Head of Estimation

Sasso Consulting; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Sasso Consulting in Crown Mines, Johannesburg, seeks a Head of Estimation to lead the Estimation Department. You will ensure tender accuracy, manage pricing for multidisciplinary projects and oversee the estimating process end-to-end.

The role requires senior technical and commercial judgment, reviewing drawings, BOQs and specifications, and mentoring Estimators to improve accuracy and efficiency. Office-based, with occasional site interaction.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years' relevant engineering/project estimating experience, including approximately 3–5 years at Senior Estimator or Lead Estimator level.
• The successful candidate should have strong experience preparing and reviewing major tenders, quotations and detailed project cost estimates.
• Experience managing or supervising Estimators is required.
• Multidisciplinary engineering project exposure.
• Strong experience in cost control, tendering and procurement.

Responsibilities

• Estimation Department Leadership: Lead, manage and provide technical direction to the Estimation Department.
• Tender & Estimation Management: Oversee preparation, review and submission of tenders, quotations and cost estimates.
• Multidisciplinary Engineering Estimation: Oversee estimation and costing across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Site Investigations & Scope Verification: Coordinate site inspections and verify project scope and site conditions.
• Costing & Commercial Management: Validate costs, supplier pricing, subcontractor pricing and project overheads.
• Process Improvement & Reporting: Improve estimating processes and provide management reporting.

Skills

Cost estimation

BOQ prep

Material takeoffs

Labour costing

Piping estimation

HVAC estimation

Tender adjudication

Subcontractor pricing

Supplier negotiations

Risk assessment

Cost control

Margin calculations

Education

BEng / BSc Engineering

BTech Engineering

National Diploma in Engineering

Quantity Surveying qualification

Construction Management qualification

Tools

ERP/SAP

Job description

Location: Crown Mines, Johannesburg

Employment Type: Permanent | Full-time | Office-based

Department: Projects

Reports To: Managing Director

Working Hours: Monday–Thursday 06:30–15:30 | Friday 06:30–12:30

Travel: Occasional site visits

Remuneration: Market-related CTC package, based on experience and qualifications

Role Overview

An established multidisciplinary engineering organisation is seeking an experienced Head of Estimation to lead and manage its Estimation Department.

This is a senior technical and commercial position responsible for the accuracy, competitiveness and commercial viability of tenders, quotations and project estimates across complex multidisciplinary engineering projects.

The successful candidate will manage and develop a team of Estimators while remaining technically involved in the estimating process. This includes reviewing tender documentation, drawings, specifications and bills of quantities; validating material and labour requirements; assessing supplier and subcontractor pricing; evaluating project risks; reviewing margins and commercial considerations; and ensuring tenders are accurate and submitted within required deadlines.

The environment includes projects involving industrial refrigeration, mechanical and process installations, HVAC, piping and pipework, fabrication and structural steel, electrical and instrumentation works, equipment installations, maintenance and refurbishment, engineering construction and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

Estimation Department Leadership

Lead, manage and provide technical direction to the Estimation Department.

Plan and allocate estimating activities according to tender priorities, departmental capacity and submission deadlines.

Manage the workload and performance of Estimators and establish clear responsibilities, reporting requirements and performance expectations.

Monitor departmental capacity and ensure sufficient resources are allocated to current and anticipated tender requirements.

Conduct regular reviews of tender status, workload, departmental performance and resource requirements.

Provide technical guidance, coaching and professional development to the estimating team.

Identify competency gaps and support appropriate training and development.

Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.

Tender & Estimation Management

Oversee the preparation, review and submission of tenders, quotations and cost estimates for multidisciplinary engineering projects.

Review tender documentation and establish the complete technical and commercial scope before estimating begins.

Ensure estimates are prepared against relevant:

• Engineering drawings and layouts
• Technical specifications
• Bills of quantities
• P&IDs
• Tender documentation
• Client requirements
• Site conditions

Ensure appropriate estimating methodologies, costing principles and company procedures are consistently applied.

Review and approve estimates prepared by the estimating team within delegated authority.

Ensure significant and high-value tenders undergo appropriate technical, commercial and management review before submission.

Monitor tender deadlines and ensure quotations and estimates are completed accurately and on time.

Identify incomplete, conflicting or ambiguous tender information and ensure clarification is obtained before finalisation.

