The Estimator (Executive) supports the preparation of accurate and competitive project cost estimates for tender submissions. The role involves analysing quotations, preparing conceptual estimates and material take-offs, validating cost data, and maintaining detailed cost documentation.
This position offers valuable exposure to renewable energy projects and opportunities to develop expertise in cost estimating and commercial analysis.
Job Responsibilities
Market Intelligence & Subcontractor Rate Gathering
- Continuously gather real-world subcontractor and supplier unit rates for civil, structural, mechanical and electrical works across ERS Energy's ASEAN/APAC markets, building a live, well-sourced market-rate picture for each trade.
- Build and develop a network of subcontractors, suppliers and trade contacts to obtain, benchmark and refresh current pricing, labour rates, plant-hire rates and productivity norms.
- Track commodity and input-cost movements (steel, copper, aluminium, polysilicon, cabling, concrete, fuel) and translate them into the rate database so estimates reflect live market conditions.
- Maintain a documented market-intelligence log, recording the source, date and context of each rate gathered.
Unit-Rate Validation & First Principles Cost Breakdown
- Validate and verify subcontractor unit rates by decomposing each rate into its most basic sub-components — material, labour, plant/equipment, consumables, wastage allowance, transport, and overhead & profit — to confirm the rate is reasonable and competitive.
- Build bottom-up, first-principles rate build-ups to test submitted subcontractor prices, exposing padding, double-counting, under-pricing or hidden risk before they enter the estimate.
- Cross-check every rate against multiple independent sources (other subcontractors, historical ERS actuals, published indices, vendor quotes) and flag anomalies and outliers to the Senior Estimator.
- Recommend the most competitive defensible rate per item, with the supporting breakdown attached for review and audit.
Conceptual & No-Quantity (Notional) Estimating
- Produce estimates where Engineering has not provided quantities, using first-principles logic, parametric metrics (e.g. cost per Wp, per MWac, per MWh, per km of cable/road, per tonne of steel) and reasoned assumptions.
- Perform simple material take-offs (MTO) from tender drawings, layouts and — where drawings are incomplete — from comparable historical project references.
- Document and justify the basis of every estimate: state the source (historical project, benchmark rate, vendor quote, published index or stated assumption), the reference used, and the adjustment logic, so each figure can be traced and defended.
- Maintain a clear assumptions-and-sources log accompanying each conceptual estimate for the Senior Estimator's review and the settlement meeting.
Estimating Support & Cost-Database Maintenance
- Support the Senior Estimator on BOQ pricing, vendor-quote logging, like-for-like comparison sheets and estimate reconciliation.
- Establish and continuously update the internal unit-rate library, historical cost database and pricing benchmarks across all disciplines, keeping them current and version-controlled.
- Prepare back-up documentation on estimates, sensitivity checks and number-crunching outputs that withstand internal and client scrutiny.
Collaboration, Value Engineering & Governance
- Liaise with Engineering, Procurement and Logistics to obtain technical inputs, ex-works prices and landed-cost data needed to firm up rates.
- Provide the cost data that underpins Value Engineering (VE) options proposed during the pre-bid stage.
- Contribute rate and source data to post-bid win/loss analyses, helping recalibrate benchmarks and improve the competitiveness and accuracy of future bids.
Competencies/Skills
- Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
- 2–4 years of experience in construction/EPC estimating, quantity surveying, or cost engineering. Experience in Solar PV or renewable energy projects is an added advantage. Strong fresh graduates with excellent analytical skills are encouraged to apply.
- Strong analytical, numerical, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
- Basic understanding of civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical works. Knowledge of Solar PV, substations, or Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) is an advantage.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel. Familiarity with estimation software (e.g., CostX, RIB Candy) or Solar PV design tools (e.g., PVsyst or Helioscope) is a plus.
- Good commercial awareness with the ability to work with suppliers and subcontractors to obtain and evaluate cost information.
- A dependable team player with strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Interested candidates are welcome to submit their updated resumes to career@ers.my
Thank you.
