Estimator

About the role

JLS Group is looking for an experienced Estimator to join our Melbourne team, working across JL Shopfit, Rapid Retail Response (RRR) and Rapid Facilities Response (RFR).

Reporting to the Senior Estimator, you’ll take ownership of tenders, estimates and pricing from initial review through to formal handover.

This is a broad, hands-on estimating role spanning commercial construction, retail fitouts, refurbishments, multi-site rollouts and broader Group opportunities. You’ll work closely with leadership, project management, operations, procurement and delivery teams to ensure opportunities are clearly scoped, competitively priced and commercially sound.

Key responsibilities

• Review drawings, specifications, schedules, scopes and contract documentation
• Prepare detailed estimates, quantity take-offs, cost plans and tender submissions
• Develop subcontractor and supplier tender packages
• Obtain, assess, level and negotiate trade quotations
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, assumptions, qualifications and commercial risks
• Prepare and manage RFIs, tender clarifications and client queries
• Contribute to tender strategy, methodology, preliminaries, programming and logistics planning
• Estimate multi-site rollout and recurring programmes
• Support pricing across JLS Group, including Shopfit, RRR and RFR
• Attend site inspections, tender briefings and post-tender meetings as required
• Support tender presentations and commercial negotiations
• Establish project budgets and complete structured handovers to delivery teams

About you

You’ll bring:

• 3+ years’ estimating experience in commercial construction, shopfitting, retail fitout, refurbishment or related building services
• Experience pricing complete construction packages and multi-trade scopes
• Strong knowledge of commercial construction and fitout methodologies
• Confidence interpreting architectural, services and construction documentation
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to identify tender risk
• Experience preparing scopes, trade comparisons, cost plans and tender submissions
• Strong subcontractor and supplier engagement and negotiation skills
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and numerical accuracy
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience with estimating or tender-management platforms
• The ability to manage multiple tenders and competing deadlines
• Current Australian working rights and a valid driver’s licence

What we offer

• A permanent role within an established national organisation
• Competitive salary package aligned with experience
• Exposure to commercial construction, fitout, rollouts and service-based projects
• Genuine ownership of tenders from initial review through to handover
• The opportunity to work across multiple JLS Group businesses
• Direct exposure to experienced operational and project delivery leaders
• Professional development and long-term career progression
• A practical, collaborative and performance-focused team environment

About JLS Group

JLS Group operates across commercial construction, retail fitouts, refurbishments, projects, multi-site rollouts, facilities management and maintenance across Australia and New Zealand.

Our businesses include JL Shopfit, Rapid Retail Response (RRR) and Rapid Facilities Response (RFR), providing specialist capability across the full lifecycle of our clients’ sites.

If you’re an experienced Estimator looking for a role with broader exposure, genuine ownership and the opportunity to work across multiple areas of the business, we’d like to hear from you.

Apply through SEEK with your résumé and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant estimating experience.

Applicants must have current Australian working rights and may be required to complete a pre-employment medical and criminal history check as part of the recruitment process.