Civil Estimator/Preconstruction Manager

Joyn; Upper Harbour; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jora New Zealand, based in Albany, Auckland, seeks an experienced civil construction professional to take ownership of estimating and preconstruction for horizontal land development and civil infrastructure projects.

You will review drawings, prepare take-offs and first-principles estimates, and price across plant, labour, materials and subcontractors, guiding tender strategies with commercial insight.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of practical civil construction experience in horizontal land development in New Zealand.
• Strong exposure to earthworks, drainage, utilities and roading.
• Experience planning construction methodologies and sequencing work.
• Good understanding of plant, labour, materials and subcontractor requirements.
• Ability to read and interrogate civil drawings and specifications.
• Commercial awareness developed through project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, specifications, and tender information.
• Understand how each project will be built in practice.
• Prepare quantity take-offs and first-principles estimates.
• Build up pricing across plant, labour, materials and subcontractors.
• Obtain and compare supplier and subcontractor pricing.
• Develop practical construction methodologies and programmes.
• Consider sequencing, productivity and temporary works requirements.

Skills

Practical civil construction knowledge

Horizontal land development

Earthworks

Drainage and utilities

Roading

Construction methodologies

Sequencing work

Interrogate civil drawings & specs

Commercial awareness

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

This established, Kiwi-owned civil contractor delivers significant land development and civil infrastructure projects across Auckland.

As the business continues to grow, the Directors are looking to appoint someone to take ownership of estimating and preconstruction. The function has previously been shared between two Directors, so you will work closely with them and receive plenty of support, training and mentoring as you develop your estimating capability.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced civil construction professional who has spent most of their career delivering projects and can bring that practical knowledge into how work is tendered, planned and priced.

You could currently be a Project Engineer, Senior Project Engineer, Project Manager or another experienced civil delivery professional. You may already have some exposure to estimating and tendering, or you may be looking to move away from full-time site delivery while continuing to use the construction knowledge and judgement you have built throughout your career.

Based in their Albany office you will take ownership of preparing estimates and coordinating tenders for horizontal land development and civil infrastructure projects.

Key responsibilities include:

• Reviewing drawings, specifications and tender information.
• Understanding how each project will be built in practice.
• Preparing quantity take-offs and first-principles estimates.
• Building up pricing across plant, labour, materials and subcontractors.
• Obtaining and comparing supplier and subcontractor pricing.
• Developing practical construction methodologies and programmes.
• Considering sequencing, productivity and temporary works requirements.

About You

The most important thing you will bring is practical construction knowledge.

When reviewing a set of drawings, you can visualise how the project will actually be delivered. You understand the people, plant, materials and subcontractors required, know what realistic production rates look like and can identify where construction risks or opportunities may sit.

You will need:

• 5-10 years of practical civil construction experience in horizontal land development in New Zealand.
• Strong exposure to earthworks, drainage, utilities and roading.
• Experience planning construction methodologies and sequencing work.
• A good understanding of plant, labour, materials and subcontractor requirements.
• The ability to confidently read and interrogate civil drawings and specifications.
• Commercial awareness developed through project delivery.

Previous full-time estimating experience is not essential. The Directors can support you in developing the systems and technical estimating processes. What matters most is that you understand how civil projects are built and can apply that knowledge to producing realistic, commercially sound tenders.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take your civil construction career in a new direction without leaving behind the practical knowledge you have worked hard to build.

You will have:

• Genuine ownership of the estimating and preconstruction function.
• Direct input into how future projects are priced, planned and approached.
• Exposure to a varied pipeline of Auckland land development projects.
• The opportunity to improve and shape estimating processes over time.
• Come in from the elements with a role that still keeps you close to project delivery without being on site all day.

To apply for this opportunity, you must be a New Zealand Citizen, Resident, or have already secured the right to work in New Zealand and therefore hold a valid Work Visa.