Senior cost estimator

Looking for Philippines-based candidates

Job Role: Senior Cost Estimator

Compensation range: $1,500 AUD - $2,000 AUD / Monthly

Engagement type: Independent Contractor Agreement

Work Schedule: This role is expected to align with the AU business hours (approx. 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday to Friday) for collaboration, but as a contractor, you’ll have flexibility in how you manage your time.

Who We Are: At Hunt St, we help Australian companies hire top remote talent in the Philippines. For this role, you will be engaged directly by the client as an independent contractor. We are not an outsourcing agency. All of our roles are 100% remote so you'll be able to work from home.

Who The Client Is: Our client is a commercial design and construction firm specialising in end-to-end workspace transformations. They deliver tailored fitout solutions across office, retail, and industrial environments, managing projects from concept design through to construction and handover. Their focus is on creating functional, high-quality spaces that align with client brand identity, operational needs, and project timelines.

Role Overview: The Senior Cost Estimator will play a pivotal role in our company’s commercial fitout projects, focusing on estimating, budgeting, and tendering processes from sales to delivery. Responsible for compiling cost plans, tender submissions, construction methodologies, budgets and forecasting. With a detailed understanding of trade scopes, breakdowns, buildability, materials, and market trends, this role ensures our projects remain competitive and profitable. The ideal candidate will be responsible for appropriately evaluating the cost of a project and evaluating the cost to take on that project.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare detailed and accurate cost estimates for commercial construction projects to meet clients and internal stakeholder requirements and deadlines.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, and other industry professionals to ensure favourable terms.
• Conduct follow-ups and communicate estimates clearly over the phone and email
• Support tender submissions and pre-construction planning
• Analysis and interpretation of architectural drawings, specifications, and other documentation to prepare detailed, accurate, and timely project cost plans and estimates.
• Collaborate closely with design teams to understand and influence the design approach from an early stage, ensuring the most cost-effective solutions are adopted.
• Prepare and submit tenders, including bills of quantities and procurement schedules and materials needed to complete project costings.
• Attend tender interviews and clarify any queries related to the submission.
• Engage and liaise with subcontractors and suppliers for quotations and offers.
• Manage multiple quoting tasks and time manage accordingly.
• Review and be able to analyse tenancy fitout guidelines and documentation specific to each project.
• Conduct a comprehensive risk analysis for potential projects, considering all factors affecting cost.
• Continually update the database with current pricing and supplier/subcontractor details.
• Monitor the market for emerging trends, material costs, labour rates, and other variables affecting project costs.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in estimating within the design and construct industry, specialising in office fitouts.
• Estimating at preliminary and final stages of design and construct projects.
• Strong negotiating skills.
• Strong understanding of the buildability of projects and how to create value engineered solutions
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills.
• Proficient in reading and interpreting architectural drawings and specifications.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills with subcontractors, staff and clients.

Software You Will be Required to Use

• Cubit
• Procore
• Microsoft Projects
• Microsoft Suites (Excel)
• Outlook

Work Arrangement & Expectations:

This is a remote role that will be set up as an independent contractor engagement.

To ensure alignment and transparency, successful candidates will be expected to:

• Disclose any existing ongoing roles or client work
• Reflect this engagement on their LinkedIn profile (clearly marked as “Independent Contractor”)