Construction Estimator - Tender Cost Preparation

HR Service Jobs; Carleton Place; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Job summary

HR Service Jobs is seeking a Construction Estimator – Tender Cost Preparation to support tendering by preparing accurate cost estimates, bills of quantities, and pricing documents.

The role involves reviewing drawings, specifications, and schedules, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring competitive bids align with project budgets and objectives.

The ideal candidate will have strong numerical skills, attention to detail, and experience in estimation software.

Qualifications

• Diploma or bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Building Technology, or related field preferred.
• Fresh graduates or trainees may apply for junior opportunities in estimation.
• Certifications in quantity surveying or estimating software are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Review tender documents, drawings, specifications, and BOQs to understand scope.
• Perform quantity take-offs and cost estimation for materials, labour, plant and subcontractor services.
• Prepare pricing schedules, tender summaries, and measurement documentation.
• Coordinate with suppliers and subcontractors to obtain quotations and clarify exclusions.
• Identify cost risks and propose value engineering options within company guidelines.
• Ensure tender submissions are accurate and meet deadlines.
• Maintain organized records of costs, quotes, and historical data.
• Support internal teams with cost analysis and commercial updates.

Skills

Drawings reading

Numerical skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Education

QS/Civil Eng degree

Cost management cert

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

CostX

PlanSwift

Job description

Job Summary

HR Service Jobs is seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Construction Estimator – Tender Cost Preparation to support construction projects by preparing accurate cost estimates, tender submissions, bills of quantities, and project pricing documents. The successful candidate will play an important role in helping the organization evaluate project costs, prepare competitive bids, and support effective financial planning throughout the tendering process.

The Construction Estimator will review architectural drawings, structural plans, engineering specifications, project schedules, and tender documentation to determine the quantities and costs of materials, labour, equipment, subcontracted services, and other construction-related resources. This position requires strong numerical skills, attention to detail, commercial awareness, and the ability to coordinate with project managers, quantity surveyors, procurement teams, suppliers, subcontractors, and other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with construction drawings, cost databases, estimation software, spreadsheets, and tender schedules. They should be capable of identifying potential cost risks, obtaining competitive supplier quotations, maintaining organized documentation, and meeting tender submission deadlines.

Whether supporting residential, commercial, industrial, infrastructure, or civil engineering projects, the Construction Estimator will contribute to reliable pricing decisions and well-prepared tender proposals that align with project specifications, budget expectations, and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Tender Document Review: Examine invitations to tender, drawings, technical specifications, bills of quantities, contractual requirements, and other project documents to understand the full scope of work.
• Quantity Take-Offs: Calculate quantities of construction materials, labour requirements, equipment, and other resources using drawings, measurement sheets, digital take-off tools, and estimation software.
• Cost Estimation: Prepare detailed cost estimates covering materials, labour, plant and equipment, transportation, subcontractor services, site establishment, overheads, and other relevant expenses.
• Bill of Quantities Preparation: Develop, review, and update bills of quantities (BOQs), schedules of rates, pricing sheets, and measurement documentation to support tender submissions.
• Supplier and Subcontractor Coordination: Request and evaluate quotations from suppliers and subcontractors, compare commercial offers, clarify exclusions, and identify cost-effective purchasing options.
• Tender Pricing: Assist in developing competitive tender prices by evaluating direct costs, indirect costs, contingency allowances, overheads, and applicable profit margins in accordance with company guidelines.
• Drawing and Specification Analysis: Identify discrepancies, missing information, design changes, and unclear specifications that could affect project quantities, pricing, or delivery requirements.
• Cost Comparison and Analysis: Compare estimated costs with historical project data, current market rates, supplier quotations, and internal cost benchmarks to improve pricing accuracy.
• Risk Identification: Highlight potential cost overruns, material price fluctuations, labour constraints, programme risks, scope gaps, and other factors that may influence the tender price.
• Tender Clarifications: Prepare requests for information (RFIs), technical queries, and commercial clarification requests when project documents require further explanation.
• Value Engineering Support: Identify alternative materials, construction methods, and resource strategies that may reduce costs while maintaining required quality, safety, performance, and compliance standards.
• Tender Submission Preparation: Compile pricing schedules, supporting calculations, commercial documents, tender summaries, and other required information before submission deadlines.
• Internal Coordination: Work closely with project managers, engineers, quantity surveyors, procurement personnel, finance teams, and senior management to validate estimates and pricing assumptions.
• Cost Database Management: Maintain organized records of supplier rates, labour costs, material prices, historical estimates, subcontractor quotations, and completed tender outcomes.
• Change and Variation Assessment: Assist in evaluating the cost implications of design revisions, scope changes, additional work, and variations during project development.
• Reporting and Documentation: Prepare estimation summaries, cost breakdowns, comparison reports, and management updates to support commercial decision-making.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure that estimates and tender documents follow applicable project requirements, internal approval procedures, contractual conditions, and relevant construction standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Review previous tender results, identify opportunities to improve estimation accuracy, and recommend more efficient processes for future tender preparation.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Educational Qualifications

