Lead Estimator

About the Role

Join Parsons Corporation as a Lead Estimator, where you'll be part of a dynamic team driving innovation and professional growth. This role involves leading comprehensive estimating efforts for civil, infrastructure, airport, and multidisciplinary construction projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the preparation of detailed cost estimates at conceptual, preliminary, budgetary, and definitive stages.
• Examine project documents including scope, drawings, BOQs, and specifications to define estimation requirements.
• Develop exhaustive cost breakdowns covering labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other project expenses.
• Perform detailed quantity take-offs from drawings, BIM models, and technical data.
• Maintain and update estimating databases with pertinent cost and productivity rates.
• Evaluate market pricing, supplier quotes, and subcontractor proposals to ensure competitive and accurate cost forecasts.
• Price diverse construction elements including civil works, infrastructure, structural, MEP, utilities, roads, airfields, and specialized projects.
• Review third-party quotations for scope accuracy and commercial conditions.
• Identify and resolve inconsistencies or gaps within tender documents or designs.
• Draft clear assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, and clarify estimation bases.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to reconcile technical and design uncertainties affecting cost.
• Coordinate with procurement and commercial units to confirm material and subcontractor pricing.
• Support value engineering, alternative design assessments, and change analyses.
• Prepare estimates related to variations, change orders, claims, and supplementary works.
• Review and validate estimates produced by junior estimators and quantity surveyors.
• Lead estimation reviews ensuring uniform pricing methodologies across disciplines.
• Establish cost benchmarks for major project components and perform comparative cost analyses.
• Identify key cost drivers and conduct sensitivity analysis to assess commercial risks.
• Assist tender preparation, bid evaluation, and present detailed cost reports to senior management.
• Ensure all estimate documentation is thorough and complies with project procedures and standards.
• Support project teams with cost forecasts and budgeting throughout design and construction phases.

Airport and Infrastructure Specific Duties

• Lead estimation activities for airport and airfield infrastructure including terminals, runways, taxiways, aprons, utilities, drainage, and external works.
• Prepare detailed costings for earthworks, pavements, grading, underground networks, and related civil infrastructure.
• Work closely with specialist engineering disciplines to price aviation systems like MEP, ICT, ELV, FLS, AGL, and more.
• Review quantities and price major infrastructure packages, considering construction methodologies and temporary works.
• Assess cost implications of airport operational limitations, staging, access restrictions, and work sequencing.
• Contribute to cost planning at complex interfaces of airport components and infrastructure systems.

Deliverables

• Cost estimates across all project phases from conceptual to definitive level.
• Detailed quantity take-offs and BOQs.
• Cost breakdown structures with unit and productivity rate analyses.
• Material, labor, equipment pricing, and supplier/subcontractor quote evaluations.
• Documented estimate assumptions and cost benchmarking.
• Value engineering and change order evaluations with risk and sensitivity analyses.
• Tender and bid support along with management summaries and reporting.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or related fields.
• At least 10 years of substantial experience in construction cost estimating, especially for major infrastructure and multidisciplinary projects.
• Expertise across civil, infrastructure, MEP, utilities, structural, roads, and airfield works.
• Comprehensive knowledge of construction techniques, materials, labor productivity, and subcontractor pricing.
• Proficient in quantity take-offs, BOQ preparation, rate analysis, and cost build-up methodologies.
• Skilled in evaluating subcontractor and supplier commercial offers.
• Hands-on experience with estimating software, Excel, and cost management tools; familiarity with BIM-based estimating is advantageous.
• Understanding of construction contracts, scope control, and change management procedures.
• Strong analytical abilities, numerical aptitude, communication, and reporting skills.

Preferred Competencies

• Construction cost estimating and planning expertise.
• Effective review and validation of cost data and benchmarks.
• Value engineering and commercial awareness.
• Multidisciplinary coordination capacity.
• Capability in cost database management and technical-commercial review.
• Team leadership and problem-solving skills with strong management reporting.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Parsons is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

Additional Information

Parsons emphasizes employee well-being and offers extensive growth possibilities. Applicants should be vigilant about fraudulent recruitment practices.