Lead Estimator - Airport Cost Planning

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Lead Estimator - Airport Cost Planning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to lead conceptual through definitive estimates for civil, structural, MEP, and airfield works on major airport projects.

The role requires a minimum of 10 years in construction estimating, with strong cost planning, BOQ analysis, and market intelligence. You will work across disciplines to ensure accurate pricing and robust cost control for complex aviation programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of construction estimating experience on large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of cost management, take-offs, and rate development.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of conceptual, preliminary, budgetary, detailed, and definitive cost estimates.
• Review scope, drawings, BOQs, BIM data, and specs to establish estimating basis.
• Develop estimates for labor, materials, plant, equipment, and subcontractors.
• Produce quantity take-offs from drawings and BIM models.
• Create cost breakdown structures and unit-rate build-ups.
• Coordinate with procurement and engineering to validate costs.

Skills

Construction Cost Estimating

Cost Planning

Quantity Take-Off

Rate Analysis

Unit Rate Build-Ups

Cost Benchmarking

Labor Productivity

Material Pricing

Equipment Pricing

Subcontractor Pricing

Tender Estimating

Bid Pricing

Commercial Evaluation

Value Engineering

Variation Estimating

Change Order Estimating

Claims Cost Assessment

Cost Impact Analysis

Sensitivity Analysis

Construction Methodology

Civil Estimating

Infrastructure Estimating

Structural Estimating

MEP Estimating

Utilities Estimating

Airfield Cost Estimating

Airport Infrastructure

BIM Quantity Take-Off

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering

Construction Management

Quantity Surveying

Tools

Excel

BIM

Job description

Lead Estimator - Airport Cost Planning Job Snapshot Role: Lead Estimator - Airport Cost Planning Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Industry: Construction Function: Estimating Experience: Minimum 10 years Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Lead Estimator - Airport Cost Planning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a senior Construction opportunity with Parsons Corporation focused on estimating, cost planning, quantity take-offs, rate development, and commercial analysis for major airport and infrastructure projects. The role is hiring an experienced estimator to lead conceptual through definitive estimates covering civil, structural, MEP, utilities, roads, airfield works, aviation systems, and specialist construction packages while providing reliable cost intelligence for project decisions.

Job Details Country: Saudi Arabia City: Riyadh Industry: Construction Function: Estimating Salary: 25000-36000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Lead Estimator will establish reliable cost positions as projects progress from early concepts into detailed design and construction. The role combines technical quantity assessment with market intelligence, construction methodology, supplier and subcontractor pricing, historical benchmarks, and commercial risk analysis. Accurate estimating at this level will help leadership establish realistic budgets, evaluate design alternatives, manage changes, understand major cost drivers, and make informed investment decisions across complex aviation and infrastructure packages.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of conceptual, preliminary, budgetary, detailed, and definitive construction cost estimates.
• Review project scope, drawings, specifications, BOQs, BIM information, design packages, and technical requirements to establish the estimating basis.
• Develop comprehensive estimates covering labor, materials, plant, equipment, subcontractors, preliminaries, temporary works, logistics, and associated project costs.
• Produce detailed quantity take-offs from drawings, specifications, BIM models, and other available design information.
• Develop cost breakdown structures, unit-rate build-ups, productivity assumptions, estimating databases, and historical cost records.
• Analyze current market pricing, supplier quotations, subcontractor proposals, labor rates, equipment costs, and construction trends.
• Prepare multidisciplinary pricing for civil, structural, infrastructure, MEP, utilities, roads, airfield, and specialist works.
• Examine supplier and subcontractor quotations for scope coverage, exclusions, qualifications, assumptions, and commercial consistency.
• Identify omissions, duplicated scope, inconsistencies, interface gaps, and ambiguities within tender and design documentation.
• Establish clear estimate assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, clarifications, and pricing boundaries.
• Coordinate with engineering disciplines to resolve technical uncertainties and obtain information required for accurate pricing.
• Work alongside Procurement and Commercial teams to validate equipment, materials, supplier, and subcontractor costs.
• Provide cost analysis for value engineering proposals and alternative technical solutions.
• Evaluate the financial impact of design development, scope revisions, construction methodology changes, and project constraints.
• Prepare estimates for variations, change orders, claims, additional works, and emerging scope requirements.
• Review estimates produced by Estimators, Quantity Surveyors, and supporting team members for completeness and accuracy.
• Lead estimate review sessions and maintain consistent pricing methodologies across different disciplines and work packages.
• Establish cost benchmarks for major project elements and compare proposed costs against historical data, market intelligence, and approved budgets.
• Identify significant cost drivers, commercial exposures, estimating uncertainties, risks, and potential savings opportunities.
• Conduct sensitivity analysis to demonstrate how major assumptions or variables could affect overall project cost.
• Support tender pricing, bid evaluations, commercial proposals, and procurement decisions where required.
• Prepare management-level estimate summaries, cost reports, presentations, and recommendations for project leadership.
• Maintain auditable estimating records, calculations, quotations, quantity information, assumptions, and supporting backup.
• Support budget development and cost forecasting throughout design and construction phases.
• Lead estimating for airport terminals, runways, taxiways, aprons, roads, drainage, utilities, and external infrastructure.
• Develop detailed estimates for airfield pavements, earthworks, grading, underground networks, and associated civil construction.
• Coordinate pricing inputs for MEP, ICT, ELV, fire and life safety, airfield ground lighting, and specialist aviation systems.
• Evaluate cost implications arising from airport phasing, operational restrictions, restricted access, temporary facilities, logistics, and construction sequencing.
• Assess temporary works and construction methodologies that materially influence project cost.
• Support integrated cost planning across airport buildings, airfield infrastructure, utilities, and multidisciplinary interfaces.

