Chief Estimator Civil & Structural

A leading international EPC contractor delivering major engineering and construction projects across the UAE and beyond is seeking an experienced Chief Estimator (Civil & Structural) to join its team in the UAE.Position: Chief Estimator (Civil & Structural)Location: Dubai, UAEType of Employment: Permanent / Direct HireWorking Hours: 10 hours a day / 5 days per weekDuration: Long TermChief Estimator (Civil & Structural) – EPC Tenders (Oil & Gas)Job Roles:Lead, allocate and review the work of the civil & structural estimating team across several tenders running at the same time; set priorities and internal deadlines.Review and sign off quantities, unit rates, productivity norms, subcontract prices and the basis-of-estimate before submission.Set the estimating strategy for each tender with Construction and Planning – self-perform vs. subcontract, prefabrication / modularisation and construction methodology.Oversee estimates for:Site preparation, earthworks, grading, dewatering and soil improvementPiling and foundations for equipment, pipe racks, tanks and buildingsReinforced concrete – cast-in-situ and precastStructural steel – pipe racks, shelters, platforms and pipe supportsBuildings – substations, control rooms, warehouses and workshopsUnderground works, roads, paving, fencing and pipeline civil worksMarine and jetty structures, where in scopeOwn the civil & structural cost database, productivity norms and benchmarks; set estimating standards and templates for the team.Validate estimates against benchmarks, ratios and awarded-project data; challenge quantity and rate assumptions.Lead the civil & structural input to risk & opportunity, contingency, escalation and value-engineering alternatives.Present and defend estimates at tender review and management approval meetings; support negotiations and post-bid client clarifications.Develop strategic relationships with piling, precast, steel fabrication and building subcontractors across the GCC.Mentor and train estimators, assess performance and support recruitment; capture lessons learned from awarded projects.Criteria:Senior – minimum 10 to 15 years of civil & structural estimating experience with EPC contractors in the oil & gas sector, including at least 5 years in a lead or chief estimator role .Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (mandatory).Knowledge & Skills:Expert reading of civil, structural and architectural drawings, specifications and geotechnical reports at FEED and detailed-design stages.Expert knowledge of quantity take-off, BOQ preparation, methods of measurement (POMI, CESMM, client-specific) and first-principles rate build-up.Estimate classification, contingency and escalation (e.g. AACE classes) and risk assessment.Commercial understanding of lump-sum, unit-rate, reimbursable and LTA / call-off contracts.In-depth knowledge of the Middle East construction market, material pricing and subcontractor base.Nice-to-haveQuantity extraction from 3D models (Navisworks, Tekla, E3D / S3D review) and quantitative risk tools (e.g. @Risk).Awareness of mechanical, piping and E&I interfaces with the civil scope.