The posting
Black Pearl Consult is looking for a Head of Project Costing & Estimation for large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced professional with expertise in project cost estimation, commercial risk analysis, and developing robust cost models to support competitive bids for major, government-funded infrastructure projects. Key Responsibilities: Prepare complete project cost estimates from early-stage inputs, including area statements, facility descriptions, conceptual drawings, outline specifications, and client briefs. Develop detailed estimates covering civil, architectural, structural, MEP, equipment, furniture, ICT, utilities, site development, logistics, temporary works, and specialist systems. Build bottom-up cost models for labor, materials, plant, equipment, subcontractors, freight, duties, insurance, permits, financing charges, training, commissioning, and O&M. Prepare cost plans across concept, feasibility, pre-tender, tender, and contract-award stages, maintaining estimates through design development and value engineering. Prepare Bills of Quantities (BOQs), quantity take-offs, rate analyses, cost breakdown structures, cash-flow projections, and cost-to-complete assessments. Benchmark costs against comparable African and international projects while maintaining a live database of rates, productivity norms, supplier prices, and market intelligence. Conduct value engineering to identify cost-efficient alternatives without compromising functionality, quality, compliance, or lifecycle performance. Quantify and price project risks, including design maturity, ground conditions, logistics constraints, security, import restrictions, local-content requirements, and regulatory exposures. Develop escalation provisions for labor, materials, equipment, fuel, freight, and currency movements over 2–3 year project durations. Model currency exchange exposure, payment terms, inflation, interest during construction, taxes, duties, withholding taxes, and financing costs. Recommend appropriate contingency, management reserve, escalation, and risk allowances supported by clear assumptions and sensitivity analyses. Prepare bankable, funding-ready cost summaries and assumptions schedules for financial institutions, DFIs, ECAs, government clients, and internal investment committees. Lead technical-commercial coordination for tenders, RFPs/EOIs, and contract negotiations. Issue RFQs to suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers; evaluate quotations for scope coverage, exclusions, commercial terms, and execution capability. Assess local subcontractor availability, capability, capacity, compliance, and pricing across regional African markets. Review contract terms, payment mechanisms, price-escalation clauses, currency provisions, delay damages, guarantees, and change-management provisions. Travel frequently across project locations in Africa (particularly West and Central Africa) to validate local market conditions, logistics routes, labor availability, material sources, and subcontractor capability. Conduct site assessments to gather first-hand intelligence on access, infrastructure, security, import channels, and execution constraints. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Cost Engineering, or a related discipline (Master's degree or professional certification is desirable. Minimum 20 years of proven experience in infrastructure project costing, estimation, tendering, and commercial management. At least 10–15 years of direct experience on infrastructure/building projects in Africa (preferably West and Central Africa), with essential experience in government-funded, donor-funded, or bank-financed projects. Hands-on experience preparing complete cost estimates for building infrastructure (e.g., healthcare, education, public buildings) from conceptual or limited design inputs. In-depth familiarity with FIDIC or equivalent international contract forms, EPC contracting, PPP structures, and development-finance requirements. Work Location: Dubai To know other vacancies we have, please feel free to visit our website - www.blackpearlconsult.com and follow us on our social media accounts - LinkedIn / Instagram Follow the Black Pearl channel on WhatsApp. Disclaimer: Black Pearl will never ask for money or any form of charge our candidates just to process or consider their application for any of our available vacancies. If you happen to receive such a request from any members of our staff or other individuals claiming to be part of Black Pearl, please do call our office at +9712 622 55 03 or drop us a message on our website - www.blackpearlconsult.com.
