Salary:$120,000 – $160,000 (Depending on Experience)
Location: Inner Northern Suburbs
Work Type: Full-Time, Mon-Fri
About the Role
Due to sustained pipeline growth, we are looking for a skilled and detail-oriented Estimator to join our estimating team on a full-time, permanent basis. Trusted across Victoria since the early 2000’s, our business delivers high-profile commercial construction, heritage restoration, and complex refurbishment projects across healthcare, education, government, and commercial sectors.
Reporting directly to the Lead Estimator, you will take ownership of preparing accurate, competitive, and well-qualified estimates, subcontract trade packages, and tender submissions. This position is ideal for a commercially sharp estimator who thrives on precision, enjoys building strong trade relationships, and takes pride in winning profitable projects within a collaborative and reputable builder environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare detailed construction estimates from drawings, specifications, and contract documents, including quantity take-offs, trade-by-trade cost breakdowns, and build-up of rates.
- Price preliminaries, site establishment, on-costs, contingencies, and project margins in accordance with company estimating procedures.
- Assemble comprehensive subcontract trade packages, leveling supplier and subcontractor quotes on a like-for-like basis to identify scope gaps, exclusions, and variations.
- Prepare and submit complete commercial tenders, including tender prices, qualifications, assumptions, returnable schedules, and preliminary programs.
- Identify, price, and document project risks and opportunities, recommending value engineering and alternative materials to optimize budgets.
- Negotiate competitive pricing with subcontractors and material suppliers while recording captured cost savings.
- Manage tender correspondence, drawing registers, version control, and the shared Estimator inbox in coordination with the team.
- Attend site visits, pre-tender walkthroughs, client interviews, and manage smooth tender-to-delivery handovers for successful bids.
- Maintain the tender pipeline dashboard and supplier registers, actively contributing to process improvements and estimating software workflows.
Required Experience & Skills
- Demonstrated background (minimum 3 years) estimating within the Australian commercial construction, refurbishment, or heritage restoration sectors.
- Proven ability to perform precise quantity take-offs, level complex trade quotes, and build up competitive first-principle rates.
- Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability to evaluate construction methodologies and identify cost-saving value engineering options.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to represent the company professionally with clients, consultants, and subcontractors.
- Solid working knowledge of the National Construction Code (NCC), Australian Standard contracts (e.g., AS 4000), and local market trade pricing.
- High computer literacy, including proficiency in dedicated estimating/take-off software platforms, Excel, and document management systems.
- Tertiary qualification in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Building, or equivalent industry background.
- Current White Card and a valid Australian Driver's Licence.
If this role is of any interest, get in touch with Adam Baldwin on 0421 660 674 or adam@jvrecruitment.com.au
Please apply via this Advert or through the ‘Submit your resume’ on the JV Website (https://www.jvrecruitment.com.au/submit-resume). Applications are only accepted via applying to this advert or through the JV Website - Phone applications will not be accepted or redirected.
Upon applying to this advert, you may receive an invitation from our Virtual Assistant Matilda. This will go through some of our core questions surrounding the role. Completion of this is highly advantageous in cementing your interest in the role.
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