• A diploma or bachelors degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Building Technology, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Candidates with relevant technical qualifications and practical construction estimation experience may also be considered.
• Additional training or certifications in quantity surveying, construction cost management, project controls, or estimating software will be an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, civil, and engineering drawings.
• Understanding of construction methods, material specifications, measurement principles, and project requirements.
• Knowledge of quantity take-offs, BOQ preparation, rate analysis, and construction cost estimation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet tools used for cost calculations and reporting.
• Familiarity with estimating software, digital measurement tools, or construction management platforms.
• Ability to prepare detailed cost breakdowns, pricing schedules, and tender documentation.
• Understanding of supplier quotations, subcontractor pricing, procurement processes, and commercial comparisons.
• Awareness of construction contracts, tender conditions, project specifications, and cost-control principles.

Professional Skills

• Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in calculations.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Good organizational and time‑management capabilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple estimates and meet strict deadlines.
• Strong coordination and teamwork skills.
• Commercial awareness and a practical approach to cost optimization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling tender prices, commercial information, and supplier quotations.
• Willingness to learn new estimation methods, technologies, and industry practices.

Experience

The required experience will depend on the complexity of the projects and the level of responsibility assigned to the successful candidate.

Entry‑Level Candidates

• Fresh graduates and candidates with relevant internships or training may apply for junior estimation opportunities.
• Basic knowledge of construction drawings, quantity calculations, Excel, and building materials is desirable.
• Training and supervision may be provided to help suitable candidates develop their estimation skills.

Intermediate‑Level Candidates

• Approximately 2–4 years of experience in construction estimation, quantity surveying, tender preparation, or commercial support is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience preparing quantity take‑offs, BOQs, cost breakdowns, and supplier comparisons is an advantage.
• Experience coordinating with subcontractors, procurement teams, and project personnel will be beneficial.

Senior‑Level Candidates

• Candidates with 5 or more years of relevant experience may be considered for complex projects or roles involving greater independence.
• Experience managing tender pricing, reviewing estimates, evaluating commercial risks, and supporting bid strategies is desirable.
• Experience with large‑scale residential, commercial, industrial, infrastructure, or civil engineering projects will be advantageous.

The company may consider equivalent practical experience in place of some formal qualifications, depending on the position and project requirements.

Working Hours

• Employment Schedule: Full‑time, subject to the agreed employment contract.
• Typical Working Hours: Approximately 40–45 hours per week, depending on company policy and local employment requirements.
• Working Days: Generally Monday to Friday, with the schedule determined by the assigned office or project location.
• Tender Deadlines: Occasional additional hours may be required when preparing high‑priority bids or meeting submission deadlines.
• Work Location: Primarily office‑based, with potential site visits and coordination meetings as required.
• Flexible Arrangements: Hybrid or flexible working arrangements may be available where operational requirements permit.
• Final working hours, leave entitlements, overtime arrangements, and work location will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Construction and Estimation Knowledge

• Understanding of construction project stages, from tender invitation and preliminary estimation through procurement and project delivery.
• Knowledge of building materials, construction techniques, labour productivity, equipment costs, and subcontracting arrangements.
• Familiarity with construction measurement methods and the preparation of quantity schedules.
• Understanding of direct and indirect costs, overhead allocation, contingency allowances, and profit margins.
• Awareness of how project scope, specifications, site conditions, programme requirements, and design changes influence total costs.