Ideal Profile

A Bachelor 's Degree in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related discipline is required, together with at least 10 years of relevant construction estimating experience. Candidates should demonstrate extensive experience preparing and reviewing detailed estimates for large-scale construction or infrastructure programs. Strong multidisciplinary exposure covering civil works, structures, MEP, utilities, roads, and airfield packages is particularly important, while direct airport project experience is highly desirable. The successful professional should possess a detailed understanding of construction methods, labor productivity, materials, equipment, subcontracting, quantity take-offs, BOQs, rate analysis, and unit-rate development. Strong commercial judgment is needed to evaluate quotations, identify scope gaps, establish assumptions, and assess pricing risk. Experience with Excel and professional estimating or cost management systems is required. BIM-based quantity take-off and digital estimating capability would provide an additional advantage. A sound understanding of construction contracts, scope management, variations, change control, and commercial evaluation is also expected, together with strong analytical, numerical, reporting, and team leadership skills.

Skills Set

• Construction Cost Estimating
• Cost Planning
• Quantity Take-Off
• BOQ Preparation
• Rate Analysis
• Unit Rate Build-Ups
• Cost Breakdown Structures
• Cost Benchmarking
• Cost Database Management
• Labor Productivity Analysis
• Material Pricing
• Equipment Pricing
• Subcontractor Pricing
• Supplier Evaluation
• Tender Estimating
• Bid Pricing
• Commercial Evaluation
• Value Engineering
• Variation Estimating
• Change Order Estimating
• Claims Cost Assessment
• Cost Impact Analysis
• Cost Risk Analysis
• Sensitivity Analysis
• Construction Methodology
• Civil Estimating
• Infrastructure Estimating
• Structural Estimating
• MEP Estimating
• Utilities Estimating
• Roadworks Estimating
• Airfield Cost Estimating
• Airfield Pavement Estimating
• Airport Infrastructure
• Airfield Ground Lighting
• ICT and ELV Systems
• BIM Quantity Take-Off
• Microsoft Excel
• Cost Forecasting
• Management Reporting

Why Join Us

Riyadh 's aviation and infrastructure investment pipeline is creating sustained demand for senior cost professionals capable of understanding complex multidisciplinary projects before major financial commitments are made.

This position offers the opportunity to influence budgets across airport buildings, airfield works, utilities, specialist systems, and infrastructure while combining technical estimating with market analysis, value engineering, commercial assessment, and digital quantity take-off.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, infrastructure, construction management, and program management services for major developments in Saudi Arabia and international markets. Its multidisciplinary project teams integrate engineering, estimating, commercial, procurement, and project controls expertise to establish dependable cost positions and support informed decisions throughout design and construction.