QS/Estimator Bid Manager

Remote Talent; Philippines; Hybrid; PHP 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Remote Talent is seeking an experienced QS/Estimator Bid Manager to lead end-to-end tendering for handrail, balustrade, and civil works. This hybrid role combines quantity surveying, cost estimation, and bid management to deliver winning, profitable submissions.

You will coordinate input from design, technical, HSEQ, and commercial teams, develop win strategies, and manage post-tender clarifications with clients and consultants.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as estimator, QS, or bid manager in civil works.
• Strong take-offs, cost planning, and tender pricing skills.
• Excellent written communication for bid documents.
• Experience with CostX or Buildsoft preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end tendering from opportunity to submission.
• Coordinate inputs from design, technical, and commercial teams.
• Develop win strategies and tailored value propositions.
• Prepare tender responses, method statements, and docs.
• Ensure on-time, compliant submissions.
• Handover won projects to delivery team.

Skills

Estimating software

Tendering

Cost planning

Bid management

Stakeholder management

MS Excel

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

CostX

Buildsoft

MS Office

Job description

Remote Talent is an Australian-based virtual assistant and offshore staffing agency that helps businesses scale with high-quality, reliable talent from the Philippines and beyond. We specialise in sourcing, training, and managing dedicated VAs across admin, customer support, finance, marketing, and industry-specific roles including NDIS, healthcare, property, and trades.

Role Description

Reports To: Commercial Manager / Director

Employment Type: Full-Time, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM AEST

About Us

A specialist civil contractor delivering handrail, balustrade, and civil works packages across projects. We're known for quality workmanship, reliable delivery, and strong client relationships, and we're growing our commercial team to keep pace with an expanding project pipeline.

Role Overview

We're looking for an experienced QS/Estimator Bid Manager to lead the end-to-end tendering and estimating process — from opportunity identification through to bid submission and handover to the delivery team. This is a hybrid commercial role combining traditional quantity surveying and cost estimation with bid management and proposal writing. You'll be the driving force behind winning profitable work while protecting the company's commercial interests.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Quantity Surveying

• Prepare accurate, competitive cost estimates and pricing for handrail, balustrade, and civil works tenders
• Take off quantities from drawings, specifications, and BOQs
• Source and negotiate pricing from subcontractors, suppliers, and material vendors
• Analyse project risk, prelims, overheads, and margins to build robust cost plans
• Review and interpret tender documents, contracts, and technical specifications
• Maintain and update cost databases/benchmarks for future estimating accuracy

Bid Management

• Own the full bid lifecycle: opportunity qualification, go/no-go decisions, bid planning, submission, and post-tender follow-up
• Coordinate input from design, technical, HSEQ, commercial, and delivery teams to build compliant, compelling submissions
• Develop win strategies and value propositions tailored to each client/project
• Write, edit, and format tender responses, method statements, and supporting documentation
• Manage bid timelines and ensure on-time, fully compliant submissions
• Liaise directly with clients, consultants, and principal contractors during the tender period
• Lead post-tender clarifications, negotiations, and contract handover to operations

Commercial & Reporting

• Track bid pipeline, win rates, and conversion metrics; report to senior management
• Support contract negotiation and terms review alongside the Commercial Manager
• Ensure smooth handover of won projects to the delivery/QS team with clear cost breakdowns
• Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating tools, templates, and processes

About You

• Proven experience as an Estimator, QS, and/or Bid Manager, ideally within civil works, structural steel, handrail/balustrade, or a related construction trade
• Strong understanding of take-offs, cost planning, and tender pricing
• Track record of managing and winning competitive tenders
• Excellent written communication skills — able to produce clear, persuasive bid documents
• Confident stakeholder management with clients, subcontractors, and internal teams
• Proficiency with estimating software (e.g., CostX, Buildsoft, or similar) and MS Office/Excel
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple bids under deadline pressure
• Degree/qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field
• Familiarity with relevant Australian/NZ standards and contract forms (e.g., AS4000, NZS3910) — adjust to your region
• Experience in the handrail, balustrade, or metalwork fabrication industry specifically
• Existing relationships with subcontractors/suppliers in the civil sector