Ensure assumptions, exclusions, qualifications and relevant commercial conditions are clearly documented.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Estimation

Oversee estimation and costing across projects that may include:

• Industrial refrigeration and cold-storage systems
• Mechanical engineering installations
• Process installations and plants
• HVAC systems
• Piping, pipework and pipefitting
• Structural steel
• Fabrication
• Equipment installation
• Electrical and instrumentation works
• Maintenance and refurbishment
• Industrial manufacturing environments
• Food-processing facilities and abattoirs
• Engineering construction
• Turnkey engineering projects

Review material take-offs, bills of quantities, labour requirements, equipment requirements and subcontractor requirements for completeness and accuracy.

Ensure fabrication, transportation, installation, testing, commissioning and handover requirements are appropriately costed.

Review technical drawings, specifications, layouts and P&IDs to verify project scope and quantities.

Identify discrepancies between drawings, specifications, BOQs and actual site conditions before tender submission.

Site Investigations & Scope Verification

Coordinate and participate in site inspections when required.

Assess existing infrastructure, installation conditions, site access, shutdown requirements, material-handling requirements and other factors that could affect project costs.

Ensure relevant site information is incorporated into estimates.

Consider demolition, removal, modification, installation and reinstatement requirements where applicable.

Identify technical, logistical and commercial risks associated with site conditions and incorporate appropriate allowances or qualifications.

Costing & Commercial Management

Ensure estimates accurately incorporate all relevant direct and indirect project costs.

Review and validate:

• Materials
• Labour
• Plant and equipment
• Fabrication
• Installation
• Transportation
• Supplier pricing
• Subcontractor pricing
• Project overheads and preliminaries
• Contingencies and risk provisions
• Mark-ups and margins

Ensure current and reliable supplier and subcontractor pricing is used.

Assess project-specific commercial and execution risks and ensure appropriate contingencies are included.

Conduct commercial reviews of significant tenders and provide management with recommendations regarding pricing, margins, risks and tender conditions.

Identify cost-optimisation and value-engineering opportunities without compromising technical compliance or project requirements.

Maintain appropriate pricing and margin requirements in line with the organization’s commercial objectives.

Process Improvement & Reporting

Continuously improve estimating processes, procedures, templates, systems and controls.

Apply relevant Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to reduce waste and variability.

Maintain an accurate cost database covering materials, labour, fabrication, installation, equipment and subcontractor rates.

Analyse estimate-versus-actual results on completed projects and implement corrective measures where significant variances are identified.

Monitor estimating KPIs and departmental performance.

Provide management reporting covering tender activity, workload, conversion, margins, risks, errors and departmental performance.

Ensure successful tenders are formally handed over to Projects/Operations with complete costing, scope, assumptions, exclusions and commercial information.

Minimum Qualifications

• BEng / BSc Engineering
• BTech Engineering
• National Diploma in Engineering
• Quantity Surveying qualification
• Construction Management qualification

Advantageous

• Cost Estimation certification
• Project Management certification
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001

Experience Requirements

The successful candidate should have:
8–10 years' relevant engineering/project estimating experience, including approximately 3–5 years at Senior Estimator or Lead Estimator level.
Previous Experience Managing Or Supervising Estimators Is Required.
Strong experience preparing and reviewing major tenders, quotations and detailed project cost estimates.
Proven multidisciplinary engineering project exposure.
Strong experience in cost control, tendering and procurement.
Relevant estimating exposure should ideally include several of the following areas:
Industrial refrigeration | Mechanical engineering | HVAC | Piping | Fabrication | Structural steel | Process plants | Cold storage | Food processing | Industrial manufacturing | Engineering construction | Turnkey engineering projects

Technical Competencies

Candidates should demonstrate strong practical capability in:
Engineering cost estimation | BOQ preparation | Material take-offs | Labour costing | Fabrication costing | Installation costing | Mechanical costing | Piping estimation | Structural steel estimation | Refrigeration estimation | HVAC estimation | Equipment costing | Subcontractor pricing | Supplier negotiations | Project risk assessment | Tender adjudication | Value engineering | Cost control | Margin calculations

Experience working with ERP/SAP or similar production/project management systems is beneficial.

Personal & Leadership Competencies

The role requires someone who can combine strong technical estimating capability with commercial judgement and leadership.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and people-management ability
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong analytical and mathematical capability
• Commercial awareness
• Sound judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organisational ability
• Effective problem-solving
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple tenders simultaneously
• Ability to perform under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• High levels of integrity, accountability and initiative

Additional Requirements

The position is fully office-based in Crown Mines, Johannesburg.

Candidates must be comfortable starting work at 06:30 and must have reliable transport.

Occasional travel to project sites will be required, and candidates may need to work in industrial environments, outdoors or at heights where necessary.

Due to the urgency of the appointment, candidates with shorter notice periods will receive preference, provided they meet the technical requirements.