Senior Quantity Surveyor

Glasshouse Recruitment; Invercargill City; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Glasshouse Recruitment partners with a well-established South Island construction business to hire a Senior Quantity Surveyor / Estimator. You will own the estimating and tendering process across commercial and high-end residential projects, influencing wins and project delivery in a flexible location.

Reporting into the Bid & Estimating function, you'll lead end-to-end estimating, review pricing, manage risk, and mentor junior staff while driving process improvements and value engineering.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience across quantity surveying and estimating.
• Relevant Quantity Surveying qualification.
• Excellent knowledge of NZ construction contracts and procurement.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications and complex project information.
• Strong first-principles estimating and tendering capability.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence to work autonomously and take ownership; leadership/mentoring experience.
• Experience with CostX, Costcon or similar estimating software.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end estimating and tendering.
• Prepare detailed first-principles estimates and cost plans.
• Support feasibility, ECI and project budgeting.
• Review subcontractor and supplier pricing.
• Identify commercial risks, opportunities and value-engineering solutions.
• Work with clients, consultants, suppliers and project teams.
• Mentor and support junior QS and estimating staff.
• Contribute to improving estimating systems and processes.

Skills

10+ years experience

NZ construction contracts

CostX / Costcon

Estimating & tendering

Autonomy & leadership

Education

Quantity Surveying qualification

Tools

CostX

Costcon

Job description

Ready to step into a role where your experience actually makes an impact?

A well-established and highly regarded South Island construction business is looking for an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor / Estimator to join its team.

This is a genuine opportunity to take ownership of the estimating and tendering process, work on a diverse range of commercial and high-end residential projects, and have a real influence on the projects the business wins and delivers.

Location is flexible:

The Opportunity

Reporting into the Bid & Estimating function, you'll be involved from the early stages of a project through to successful handover.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading end-to-end estimating and tendering
• Preparing detailed first-principles estimates and cost plans
• Supporting feasibility, ECI and project budgeting
• Reviewing subcontractor and supplier pricing
• Identifying commercial risks, opportunities and value-engineering solutions
• Working closely with clients, consultants, suppliers and project teams
• Mentoring and supporting junior QS and estimating staff
• Contributing to the ongoing improvement of estimating systems and processes

About You

We're looking for an experienced QS/Estimator who is commercially astute, technically strong and enjoys being involved in the bigger picture.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• 10+ years' experience across quantity surveying and estimating
• A relevant Quantity Surveying qualification
• Excellent knowledge of NZ construction contracts and procurement
• The ability to interpret drawings, specifications and complex project information
• Strong first-principles estimating and tendering capability
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• The confidence to work autonomously and take ownership
• Leadership or mentoring experience

Experience with CostX, Costcon or similar estimating software would be advantageous.

Why Consider It?

This is more than simply preparing numbers and submitting tenders.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Work on interesting and high-value South Island projects
• Have genuine influence over project outcomes
• Work alongside an experienced and supportive team
• Mentor the next generation of QS and estimating professionals
• Develop your career within an established construction business
• Enjoy the lifestyle benefits of some of the South Island's most sought-after locations

The business has a strong reputation, a long-standing presence in the South Island and a culture built around quality, relationships and doing the right thing.