Lead Estimator - Chemical Processing/ Mining/ Oil & Gas

JAC Recruitment; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

JAC Recruitment’s client, a leading global producer of specialty materials, seeks a Lead Estimator in Kuala Lumpur to guide CAPEX/OPEX estimates across the full project lifecycle. You will establish estimating standards and provide cost insights for investment decisions, while mentoring the costing team.

The role requires strong leadership, advanced Excel skills, and experience with enterprise project systems. You will report to the Project Management Office in Kuala Lumpur.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Approximately 12–18 years of experience in estimating, cost engineering, quantity surveying, project controls, or major capital-project delivery.
• At least 5 years of experience in a Senior, Principal, Lead, or supervisory estimating position.
• Proven experience preparing and reviewing CAPEX and OPEX estimates from conceptual through detailed design and execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and review of conceptual, feasibility, budgetary, control, and detailed project cost estimates.
• Develop CAPEX and OPEX estimates for major projects and sustaining capital programmes.
• Establish Basis of Estimate, methodology, assumptions, exclusions, and risk allowances.
• Develop estimates using quantities, equipment lists, MTOs, productivity factors, and quotations.
• Lead estimate assurance and quality reviews before stage-gate and approvals.
• Review estimate completeness, pricing, contingencies, escalation, and cost provisions.
• Review contractor and supplier quotations, variations, and cost submissions.
• Provide inputs for feasibility studies, business cases, and capital submissions.
• Present project estimates and cost movements to senior leadership.

Skills

Cost estimation

Project controls

Budgeting

Cost benchmarking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Certification in Cost Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

SAP

Power BI

EcoSys

CostX

Oracle

Aconex

Job description

About The Company

A leading global producer of specialty materials for advanced technologies is seeking a Lead Estimator to join its Project Management Office in Kuala Lumpur. This role will lead the development, review, and assurance of CAPEX and OPEX estimates across the full project lifecycle, from conceptual and feasibility studies through detailed engineering and execution. The successful candidate will establish estimating standards, provide reliable cost insights for investment decisions, and offer technical guidance to the project costing team.

Responsibilities

Estimating & Cost Development

• Lead the preparation and review of conceptual, feasibility, budgetary, control, and detailed project cost estimates.
• Develop CAPEX and OPEX estimates for major projects, plant upgrades, expansions, infrastructure developments, and sustaining capital programmes.
• Establish the Basis of Estimate, including methodology, assumptions, exclusions, accuracy ranges, escalation, contingency, and risk allowances.
• Develop estimates using engineering quantities, equipment lists, material take-offs, productivity factors, historical cost data, and contractor or supplier quotations.
• Establish Cost Breakdown Structures aligned with project Work Breakdown Structures, schedules, procurement packages, and reporting requirements.

Estimate Assurance & Cost Control

• Lead estimate assurance and quality reviews before stage-gate, funding, and investment approvals.
• Review estimate completeness, quantities, pricing, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, and risk provisions.
• Develop and maintain estimating databases, historical costs, unit rates, productivity factors, cost benchmarks, and escalation assumptions.
• Lead the preparation and review of project budgets, cost forecasts, cash-flow projections, and Estimate-at-Completion forecasts.
• Monitor commitments, expenditure, cost trends, variances, and potential budget overruns.
• Evaluate the cost impact of scope changes, engineering modifications, schedule movements, and project variations.

Engineering, Procurement & Commercial Support

• Work closely with engineering teams to validate project scope, quantities, equipment lists, and material take-offs.
• Review engineering drawings, technical specifications, procurement packages, and construction work packages.
• Support value-engineering and cost-optimization activities.
• Prepare pre-tender estimates and support bid analysis, technical-commercial evaluations, and procurement recommendations.
• Review contractor and supplier quotations, cost submissions, variations, change requests, and commercial assumptions.
• Provide estimating inputs for feasibility studies, business cases, economic evaluations, and capital approval submissions.

Leadership & Governance

• Present project estimates, cost movements, key cost drivers, risks, and recommendations to project management and senior leadership.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, and quality assurance to the Senior Costing Engineer and other personnel supporting the estimating function.
• Drive continuous improvement in estimating methodologies, systems, databases, reporting, and cost-management processes.
• Ensure compliance with company governance, project controls standards, statutory obligations, safety requirements, and quality-management systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Cost Engineering, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Approximately 12–18 years of relevant experience in estimating, cost engineering, quantity surveying, project controls, or major capital-project delivery.
• At least 5 years of experience in a Senior, Principal, Lead, or supervisory estimating position.
• Proven experience preparing and reviewing CAPEX and OPEX estimates from conceptual and feasibility stages through detailed design and execution.
• Experience in mining, mineral processing, chemical processing, manufacturing, heavy industry, infrastructure, energy, or EPC/EPCM projects.
• Strong knowledge of estimating methodologies, Basis of Estimate, Cost Breakdown Structures, Work Breakdown Structures, budgeting, forecasting, cost benchmarking, contingency, escalation, and cost-risk analysis.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, equipment lists, material take-offs, construction work packages, and project schedules.
• Experience reviewing contractor quotations, tenders, cost submissions, variations, and change requests.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify cost risks, challenge assumptions, and recommend cost-optimization opportunities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including cost modelling, forecasting, scenario analysis, and estimate database management.
• Familiarity with systems such as Primavera P6, SAP, Power BI, EcoSys, CostX, Oracle, Aconex, or equivalent enterprise project systems.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder-management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple project estimates and present or defend recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance committees.
• Professional certification or membership with AACE International, ICEC, RICS, PMI, or an equivalent professional body will be an added advantage.