Senior Estimator

Kappa Executive Search; Sydney; On-site; AUD 99,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Kappa Executive Search is partnering with leading technology and infrastructure clients to deliver high-value data centre and mission-critical projects across Australia and globally. The Senior MEP Estimator will own MEP estimates, work with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary teams, and provide commercial insight to support major project decisions.

Role focuses on early feasibility through detailed design and construction, delivering accurate cost advice, reviewing bids, and benchmarking

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering or related.
• Strong estimating experience across mechanical and electrical building services.
• Experience preparing and reviewing MEP estimates across multiple project stages.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical and related services packages.
• Experience within data centres, mission-critical, high-tech or services-intensive projects is highly regarded.
• Ability to analyse contractor bids, technical documentation and complex cost information.
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to identify estimating risks and cost opportunities.
• Experience using CostX, InEight, Sage Timberline or similar estimating software is highly regarded.
• Confident client-facing communication and stakeholder management skills.
• RICS, CEP or CPE accreditation, or working towards professional accreditation, is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage detailed MEP estimates and cost plans across all project stages.
• Analyse contractor bids and provide independent assessment of pricing and commercial submissions.
• Develop project estimating strategies, methodologies and Basis of Estimate documentation.
• Undertake Estimate Risk Analysis and provide recommendations around cost contingency.
• Review mechanical and electrical scopes to identify gaps, risks and cost implications.
• Maintain and develop current MEP market rates and benchmarking data.
• Undertake benchmarking, estimate reviews and peer reviews to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Identify opportunities for value engineering and cost optimisation.
• Provide estimating leadership and commercial advice throughout design and construction.
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants, contractors and key project stakeholders.

Skills

MEP estimating

Data centre experience

Client-facing

Commercial judgement

Bid analysis

Cost benchmarking

Project cost planning

Education

QS/Construction degree

RICS CEP/CPE (desirable)

Tools

CostX

InEight

Sage Timberline

Job description

Partnering with some of the world's largest technology and infrastructure clients, the business delivers complex data centre and mission-critical projects across Australia and globally. These are technically demanding environments where mechanical and electrical services represent a significant component of overall project cost, providing the opportunity to apply your MEP expertise across major, high-value developments.

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of MEP estimating across technically complex projects, working directly with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary project teams while providing the commercial insight that supports major project decisions.

Role Overview

As a Senior Estimator, you'll take responsibility for preparing, reviewing and managing estimates across major data centre and mission-critical projects, with a particular focus on mechanical and electrical packages.

Working across projects from early feasibility and concept design through detailed design and construction, you'll provide accurate cost advice, review contractor pricing, identify commercial risks and ensure estimates reflect current market conditions.

You'll work closely with clients and multidisciplinary project teams, providing the technical MEP estimating expertise required to support key commercial and project decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage detailed MEP estimates and cost plans across all project stages
• Analyse contractor bids and provide independent assessment of pricing and commercial submissions
• Develop project estimating strategies, methodologies and Basis of Estimate documentation
• Undertake Estimate Risk Analysis and provide recommendations around cost contingency
• Review mechanical and electrical scopes to identify gaps, risks and cost implications
• Maintain and develop current MEP market rates and benchmarking data
• Undertake benchmarking, estimate reviews and peer reviews to ensure accuracy and consistency
• Identify opportunities for value engineering and cost optimisation
• Provide estimating leadership and commercial advice throughout design and construction
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants, contractors and key project stakeholders

Skills & Experience

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering or a related discipline
• Strong estimating experience across mechanical and electrical building services
• Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing MEP estimates across multiple project stages
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical and associated services packages
• Experience within data centres, mission-critical, high-tech or other services-intensive projects is highly regarded
• Ability to analyse contractor bids, technical documentation and complex cost information
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to identify estimating risks and cost opportunities
• Experience using CostX, InEight, Sage Timberline or similar estimating software is highly regarded
• Confident client-facing communication and stakeholder management skills
• RICS, CEP or CPE accreditation, or working towards professional accreditation, is highly regarded

Why This Role Stands Out

• Salary up to $165,000 + super, depending on experience
• Work on major data centre and mission-critical developments with global technology clients
• Take ownership of MEP estimating across technically complex, high-value projects
• Provide senior-level commercial and estimating advice throughout the project lifecycle
• Work across complex mechanical and electrical packages where your specialist expertise is genuinely valued
• Collaborate with experienced cost, estimating and project professionals across an international consultancy
• Exposure to major projects across Australia and the consultancy's broader international network
• Flexible working arrangements within a collaborative, people-focused environment
• Strong pipeline of major projects providing long-term stability and continued technical development

This is an opportunity for an experienced Senior MEP Estimator to work on some of the most technically complex projects in the market, with the scale, project pipeline and international reach of a leading global consultancy.