Job Description

Overview
Our client is a South African civil engineering and construction company, with over 25 years of experience across Africa. Established locally in 2013, the company holds BBBEE Level 1 status, CIDB 9CE & 9GB gradings, and ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications. They specialize in roads and earthworks, building projects, water infrastructure, and large-scale civil works including bridges and rail. They operate nationally with a broader African footprint through the Group, and place strong emphasis on community development, skills training, and empowerment through their CSR initiatives.
No. of Vacancies
1
Specific Skills
Key Competencies and Attributes

• Strong commercial and contractual acumen
• Deep technical knowledge of road, civil, and mining infrastructure construction
• Excellent client engagement and relationship-building ability
• High integrity, discretion, and judgement
• Inspires confidence and fosters a high-performance team culture
• Strategic thinker capable of aligning estimating outputs with business growth objectives
• Highly organized, decisive, and deadline-focused
• Proficient communicator (written, verbal, and presentation)

Performance Indicators

• Tender success rate and quality of submissions
• Growth in client base and negotiated business opportunities
• Accuracy and profitability of awarded projects
• Team development and retention
• Timeliness, accuracy, and compliance of tender submissions
• Strength and integrity of estimating systems and governance

Responsible For
Purpose of the Role To lead, manage, and continuously improve the Group's estimating and tendering function across all business units - Roads, Civil Infrastructure, Concrete, and Mining. The Head of Estimating is accountable for delivering accurate, competitive, and strategically aligned bids while driving business growth through strong client relationships, market intelligence, and proactive pursuit of opportunities. This role is both technical and commercial - combining mastery of major project estimation (R1bn+) with leadership of a multidisciplinary team and direct contribution to business development and client acquisition. Key Responsibilities Leadership and Management

• Provide overall leadership to the Estimating Department, including Roads Estimator,Buildings Estimator, and Tender Administration Team (4 staff including Tender Buyer)
• Establish and enforce consistent estimating processes, methodologies, and quality controls across all sectors
• Mentor and develop estimating team members to strengthen technical capability and professional maturity
• Foster a disciplined, deadline-driven, and collaborative tender environment
• Oversee allocation of tenders and ensure balanced team workloads

Estimating and Tender Governance

• Direct, review, and approve cost estimates for roads, civil works, concrete structures, and mining infrastructure projects
• Lead high-value tenders from start to submission, ensuring commercial, technical, and contractual soundness
• Ensure rate build-ups, methodologies, and risk allowances reflect realistic, buildable, and profitable approaches
• Ensure SANRAL, mining, and private client tenders are compliant with all technical and administrative requirements
• Implement peer review and internal adjudication processes for accuracy and risk control prior to final submission
• Liaise with Contracts, Planning, Commercial, and SHEQ departments to integrate operational input during estimating

Business Development and Client Interface

• Identify and pursue new project and client opportunities aligned to the Group's strategic markets.
• Build and maintain relationships with SANRAL, mining clients, consultants, and private developers
• Represent the company in pre-tender briefings, industry forums, and negotiation sessions
• Support senior management in bid/no-bid decision-making and tender strategy development
• Contribute to market intelligence gathering - pricing trends, competitor positioning, and emerging infrastructure pipelines
• Develop tailored proposals and presentations to secure negotiated and repeat business. Commercial Strategy and Risk Management
• Champion tender governance, pricing strategy, and commercial discipline
• Review contractual terms (FIDIC, GCC, NEC, JBCC, bespoke) and highlight commercial and technical risks
• Recommend contingencies and margin strategies appropriate to project risk profile
• Monitor performance of submitted tenders - win/loss analysis, pricing trends, and risk exposure
• Drive continuous improvement in estimating accuracy and bid competitiveness

Systems, Processes, and Reporting

• Maintain and advance estimating systems (CCS Candy, Excel, internal databases)
• Standardize cost libraries, resource rates, and productivity norms for group-wide use
• Ensure strict document control, version management, and audit-ready tender records
• Prepare monthly reports to the Executive Committee on pipeline status, tenders submitted, success rate, and forecast workload

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with Operations and Contracts teams to align tender build-ups with actual production performance
• Collaborate with Procurement and Tender Buyer to ensure reliable supplier and subcontractor databases
• Support HR in identifying and developing estimating talent
• Participate in project handovers and feedback sessions post-award to refine future estimating accuracy

Job Nature
Full Time
Educational Requirements
Education:

• BSc or BTech in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or Construction Management
• Postgraduate qualification in Project Management or Business Administration (advantageous)

Experience:

• Minimum 12-15 years in civil engineering estimating, with at least 5 years in a senior or departmental leadership role
• Proven experience with SANRAL mega projects (R1bn+), mining civil works, and major concrete structures
• Track record of tender leadership and business development success
• Familiarity with CCS Candy, FIDIC/GCC/NEC contracts, and SANRAL documentation standards
• Established professional network with clients, consultants, and subcontractors in South Africa and the SADC region

Experience Requirements
12+
Job Location
Johannesburg
Job Level
Senior Position
How to Apply
Interested candidates can send their resumes to natasha@njplacements.co.za mentioning "Job Title" in the subject line.

Skills Required