Lead / Senior Estimator

Job Description

The Lead/Senior Estimator is responsible for leading all estimating, cost planning, tendering, bid preparation, value engineering, and pre-contract commercial activities across Palace Group's luxury residential developments and turnkey construction projects. The role ensures that all tenders are accurately priced, commercially competitive, technically compliant, and aligned with Palace Group's profitability objectives. Success in this role is measured through estimate accuracy, tender success rates, commercial risk management, value engineering effectiveness, and contribution towards business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• A. Cost Estimation & Bid Preparation Preparing detailed project cost estimates
• Reviewing project scope and technical requirements
• Developing cost breakdown structures
• Pricing labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and preliminaries
• Preparing direct and indirect cost estimates
• Developing tender pricing strategies
• Reviewing estimate accuracy and completeness
• Supporting management during final bid reviews
• Ensuring tenders are commercially competitive and financially viable
• Maintaining profitability targets during tender preparation
• B. Quantity Take-Off & BOQ Management Conducting quantity take-offs
• Reviewing and validating BOQs
• Verifying quantities against drawings and specifications
• Identifying quantity discrepancies
• Reviewing consultant-issued BOQs
• Coordinating with technical teams on quantity clarifications
• Maintaining quantity audit trails
• Ensuring complete accountability of all project components
• Supporting preparation of revised BOQs when required
• C. Tender Review & Commercial Analysis Reviewing drawings, specifications, BOQs, and tender documents
• Identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and commercial risks
• Preparing Requests for Information (RFIs)
• Reviewing contractual requirements
• Reviewing project execution requirements
• Assessing project-specific commercial exposures
• Evaluating tender risks and opportunities
• Maintaining tender assumptions and exclusions
• Supporting management in bid/no-bid decisions
• D. Value Engineering & Cost Optimization Conducting value engineering studies
• Identifying alternative materials and systems
• Evaluating alternative construction methodologies
• Reviewing procurement strategies
• Assessing cost-saving opportunities
• Supporting optimization of project budgets
• Providing recommendations to management
• Ensuring luxury quality standards remain uncompromised
• E. Tender Clarifications & Negotiations Participating in tender clarification meetings
• Supporting client and consultant discussions
• Reviewing clarification responses
• Revising estimates based on tender clarifications
• Supporting negotiation strategies
• Preparing commercial justifications
• Supporting management during final negotiations
• Ensuring tender revisions remain commercially viable
• F. Procurement & Subcontractor Coordination Preparing supplier enquiry packages
• Preparing subcontractor enquiry packages
• Obtaining supplier quotations
• Obtaining subcontractor quotations
• Evaluating commercial submissions
• Reviewing technical compliance
• Conducting commercial comparisons
• Supporting subcontractor selection recommendations
• Ensuring procurement strategies align with tender assumptions
• G. Coordination with Project Teams Coordinating with Project Managers
• Coordinating with Planning Engineers
• Coordinating with Procurement Department
• Coordinating with Design and Technical Teams
• Coordinating with Commercial Teams
• Coordinating with Consultants
• Coordinating with Suppliers and Subcontractors
• Participating in tender review meetings
• Supporting resolution of technical and commercial queries
• H. Commercial Risk Management Reviewing contractual risks
• Reviewing scope gaps and exclusions
• Assessing market pricing risks
• Assessing procurement risks
• Assessing labour cost risks
• Assessing programme-related cost risks
• Preparing commercial risk assessments
• Recommending mitigation measures
• Escalating significant commercial exposures to management
• I. Documentation & Management Reporting Maintaining estimate files
• Maintaining supplier and subcontractor records
• Maintaining quantity take-off records
• Preparing tender review reports
• Preparing management summaries
• Reporting estimate status to management
• Maintaining complete tender documentation
• Supporting audits and management reviews
• J. Business Development Support Supporting strategic tender opportunities
• Providing commercial input during opportunity assessments
• Supporting bid strategy development
• Assisting management in evaluating project opportunities
• Supporting profitable project acquisition
• Contributing to continuous improvement of estimating systems and procedures

Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field
• Preferred: MRICS, PMP, CIOB, Certified Cost Professional (CCP), or equivalent professional qualification
• Knowledge: Strong knowledge of estimating methodologies, tendering practices, BOQ preparation, construction budgeting, procurement processes, and UAE construction market conditions
• Lead / Senior Estimator 10–15+ years of estimating experience within the construction industry
• Regional Experience UAE / GCC construction experience strongly preferred
• Project Type Luxury villas
• High-end residential developments
• Hospitality projects
• Turnkey construction projects
• Proven experience in tendering, estimating, value engineering, budgeting, and cost planning
• Employment Type Full-time