Construction Estimator - Quantity Surveyor

ATCO; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ATCO Frontec in Calgary is seeking a Construction Estimator with 5+ years of experience to develop detailed cost plans and bid submissions. You will interpret drawings, prepare estimates, and collaborate with supply chain to price subcontractors.

You will review scopes, identify risks, and maintain auditable estimate files. This hybrid role offers exposure to infrastructure, defence, and facilities projects, requiring strong Excel and estimating software skills.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Building Science, Architecture, or related discipline.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in construction estimating, quantity surveying, preconstruction, or commercial construction.
• Experience completing quantity takeoffs, detailed estimates, quote evaluations, and tender submissions.
• Advanced ability to interpret drawings, specifications, tender documents, and contracts.
• Strong understanding of construction costs, procurement, subcontracting, and commercial risk.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with estimating or takeoff software.
• Strong communication, negotiation, organisation, and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Complete detailed quantity takeoffs from architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical drawings.
• Review drawings, specifications, schedules, tender documents, and contract requirements to confirm the full project scope.
• Identify scope gaps, inconsistencies, omissions, overlaps, and constructability concerns during tender review.
• Maintain traceable quantity calculations, measurement summaries, and supporting documentation.
• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates.
• Develop labour, material, equipment, subcontractor, indirect cost, productivity, and resource calculations.
• Prepare estimate summaries, cost breakdown structures, and pricing schedules that meet client and internal requirements.
• Support bid pricing strategies through cost analysis, benchmarking, and collaboration with operations teams.
• Partner with Supply Chain to develop bidder lists, procurement strategies, and clear subcontractor and supplier bid packages.
• Analyze quote coverage, exclusions, qualifications, commercial terms, and scope alignment.
• Level and compare bids, identify pricing gaps or overlaps, and support award recommendations.
• Maintain current cost data, historical pricing, productivity benchmarks, and regional market intelligence.
• Identify cost, schedule, scope, logistics, market, productivity, and commercial risks and opportunities.

Skills

Quantity takeoffs

Detailed estimating

Tender submissions

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Quantity surveying degree

Tools

Estimating software

Job description

What You Will Do

• Complete detailed quantity takeoffs from architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical drawings.
• Review drawings, specifications, schedules, tender documents, and contract requirements to confirm the full project scope.
• Identify scope gaps, inconsistencies, omissions, overlaps, and constructability concerns during tender review.
• Maintain traceable quantity calculations, measurement summaries, and supporting documentation.

Estimating and Cost Planning

• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates.
• Develop labour, material, equipment, subcontractor, indirect cost, productivity, and resource calculations.
• Prepare estimate summaries, cost breakdown structures, and pricing schedules that meet client and internal requirements.
• Support bid pricing strategies through cost analysis, benchmarking, and collaboration with operations teams.

Subcontractor and Supplier Pricing

• Partner with Supply Chain to develop bidder lists, procurement strategies, and clear subcontractor and supplier bid packages.
• Analyze quote coverage, exclusions, qualifications, commercial terms, and scope alignment.
• Level and compare bids, identify pricing gaps or overlaps, and support award recommendations.
• Maintain current cost data, historical pricing, productivity benchmarks, and regional market intelligence.

Risk, Commercial Review, and Bid Submission

• Identify cost, schedule, scope, logistics, market, productivity, and commercial risks and opportunities.
• Support risk reviews and recommend appropriate contingency and escalation allowances.
• Review tender and contract requirements for cost implications, including bonds, insurance, taxes, duties, and commercial terms.
• Develop bid assumptions, qualifications, exclusions, pricing schedules, tender submissions, and executive approval materials.
• Participate in estimate reviews, pricing presentations, post-bid clarifications, and negotiations.
• Maintain an auditable estimate file with source documents, quotations, calculations, approvals, and revision history.

Project Handover and Continuous Improvement

• Provide awarded-project handover to delivery teams, including scope, quantities, productivity assumptions, subcontractor coverage, allowances, and risks.
• Support estimate reconciliation, lessons learned, change estimates, cost forecasting, and commercial analysis as required.
• Help improve estimating procedures, templates, databases, tools, and standard work practices.

What You Bring

• Diploma or degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Building Science, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in construction estimating, quantity surveying, preconstruction, or commercial construction.
• Demonstrated experience completing quantity takeoffs, detailed estimates, quote evaluations, and tender submissions.
• Advanced ability to interpret drawings, specifications, tender documents, and contracts.
• Strong understanding of construction costs, productivity, procurement, subcontracting, and commercial risk.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with estimating or takeoff software.
• Strong communication, negotiation, organisation, and stakeholder-management skills.

Assets

• PQS, CIQS, MRICS, CEC, GSC, or another relevant professional designation.
• Experience with infrastructure, commercial, institutional, industrial, modular, remote-site, or defence projects.
• This is a Hybrid position based in Calgary

Why Join ATCO Frontec?

Join a team helping shape the future of infrastructure, defence, facilities management, and project delivery. You will contribute to meaningful work while collaborating with people committed to safety,innovation, operational excellence, and disciplined execution.

We would like to thank everyone for their application; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.

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By submitting your resume and personal information to the ATCO Group of Companies, and/or participating in a personal interview, you acknowledge and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by the ATCO Group of Companies to determine your suitability for employment opportunities within the ATCO Group of Companies.