Senior Estimator

Boardroom Appointments; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Boardroom Appointments in South Africa seeks a Senior Estimator to own end-to-end estimating and tendering for building and civil projects. This succession role offers strategic influence and leadership across the estimating team.

You will lead tender strategy, cost planning and post-award handover, drive first-principles costing, and mentor junior QS staff while maintaining Candy/CCS systems to deliver competitive tenders.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying or related field.
• Senior estimating experience in main contractor or building/civil context.
• Proven track record leading complex high-value tenders.
• Advanced Candy Estimating/CCS knowledge.
• Experience with first-principles estimating and rate build-ups.
• Understanding SA construction methods and procurement practices.
• Experience supervising estimating staff.
• Driver's licence and willingness to site/tender visits.

Responsibilities

• Lead tender opportunities from assessment through submission.
• Coordinate pre-qualification documents and tender submissions.
• Review drawings, BOQ, and identify commercial risks.
• Prepare detailed building and civil estimates.
• Coordinate pricing with suppliers and subcontractors.
• Manage tender team and submission deadlines.
• Handover post-award and capture cost feedback.
• Implement and maintain Candy estimating system; mentor staff.

Skills

Commercial judgement

Estimating & Tendering

Attention to detail

Risk mitigation

Planning & deadlines

Leadership

Negotiation

Executive communication

Mentoring

Resilience

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

Tools

Candy Estimating

Job description

An established and respected South African construction company is seeking an accomplished Senior Estimator to take ownership of its end-to-end estimating and tendering function.

This is a key succession appointment created ahead of the current incumbent's retirement. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain valuable institutional knowledge while strengthening and leading the company's estimating capability for the future.

This position requires a highly experienced construction estimator with strong commercial judgement, advanced Candy/CCS expertise and a proven track record of independently managing complex building and civil construction tenders.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Lead the preparation of accurate, competitive and commercially sound tender submissions—from opportunity assessment and pre-qualification through detailed pricing, executive approval, submission and post-award handover.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Tender Strategy and Pre-Qualification

• Identify and assess suitable tender opportunities aligned with the company's capabilities and commercial objectives.
• Coordinate and supervise the preparation of pre-qualification documents, expressions of interest and tender submissions.
• Review tender documents, drawings, specifications and bills of quantities in detail.
• Identify contractual concerns, commercial risks, omissions, ambiguities and pricing exposures.
• Attend tender briefings, clarification meetings and construction site inspections.
• Develop tender strategies, qualifications, exclusions and commercial recommendations.

Estimating and Commercial Pricing

• Prepare detailed and accurate estimates for building and civil construction projects.
• Calculate labour, materials, plant, equipment, subcontractor, preliminary and general costs.
• Develop first-principles rates, resource-based cost build-ups and productivity assumptions.
• Assess construction methodologies, programmes and project-specific requirements.
• Coordinate pricing enquiries with suppliers and subcontractors.
• Analyse and adjudicate quotations, identify pricing gaps and negotiate commercially competitive rates.
• Finalise mark‑ups, contingencies, escalation provisions and risk allowances with executive management.
• Maintain historical rates, cost statistics, supplier information and estimating benchmarks.

Tender Management and Submission

• Lead and coordinate the tender team, allocating responsibilities and managing submission deadlines.
• Ensure all technical, commercial and administrative tender requirements are completed accurately.
• Compile complete tender returns and conduct final quality and compliance reviews.
• Take responsibility for the accurate and timely submission of tenders.
• Manage tender clarifications, addenda, resubmissions and post-tender negotiations.
• Maintain comprehensive tender files, quotations, pricing records, adjudication notes and supporting documentation.

Post-Award Handover and Cost Feedback

• Prepare detailed contract allowables following the successful award of projects.
• Conduct comprehensive handovers to project and site teams.
• Clearly communicate tender assumptions, risks, exclusions, productivity targets and pricing provisions.
• Obtain feedback from operational teams regarding actual costs, productivity and tendered rates.
• Use project feedback and lessons learned to improve future estimates.
• Prepare pricing for variations, revised scopes and tender resubmissions.
• Provide estimating and commercial input into construction planning and methodology.

Systems and Leadership

• Take ownership of the implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of the Candy estimating and costing system.
• Ensure estimating data, rates and cost libraries remain accurate and current.
• Supervise Quantity Surveyors and other employees contributing to tender preparation.
• Mentor and develop junior estimating and quantity surveying professionals.
• Promote consistent estimating standards, strong commercial discipline and effective knowledge transfer.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering or a related built-environment discipline.
• Substantial senior estimating experience within a main contractor or established building and civil construction environment.
• A proven track record of independently leading complex and high-value construction tenders from enquiry through adjudication and final submission.
• Advanced practical knowledge of Candy Estimating/CCS is essential.
• Strong experience in first-principles estimating and detailed rate build-ups.
• Sound understanding of South African construction methods, contracts, procurement practices and subcontractor markets.
• Experience pricing labour, materials, plant, equipment, subcontractors, preliminaries and general items.
• Strong commercial, numerical and analytical capabilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and tender document control.
• Experience supervising or mentoring Quantity Surveyors or estimating team members.
• A valid driver's licence and willingness to attend site inspections and tender briefings.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strong commercial judgement
• Advanced estimating and tendering expertise
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Planning and deadline management
• Leadership and team coordination
• Supplier and subcontractor negotiation
• Executive-level communication
• Mentoring and knowledge transfer
• Resilience during demanding tender periods

WHY CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY?

This is an excellent opportunity for a respected construction estimator who wants meaningful ownership of the estimating function, direct exposure to senior decision-makers and the ability to influence which projects the company pursues and how they are commercially positioned.

The role offers technical depth, commercial responsibility, leadership exposure and the opportunity to make a lasting contribution within an established construction business.

Please note: Only candidates with relevant senior construction estimating experience and advanced Candy/CCS capability will be considered.