Location: Brisbane, QLD
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Division: Preconstruction / Estimating
About the Role
We’re seeking a Senior Estimator to lead end?to?end estimating on major building projects across SEQ, spanning commercial, health, education, defence, mixed?use, residential high?rise, and industrial. You’ll own first?principles estimating, tender strategy, subcontractor market engagement, and risk/contingency development—partnering closely with Preconstruction, Design, and Delivery to produce winning, market-aligned bids.
This role suits a commercial estimator who understands the Queensland subcontractor market, can interrogate design at pace, and enjoys building competitive tender strategies on complex D&C and ECI projects.
Key Responsibilities
Estimating & Tendering
Lead first?principles estimates across all trades (bulk & detailed) for ECI, D&C, hard money, and negotiated tenders.
Prepare and manage trade break?ups, benchmarking, productivity rates, preliminaries, indirect, and margin/contingency models.
Conduct scope gap analysis, quantify risk/opportunity, and produce value engineering options.
Draft and present bid summaries, tender clarifications, qualifications, and commercial departures.
Coordinate subcontractor market coverage: package scopes, queries, addenda, levelling, and recommendations.
Collaborate with Design Management to resolve design queries, buildability, staging, temp works, and methodologies.
Contribute to program-led estimating in alignment with site methodologies and logistics.
Commercial & Risk
Build risk registers, provisional sums, allowances, and contingency recommendations aligned to project phase.
Analyse contractual frameworks (AS2124, AS4300, GC21 etc.) and advise on commercial risk.
Maintain and improve cost databases, benchmarks, and market intelligence for SEQ.
Support bid/no?bid assessments and ensure governance compliance.
Stakeholder & Leadership
Mentor Estimators/CA’s/Grads; uplift estimating standards and templates.
Lead internal estimate reviews (peer, GM, and Board gates).
Engage with clients, consultants, and trade partners during interactive tenders and ECIs.
Required Experience
8–12+ years building estimating experience (Head Contractor preferred) with a track record on projects $50m–$300m+ (mix of sectors ideal).
Strong knowledge of the SE QLD subcontractor market, cost drivers, escalation, and procurement strategies.
Proven success in first?principles estimating and levelling on complex trade packages (facades, services, structures).
Experience across D&C and ECI procurement including staging/buildability input.
Technical Skills
Estimating software: CostX, Cubit/Buildsoft, CCS/Candy (or equivalent).
Strong Excel (cost models, pivoting, what?ifs), Bluebeam for take?off/mark?ups, exposure to 5D/BIM advantageous.
Competent with Australian Standards, NCC/BCA, QLD WHS legislation, and government procurement nuances.
Qualifications
Degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related.
Memberships (AIQS/RICS) and QBCC knowledge advantageous.
Police and right?to?work checks as required.