Software and Digital Capabilities

• Competence in Microsoft Excel for calculations, cost comparisons, formulas, and reporting.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Word and PDF tools for preparing and reviewing tender documents.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD, Bluebeam, CostX, PlanSwift, or similar measurement and estimating tools is desirable.
• Ability to organize digital drawings, pricing schedules, quotation records, and project files.
• Willingness to adopt new software and digital workflows that improve estimation productivity.

Analytical and Commercial Abilities

• Ability to break complex project requirements into measurable work packages and cost components.
• Capacity to identify missing quantities, inconsistent rates, duplicated items, and potential pricing errors.
• Ability to evaluate alternative supplier offers and assess their commercial suitability.
• Confidence in reviewing assumptions, documenting exclusions, and identifying uncertainties in tender submissions.
• Ability to balance cost competitiveness with project quality, delivery requirements, and commercial risk.

Communication and Teamwork

• Ability to communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Confidence in requesting quotations, clarifying specifications, and following up on outstanding information.
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams while managing individual responsibilities.
• Professional approach to handling confidential pricing information and commercially sensitive documents.
• Ability to remain organized and focused when managing several tender opportunities simultaneously.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: Salary aligned with qualifications, relevant experience, responsibilities, and prevailing market conditions.
• Professional Development: Opportunities to strengthen knowledge of construction estimating, quantity surveying, tender management, and commercial cost control.
• Technical Training: Potential access to training in estimation software, digital measurement tools, cost databases, and project documentation systems.
• Career Advancement: Opportunities to progress into senior estimator, quantity surveyor, cost consultant, tender manager, or commercial management positions.
• Collaborative Work Environment: Opportunities to work with experienced construction professionals, engineers, project managers, and procurement specialists.
• Practical Project Exposure: Experience supporting different project types, construction methods, materials, and commercial requirements.
• Performance Recognition: Potential recognition for estimation accuracy, process improvements, teamwork, and successful tender contributions.
• Leave and Holidays: Annual leave and applicable public holidays in accordance with the employment contract and local regulations.
• Employee Benefits: Eligibility for applicable insurance, retirement contributions, allowances, or other benefits as defined by the employing organization.
• Work‑Life Balance: Structured workflows and reasonable planning of tender deadlines, subject to project demands.
• Specific benefits will be confirmed by the hiring employer and should not be assumed until included in the formal employment offer.

Why Join HR Service Jobs?

Joining HR Service Jobs for a Construction Estimator – Tender Cost Preparation opportunity can provide a pathway to developing a rewarding career in the construction and commercial management sector.

The role offers the opportunity to apply analytical thinking, technical knowledge, and commercial judgment to real‑world construction challenges. Successful candidates can build valuable expertise in project pricing, quantity measurement, supplier negotiations, cost planning, and tender preparation.

The position is suitable for professionals who enjoy working with numbers, interpreting technical drawings, solving practical problems, and contributing to business decisions. It also provides opportunities to develop transferable skills that are valuable across construction companies, civil engineering contractors, quantity surveying consultancies, property developers, and infrastructure organizations.

Candidates who demonstrate accuracy, accountability, initiative, and a commitment to continuous learning may have opportunities to take on more complex estimates and greater commercial responsibilities as their experience grows.

HR Service Jobs welcomes applications from qualified candidates with different levels of experience, subject to the specific requirements of the vacancy. The objective is to identify individuals who can contribute reliable tender preparation, responsible cost management, and successful project delivery.