologies and cost drivers.
• Experience with estimating software CostX or similar and MS Office.
• Sharp commercial thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Confident communicator who can influence and collaborate.
• Solid knowledge of Australian Standards and HSE requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead tender planning, take-offs and first-principles estimates.
• Review RFx documentation and develop competitive tender strategies.
• Prepare and issue RFQs and analyse subcontractor and supplier pricing.
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants and internal teams.
• Ensure safety, quality and compliance are embedded in all estimates.
• Review past project performance and drive estimating improvements.

Skills

Estimating experience

Communication

Cost understanding

MS Office

CostX software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

CostX

MS Office

Job description

Competitive salary + development opportunities

McMahon Services is on the lookout for a seasoned Senior Estimator to join our Building & Construction team at our Head Office in Dry Creek.

If you thrive on complex projects, enjoy shaping winning tenders, and want to have a real influence on major project outcomes across South Australia this role puts you right at the centre of it.

About McMahon Services

McMahon Servicesis a privately owned national leader in construction, industrial, and environmental services across Australia. Known for tackling complex projects with precision and discipline, we back our people with real career pathways, strong leadership, and a culture that delivers.

About the Role

Reporting to the Estimating Manager, you will play a key role in high-value, complex tenders ($1M-$50M), working closely with project teams and senior stakeholders to secure work and drive strong commercial results. You will also play a key part in mentoring others and refining how we estimate smarter, faster, and better.

What You’ll Do

• Lead tender planning, take-offs and first-principles estimates
• Review RFX documentation and develop competitive tender strategies
• Prepare and issue RFQs and analyse subcontractor and supplier pricing
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants and internal teams
• Ensure safety, quality and compliance are embedded in all estimates
• Review past project performance and drive estimating improvements

What You’ll Bring

• 5+ years’ experience estimating large-scale commercial building projects
• Strong understanding of construction methodologies and cost drivers
• Experience with estimating software (CostX or similar) and MS Office
• Sharp commercial thinking and problem-solving ability
• Confident communicator who can influence and collaborate
• Solid knowledge of Australian Standards and HSE requirements

What Will Set You Apart

• Tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying or related discipline
• Established network of South Australian subcontractors and suppliers

Why Join McMahon Services?

• Step into a senior role with real influence on project wins
• Be part of a supportive, down to earth team that delivers
• Grow your career with long-term opportunities
• Competitive salary + employee benefits
• Work for a company that genuinely prioritises safety, quality, and improvement

No recruitment agencies please.

At McMahon Services Australia, we embrace diversity and inclusion as fundamental values. We believe that a diverse workforce fosters innovation, creativity and a deeper understanding of the communities we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience.

McMahon Services is an industry leading, privately owned industrial, construction and environmental services provider.

Established in 1990 by brothers David and Andrew McMahon, McMahon Services has grown from a team of 12 into a truly national business.

Our family business heritage and culture of innovation set us apart, fostering a commitment to developing leading edge approaches across the whole organisation that surpass industry standards.

With offices in South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory, we employ more than 500 staff and deliver projects from city centres to remote locations

McMahon Services has delivered some of Australia’s most difficult and significant construction services projects.

We go to where our clients need us to be, with a proven ability to undertake work in remote locations, coupled with an exceptional emergency response capability. Our immediate response means we are on-site ready to plan and take action when needed.

Our diversity and can-do attitude are our core strengths. We apply our knowledge, resources and experienced teams to work across a broad range of disciplines and sectors, providing our clients with the expertise and hands‑on skills to meet their specific needs.As a multi-disciplinary, full service provider, we use our own direct wage staff and boast a $70 million network of modern company-owned plant and equipment.

We were awarded Federal Safety Accreditation in 2009 – the first multi‑disciplinary construction services company in Australia to achieve this recognition.

We look forward to the future and tackling new challenges with the same enthusiasm, dedication and excellence that has been true of all of our operations to date.

Our core values stem from our beginnings as a small family business and remain unchanged.

Our people are central to what we do

Our greatest asset is our people. It is through the hard work of our teams across the business that McMahon Services has continued to grow and extend the boundaries of performance. Our business is rich in tradition, with many of our staff being second generation employees.

We strive for innovation

Innovation and surpassing industry standards is what we strive for. We approach each project with safe, cost effective and value adding solutions. McMahon Services has been recognised by the industry and our peers for innovation and best practice, and we will continue to reach for new heights.

We have an unbeatable can-do attitude

We are determined to exceed client expectation with every project we undertake, no matter the size. We go the distance and to where our clients need us to be. We have built our business on tackling the tough jobs.

We are safety focused and our business is underpinned by a strong safety culture – team mates looking after team mates. Our objective is to continually improve our safety performance to ensure a zero harm environment for our works, stakeholders and the wider community.

We have a family business heritage

We respect where we have come from and all those involved in the ongoing journey from clients to partners, subcontractors, suppliers and staff.

Source: this is an extract from the company’s own website.