Senior Estimator

Advertising Producers Association; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

APA Group in Sydney is seeking a Senior Estimator for our Infrastructure Development team on a full-time permanent basis. You will develop and deliver capital estimates for major energy infrastructure projects, including power, renewables and gas schemes.

Reporting to the Head of Estimating, you will lead the estimation from scope to budget, collaborate with project teams, and ensure accurate cost data and contingencies across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Senior Estimator delivering capital estimates for large infrastructure, energy, utilities, construction or related projects.
• Ability to develop detailed cost estimates directly from drawings, specifications and scope documentation.
• Experience preparing and reviewing estimates across project development, business case and tendering stages.

Responsibilities

• Provide detailed capital estimates based on scopes of works, programs and delivery methodologies to deliver financially responsible estimates.
• Provide timely and expert advice to project managers and staff on staffing and project management requirements for new projects.
• Maintain industry contacts with suppliers/contractors for budget prices to contribute to estimates.
• Maintain database of actual costs/estimates, unit rates, suppliers and sub-contractors to ensure estimates reflect best value.
• Lead risk reviews for new projects to quantify contingencies and document exclusions and assumptions.

Skills

Estimating from drawings

First-principles estimating

Cost estimation

Risk assessment

Budgeting & cost drivers

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

The Opportunity

At APA, our purpose is to secure Australia’s energy future. We’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it with our customers and communities as Australia’s energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play.

We now have an exciting opportunity available for a Senior Estimator to join us in our Infrastructure Development team on a full-time permanent basis.

Reporting to the Head of Estimating, you will develop and deliver capital estimating for major power, renewable or gas projects, and other projects, as required within APA Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing detailed capital estimates based on scopes of works, programs and delivery methodologies provided by the Project Development Manager, Energy Solutions Team or Engineering Group(s), to deliver financially responsible estimates
• Providing timely and expert advice and assistance to project managers, and project supervisors and other key staff on the project development process to determine staffing and project management requirements for new projects.
• Maintaining industry contact with key suppliers and contractors for the purposes of obtaining budget prices to contribute to the estimate.
• Maintain database of actual costs/estimates, unit rates, suppliers and sub-contractors, KPI and related data to ensure estimates and costing are based on best value prices, quality and delivery.
• Lead risk reviews for all new projects to quantify contingencies and ensure risk mitigation proposals are included in the estimating process or documented to be treated elsewhere (for example compiling lists of exclusions and assumptions).

Your Background

• Significant experience as a Senior Estimator delivering capital estimates for large-scale infrastructure, energy, utilities, construction or related projects.
• Strong first-principles estimating capability, with the ability to develop detailed cost estimates directly from drawings, specifications and scope documentation.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing estimates across project development, business case and tendering stages.
• Sound commercial and financial acumen, including experience assessing project risks, contingencies, assumptions and cost drivers.
• Strong understanding of estimating methodologies, benchmarking practices and industry standards, including AACE or equivalent frameworks.
• Proven ability to work autonomously while building effective relationships with project teams, engineers, contractors, suppliers and key stakeholders.

Working at APA

At APA, we’re committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where you can achieve your best.

We offer targeted career development programs designed to accelerate your career, competitive remuneration, employee benefits, flexible working arrangements, and wellbeing initiatives are all part of what we’ll offer you. Our inclusive parental leave policy offers 18 weeks of leave, including superannuation, to support parents at work and in life.

We employ around 2,000 people across Australia and are committed to building a high-performing, customer-focused organisation where everyone feels safe, valued, and trusted to perform at their best.

We are APA

At APA, we’re taking on one of Australia’s greatest challenges: the energy transition. We’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it as Australia’s energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play.

We proudly own, operate and manage a diverse $20 billion portfolio of assets which deliver essential services to communities and customers across Australia. And we own more than 15,000 kilometres of gas pipelines which deliver energy to households and businesses across every corner of Australia.

As the partner of choice in delivering infrastructure solutions for the energy transition, we’re focused on bundled remote grid energy solutions, electricity and gas transmission, and future energy, including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.

Our customer focused approach means we understand our customers and offer them reliable, innovative, and cost-effective energy solutions that support their decarbonisation ambitions.

We are committed to securing Australia’s energy future by delivering infrastructure solutions for Australia’s energy transition and supporting the decarbonisation ambitions of our customers and communities.

Join our team and be part of securing Australia’s energy future.

APA is an equal opportunity employer. The safety, health and wellbeing our people, community and environment a priority. We embrace diversity in our people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities that we operate in.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Australia to be considered.

This vacancy works with critical APA data, systems or infrastructure and candidates are subject to background vetting (including Police checks) before & during employment.

Role closes on Sunday, 4 October 2026. Role Reference Number: JR4855

APA Group will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.

We will contact successful candidates after the closing date.