Senior Cost Estimator

Lead the preparation of accurate auditable and competitive cost estimates and tender pricing for companys Ghana projects reporting to the Technical Office Manager. The role integrates scope quantities methods program resources market rates risk and commercial assumptions into decision- ready estimates. Final approval of bid strategy tender price

Job descriptions & requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Estimating Leadership and Governance

• Translates tender priorities and the Technical Office Managers direction into clear estimating work plans responsibilities and review dates.
  
• Maintains estimating procedures templates coding structures checklists and approval gates.
  
• Applies consistent basis-of-estimate version-control peer-review and confidentiality standards.
  
• Provides objective cost advice and escalates material gaps or pricing risks without delay.
  

Tender Review and Estimate Planning

• Reviews instructions to tender drawings specifications bills addenda contract conditions and submission requirements.
  
• Prepares an estimate execution plan covering work packages contributors quotation needs program interfaces reviews and deadlines.
  
• Maintains tender queries assumptions deliverables and responsibility matrices.
  
• Identifies incomplete scope long-lead inputs and resource constraints early for management action.
  

Scope Definition and Work Breakdown

• Translates tender documents into a complete work breakdown and cost-code structure.
  
• Maps scope between BOQ items drawings specifications methods temporary works interfaces and contractual obligations.
  
• Identifies exclusions provisional quantities client-supplied items nominated parties and gaps.
  
• Ensures the estimate includes enabling works testing handover demobilization and close-out obligations.
  

Quantity Take-Off and BOQ Verification

• Directs and checks measurement from approved drawings models schedules and specifications.
  
• Verifies client BOQs detects arithmetic unit duplication and omission risks and records adjustments.
  
• Uses clear measurement rules references and audit trails that allow independent review.
  
• Performs reasonableness checks using geometry production logic benchmarks and comparable projects.
  

Construction Method and Programme Inputs

• Works with Operations Design and Planning to define practical construction methods sequencing temporary works access and production assumptions.
  
• Aligns labor plant material and subcontract resources with the tender program and constraints.
  
• Challenges unrealistic productivity mobilization weather shift curing testing or approval assumptions.
  
• Quantifies time-related cost exposure and documents dependencies requiring management attention.
  

Direct Cost Build-Up

• Develops transparent unit-rate build-ups for labor materials plant subcontractors waste transport and production output.
  
• Uses current approved wage material plant fuel productivity and market-rate information.
  
• Checks unit conversions crew balances yields wastage cycle times and resources utilization.
  
• Separates base cost escalation risk and commercial additions to preserve estimate transparency.
  

Preliminaries Indirect and Site Establishment

• Estimates mobilization site establishment supervision facilities utilities security surveys laboratory quality EHS insurances and temporary services.
  
• Aligns time-related preliminaries with the tender program and staffing plan.
  
• Includes head-office support permits bonds testing maintenance demobilization and close-out where applicable.
  
• Prevents duplication or omission between direct rates preliminaries and corporate allowances.
  

Supplier and Subcontractor Quotations

• Defines complete quotation packages and required return schedules with Procurement and technical owners.
  
• Procurement controls market enquiries and commercial contact; Estimation evaluates coverage comparability exclusions validity delivery and pricing impact.
  
• Normalises quotations for freight duties tax currency payment warranty and scope differences.
  
• Maintains quotation logs and selects estimate inputs using documented reviewable judgment.
  

Plant Equipment and Logistics Costing

• Coordinates with the Plant and Equipment Manager on availability ownership cost operating rates fuel maintenance operators mobilization and residual assumptions.
  
• Compares owned hired leased and subcontracted solutions on total cost and operational risk.
  
• Includes transport permits escorts customs assembly commissioning standby and demobilization.
  
• Ensures plant productivity and fleet quantities are consistent with program and site conditions.
  

Risk Opportunity and Contingency

• Facilitates estimate-risk reviews covering quantities design maturity productivity market currency inflation access weather interfaces and contract conditions.
  
• Quantifies credible risk ranges and opportunities using approved methodology and evidence.
  
• Separates identified allowances from management contingency and avoids hidden or duplicated risk.
  
• Presents sensitivities and residual exposures for Technical Office and General Manager decisions.
  

Commercial Pricing and Cash-Flow Interface

• Works with the Contract Manager Quantity Surveyor and Finance on payment terms taxes duties retention bonds financing escalation currency and cash-flow implications.
  
• Prepares cost summaries and pricing options without obscuring base cost or risk.
  
• Tests the effect of schedule productivity exchange-rate and market scenarios on cost and cash.
  
• Recommends pricing considerations while leaving margin and final commercial decisions to the General Manager.
  

Estimate Review and Bid Approval Support

• Prepares clear review packs showing scope basis quantities rates quotations indirect risk cash-flow qualifications and outstanding decisions.
  
• Completes discipline checks reconciliation and independent review before management gates.
  
• Records review comments decisions and authorized changes and protects the approved estimate baseline.
  
• Supports the Technical Office Manager in presenting the recommended estimate to the General Manager.
  

Tender Submission and Post-Bid Clarifications

• Reconciles final pricing schedules to the approved estimate and confirms arithmetic units and completeness.
  
• Provides controlled cost input to qualifications alternatives value-engineering proposals and forms.
  
• Supports authorized clarification and negotiation responses without changing price or risk outside approval.
  
• Maintains a final submission reconciliation and complete record of approved post-bid changes.
  

Handover Benchmarking and Continuous Improvement

• Hands successful tenders to Operations Contract Quantity Surveying Procurement and Finance with the approved basis assumptions risks quotations and cost structure.
  
• Compares estimate assumptions with awarded budgets procurement outcomes and actual production costs.
  
• Maintains current benchmark rates productivity norms historical costs and lessons learned.
  
• Improves estimating tools data quality and staff capability and reports performance to the Technical Office Manager.
  

Qualification:

Formal Education

• Bachelors degree or HND in Quantity Surveying Civil Engineering Construction Economics Building Technology or a related discipline.
  
• A recognized professional qualification or progress toward GhIS RICS or an equivalent estimating quantity-surveying or engineering credential is advantageous.
  
• Training in estimating software measurement planning risk or contract administration is desirable.