Senior Construction Estimator - Commercial, Industrial & Institutional

About the role

A premier Tier 2 commercial builder with a diverse portfolio of industrial distribution centres, schools, university campus infrastructure and shopping centre redevelopments is seeking a Senior Construction Estimator for its head office in Central Brisbane. The role works closely with the Estimating Manager, Commercial Director and Business Development team, leading high-value tenders of $15M to $100M+ across hard dollar, Design & Construct (D&C) and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) procurement models.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end tendering, from expression of interest and site visits through to bid submission and handover.
• Build detailed, accurate cost estimates from first principles across industrial slabs and portal frames, complex institutional services and retail staging.
• Formulate trade scopes, generate Bills of Quantities, break down packages and manage subcontractor tender invitations.
• Use an established network of local subcontractors and suppliers to secure competitive, complete pricing.
• Identify constructability issues, drive Value Engineering initiatives and mitigate commercial risk during the bid phase.
• Evaluate subcontractors through trade comparison, negotiation and scope gap analysis.
• Lead handover meetings to incoming site teams and contribute to post-tender reviews and strategic win plans.

Required profile

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a trade background with equivalent estimating qualifications.
• Minimum 7 to 10+ years of local estimating experience with a commercial head contractor in Australia.
• Proven history pricing projects across at least two of: Industrial, Education (DET/BGA/Tertiary) or Retail/Shopping Centres.
• Strong familiarity with D&C, Managing Contractor and Hard Dollar procurement methods.

Required skills

• Expert knowledge of industry-standard estimating platforms such as CostX, Cubit / Buildsoft, Candy or Expert Estimation.
• Advanced MS Excel.
• Exceptional understanding of local market rates, escalation trends, subcontractor capacity and buildability challenges.

What we offer

• A diverse, secure pipeline of government, institutional, industrial and retail projects.
• A highly competitive remuneration package reflecting experience level.
• A stable, office-based role with realistic tender deadlines and flexible work arrangements.
• Career growth toward an Estimating Manager / Bid Manager pathway.
• An experienced, well-resourced bid team supported by design managers and cadet estimators.

To apply, candidates can submit their CV and a recent project win list directly to the recruiter, or contact them by phone for a confidential inquiry.