Project Estimating Lead

Position Summary
The Project Estimating Lead is responsible for leading the development, validation, and management of capital cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle, from concept selection and business case development through detailed engineering and execution. The role provides estimating leadership across a portfolio of projects, ensuring estimates are accurate, benchmarked, risk-adjusted, and aligned with industry best practices.
The Project Estimating Lead serves as the organization's subject matter expert for project estimating methodologies, cost benchmarking, estimating tools, and estimate assurance processes. The position works closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, and external contractors to support investment decisions and successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities
Estimating Leadership

• Lead the development of conceptual, screening, Class VI through Class III cost estimates for capital projects.
• Establish estimating strategies, assumptions, methodologies, and execution plans.
• Manage and mentor estimating professionals and contract estimators.
• Provide estimating governance and quality assurance across the project portfolio.
• Promote standardization of estimating processes, tools, and reporting practices.

Cost Estimate Development

• Develop a detailed estimate development plan
• Prepare comprehensive estimates covering: Engineering, tagged Equipment, Bulk materials, Fabrication, Construction labor, Subcontracts, Indirect costs, Owner's costs, Escalation, and Contingency
• Review engineering deliverables and project scope documents to develop estimated quantities and manhours.
• Perform quantity take-offs and validate contractor submissions.
• Develop estimate basis documents and estimate backup documentation.
• Ensure all assumptions, exclusions, and risks are clearly defined.

Benchmarking & Cost Intelligence

• Develop and maintain historical cost databases and benchmarking metrics.
• Analyze market trends, labor rates, productivity factors, commodity pricing, and contractor pricing strategies.
• Identify cost drivers, trends, and opportunities for optimization.
• Develop cost benchmarking ratios and estimate performance metrics.
• Leverage lessons learned from completed projects to improve future estimate accuracy.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Lead estimate risk assessments and contingency development.
• Identify estimating uncertainties, execution risks, and market impacts.
• Support probabilistic estimating, Monte Carlo analysis, and confidence level assessments where applicable.
• Develop mitigation strategies and value improvement opportunities.
• Support value engineering and constructability reviews.

Contractor & Vendor Engagement

• Coordinate bid requests and estimating information packages.
• Review contractor and vendor quotations for completeness and competitiveness.
• Evaluate subcontractor and supplier proposals.
• Support procurement strategy development.
• Participate in bid evaluations and commercial assessments.

Project Development Support

• Support business case development, AFEs, and capital approval submissions.
• Support project stage-gate reviews.
• Provide estimate updates as the project scope matures.
• Support project scheduling, forecasting, and capital planning activities.
• Present estimate findings and recommendations to project sponsors and senior leadership.

Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain estimating procedures, standards, and templates.
• Improve estimating tools and digital solutions.
• Implement industry best practices from AACE International and major capital project organizations.
• Conduct estimate audits and estimate quality reviews.
• Drive estimating capability development across the organization.

Qualifications
Education

• Bachelor's degree in:
  • Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Quantity Surveying
  • Project Management
  • Business or related discipline

Professional Certifications (Preferred)

• AACE Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
• AACE Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
• PMP Certification
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation considered an asset.

Experience
Required

• 10+ years of project estimating experience.
• 5+ years leading estimates for major capital projects.
• Experience across project development and execution phases (i.e., Stage 1 to stage 4)
• Experience in energy, midstream, oil & gas, utilities, and petrochemical.
• Experience managing contractor-generated estimates and estimate validations.

Technical Skills

• Advanced cost estimating methodologies.
• Quantity takeoffs and productivity analysis.
• Cost database development.
• Benchmarking and market intelligence.
• Risk-based estimating.
• Contingency analysis.
• Cash flow forecasting.
• Schedule integration.
• Value engineering.
• Estimate assurance reviews.

Software

• EcoSys
• Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
• Power BI

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Business acumen
• Decision making
• Influence without authority
• Stakeholder management
• Collaboration
• Coaching and mentoring
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to challenge assumptions using data-driven analysis.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.