Senior Estimator - Life Sciences

Jacobs; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs in Ireland is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to support major Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical projects. You will shape cost intelligence for large EPCM driven programmes, developing engineers’ estimates and providing rigorous estimation delivery.

Join a team that values accuracy, transparency and continuous improvement, with exposure to Cost X, Navisworks and Excel for cost engineering and risk analysis, and opportunities across global projects.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in cost engineering, quantity surveying, or estimating, including time spent on construction sites.
• Proven experience delivering estimates for large scale industrial projects, ideally within Life Sciences or other advanced technology sectors.
• Strong understanding of EPCM project environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all estimating needs for assigned projects are met, reporting to the Estimating Section Head.
• Deliver high quality, accurate and timely estimates aligned with Jacobs’ standards and client expectations.
• Develop and execute estimate plans for all assigned projects.
• Compile project estimates in line with approved plans and standard procedures.
• Perform estimate risk analysis and contingency assessments.
• Present and review estimates with project teams, senior management and clients.

Skills

Cost engineering

Quantity surveying

Estimating

EPCM knowledge

Education

BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline

Tools

Navisworks

Excel

Cost x

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

The Life Sciences team in Ireland is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to support major capital investment programmes across the Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical sectors. As part of our Estimating function, you will play a key role in shaping cost intelligence for some of the largest and most complex projects in the region. We are looking for a candidate with deep expertise in developing Engineers’ Estimates for EPCM driven projects, ideally within Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical environments. You will bring strong technical capability, sound commercial judgement, and a commitment to consistent, high quality estimating delivery.

Role Overview

As a core member of the Estimating Team, you will support all projects within the business unit, ensuring that estimating requirements are met with accuracy, transparency and consistency. You will be proficient across all aspects of estimating and cost engineering, with the ability to develop estimates using both top down and bottom up methodologies at feasibility, concept and basic design stages. Experience in project controls and quantity surveying is advantageous.

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure all estimating needs for assigned projects are met, reporting to the Estimating Section Head.
• Deliver high quality, accurate and timely estimates aligned with Jacobs’ standards and client expectations.
• Build strong, respectful working relationships with project teams and client stakeholders.
• Meet commitments on schedule, effort hours and cost budgets.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve tools, templates, processes and data quality.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Implement Operating Procedures for estimating activities and ensure consistent adoption across projects.
• Standardise estimating delivery—tools, templates, filing structures—to embed a Jacobs wide approach.
• Develop and execute estimate plans for all assigned projects.
• Compile project estimates in line with approved plans and standard procedures.
• Perform estimate risk analysis and contingency assessments.
• Present and review estimates with project teams, senior management and clients.
• Consolidate benchmark data in a centralised, traceable repository to capture lessons learned and improve future estimates.
• Lead Value Engineering and Risk Workshops to support project optimisation.
• Support and promote Capital Cost Trending, Jacobs Value Plus, and Jacobs Sustainability Plus initiatives.
• Ensure systems and processes meet all project management and client requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in estimating tools and productivity, leveraging platforms such as Cost x, Navisworks, Excel, and other digital solutions.

Here’s what you'll need

• BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Chartered membership of Engineers Ireland, SCSI, or equivalent (advantageous).
• Extensive experience in cost engineering, quantity surveying, or estimating, including time spent on construction sites.
• Proven experience delivering estimates for large scale industrial projects, ideally within Life Sciences or other advanced technology sectors.
• Strong understanding of EPCM project environments.

#LSEUNC26

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

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As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

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