Estimating Manager

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Our client is one of Australia's most established and respected modular building businesses, operating at national scale across manufacturing, installation and hire. With a long track record of delivering modular and relocatable buildings across some of the country's most demanding end-user sectors — including education, healthcare, defence, resources, government and commercial — the business has earned a strong market position in a segment of the construction industry that is growing faster than almost any other.

The organisation operates across two primary delivery lines: permanent modular builds and short-to-medium-term relocatable structures. This dual-model approach means the estimating function carries consistent, varied workload across a diverse portfolio of project types and client sectors throughout the year — there is no feast-and-famine cycle. The in-house manufacturing capability, national footprint and well-developed supply chain give the business genuine competitive advantages that candidates coming from conventional construction backgrounds will immediately appreciate.

The business is now investing deliberately in the development of its estimating function, moving from a traditional quoting approach toward a fully integrated, turnkey model. The Estimating Manager stepping into this role will own that transformation — with the resources, the team and the mandate to build something of lasting value in a sector that is only moving in one direction.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PROJECTS

Based in Adelaide, you will lead a nationally dispersed team of up to 10 estimators, overseeing the quality, accuracy and timeliness of estimating output across both Sale and Hire lines of business. This is a leadership and governance role as much as a technical one — you will be setting standards, mentoring and developing your team, building and maintaining CostX frameworks, and personally steering the most complex and high-value tenders in the portfolio.

Modular construction carries a distinctive estimating requirement: every project involves two separate scopes — the factory (manufacturing and fabrication) component and the site (installation, civil and services) component — and the ability to delineate, price and manage both accurately is fundamental to this role. Project values span from $500K through to multi-million-dollar programmes covering modular education facilities, healthcare and aged care developments, defence infrastructure, resources and mining accommodation, and commercial and government builds.

The Adelaide office operates on a 9-day fortnight, with flexibility considered for the right candidate — a genuine lifestyle advantage relative to the standard working arrangements at most comparable businesses. The role offers a stable, office-based environment with a predictable, professionally managed workflow, away from the delivery pressures and unpredictability of site-based construction roles.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage a national team of up to 10 estimators — overseeing resource allocation, performance management, output quality and delivery timelines across a concurrent portfolio of tenders and quotes.
• Personally lead complex, high-value tenders, ensuring accuracy and completeness of BOQs, scopes of works, clarifications and CAS releases across both Sale and Hire lines.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve CostX templates, scopes, system documentation and estimating frameworks to drive consistency and quality standards across the national function.
• Provide clear delineation of scope between factory and site components on all projects, ensuring both elements are accurately captured and commercially priced.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with consulting engineers, building certifiers, suppliers, subcontractors and clients, providing clear, commercially sound outputs throughout the bid process.
• Interpret technical specifications, tender documents and building drawings, translating project requirements into accurate cost submissions in the business's agreed format.
• Identify project risk and develop appropriate technical and commercial strategies for complex or atypical projects.
• Drive process improvement initiatives and contribute to the continuous development of estimating systems, workflows and governance frameworks across the business.
• Ensure compliance with the National Construction Code and all applicable architectural, design and quality standards in all cost and scope outputs.

WHAT YOU NEED

• 10+ years' experience creating and editing BOQs and cost plans within the building or construction industry — essential.
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing estimating teams and complex, concurrent project pipelines in a senior or leadership capacity.
• Advanced CostX proficiency — at least 5 years' working experience in the latest version is required; this is a core technical requirement of the role.
• Civil and site experience — essential for accurately delineating factory and site scope components on modular projects.
• Tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of building regulations and the National Construction Code.
• Experience working across both client and contractor environments highly desirable; contractor background particularly valued.
• Advanced BIM capability — Autodesk Revit desirable alongside CostX proficiency.
• Knowledge of the modular or offsite building industry is an advantage; candidates from main contractor or large-format commercial construction backgrounds with strong estimating leadership credentials are equally well placed.

WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN

This role offers a highly competitive salary of $230,000 plus Superannuation and a comprehensive benefits package. The Adelaide position comes with a 9-day fortnight — a genuine lifestyle advantage — with flexibility considered for the right candidate. You will be joining a market leader in Australian modular construction at a defining moment in the growth of its estimating capability, with real authority to lead a national team, shape systems and processes, and build a function that will underpin the business's delivery performance for years to come. For an experienced Estimating Manager looking for strategic influence, strong remuneration and a better work-life balance, this is a compelling and rare opportunity.

HOW TO APPLY

To explore this opportunity in confidence, please forward your CV or project profile to ***email_hidden*** or contact 07481 954446 for an initial conversation.