Senior Estimator | Utilities

Turner & Townsend, a global professional services firm with more than 22,000 people across over 60 countries, is looking to add a Senior Estimator in Utilities to its Brisbane team. The role sits onsite in Brisbane and is full-time, offering the chance to shape cost planning for large-scale utility projects. Turner & Townsend works with clients across real estate, infrastructure, defence, energy and natural resources, delivering outcomes that aim to improve lives and turn complexity into opportunity. The company emphasises collaboration, a broad service footprint, and being part of the broader CBRE ecosystem.

In this Brisbane-based position, you’ll bring your estimating expertise to life on major utilities schemes, notably water projects, by delivering accurate, independent cost estimates and providing strategic input that influences project outcomes. The right candidate will thrive in a firm that blends technical rigor with strong stakeholder engagement and a collaborative spirit.

Turner & Townsend highlights a positive, flexible working environment and a focus on work-life balance, and they emphasise equal opportunity and inclusivity as core values. The firm positions itself as a place where people can succeed professionally while contributing to impactful projects around the world.

Day-To-Day Responsibilities for the Brisbane Utilities Senior Estimator

You will build first-principles pricing for utilities and water sector projects, covering facilities, civils and pipework, and you’ll work closely with engineers to ensure estimates reflect the design intent. You’ll translate design information into quantities and pricing, collaborating to keep the numbers precise and aligned with technical expectations.

You will validate quantities and pricing from suppliers and contractors, source and review quotations, and negotiate competitive pricing to protect value for the client. You’ll also assess and price risk early in the project lifecycle, shaping the footing for subsequent decision-making and planning.

In addition, you’ll structure estimates, bills of quantities and bills of materials, then prepare clear, detailed reports and present your findings to stakeholders. You’ll deliver integrated estimating services, offering both strategic and technical advice throughout the project lifecycle to help teams make informed choices.

Candidate Profile for the Senior Estimator Utilities

• You have 10+ years of industry experience, ideally in water utilities and related sectors.
• You possess strong water and electrical estimating knowledge and a track record of estimating from first principles for water and wastewater projects.
• You hold a relevant tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics, Engineering, or a similar field.
• You demonstrate advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills and are comfortable presenting complex data to stakeholders.
• You show excellent analytical abilities and strong communication, with confidence presenting to senior audiences.
• You bring consultancy experience and contractor-side knowledge, with a collaborative approach and relationship-building strengths that hint at leadership potential.

• Power BI and CSS Candy/Quantum experience is advantageous but not essential.
• Mechanical estimating experience is a bonus.

Pay, Benefits and Location Details

The Brisbane-based Senior Estimator role is full-time and onsite. Turner & Townsend describes a supportive environment with flexibility to help you balance work and life, alongside a focus on delivering high-quality outcomes for clients.

As an equal opportunity employer, the company values diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment for all employees. Turner & Townsend encourages applications from candidates across all sectors of the community.

For more information about the firm, you can learn about Turner & Townsend at their website, and you’ll also see the firm’s social channels referenced in the original listing for further context about their projects and culture.

Practical Advice for Applicants

Put your strongest credentials at the top of your resume: highlight your 10+ years of water utilities estimating experience and your ability to estimate from first principles for water and wastewater projects, followed by your relevant degree.

When you describe your must-have skills, back them with concrete project examples. Show where you built pricing from design information, how you validated quantities with suppliers, and how you negotiated pricing to achieve competitive outcomes, including any risk pricing you applied early in the process.

Be prepared to walk interview panels through an end-to-end estimating process, from interpreting design information to producing bills of quantities and materials, and then communicating the reasoning and conclusions to stakeholders. Have a short scenario ready that demonstrates your approach to risk, structure, and reporting.

Ask a focused question about how the Brisbane team integrates estimating with the broader project lifecycle and what success looks like in the first six months for this role. A smart follow-up could be about opportunities to contribute to leadership on future utilities bids or projects.