Senior Cost Estimator

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.
We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
Role description:Arcadis is seeking an experienced
Senior Quantity Surveyor
to support our growing team.
As a senior member of our Cost and Commercial Management team, you will drive project delivery, collaborating closely with clients, contractors, and stakeholders to provide insightful cost analysis and guidance. Regular site presence is required to support project execution and maintain strong client relationships.
We are seeking a Senior Quantity Surveyor with a proven track record in the electrical estimating field. It would also be preferable if they had experience with mechanical estimating and had experience in the technology sector or advanced manufacturing environments, who excels at analyzing complex data, facilitating transparent contractor engagement, and delivering successful project outcomes.
Role accountabilities:In this role, you will lead the delivery of
cost estimating and cost planning
activities across mechanical and electrical design scopes, ensuring estimates are robust, market-informed, and aligned with project objectives. You will engage closely with the supply chain, undertake detailed market testing, and use data-driven insight to assess project scope, quantities, pricing, and key estimating assumptions. A core part of the position will involve facilitating
value engineering ,
risk and contingency reviews, and
cost reconciliation sessions
with clients, contractors, and design teams to drive informed decision-making and commercial confidence.
You will also play a key role in
cost governance and assurance, overseeing peer reviews and QA/QC processes to maintain high standards of accuracy, transparency, and compliance with client procedures. By establishing clear audit trails and challenging assumptions where needed, you will help ensure that all cost advice is defensible, consistent, and aligned with best practice. Your ability to interrogate contractor pricing, analyse technical documents, and validate scope will be critical in supporting reliable cost outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.
From a
commercial and procurement
perspective, you will support procurement strategy development, bid evaluations, subcontractor and supplier quotation analysis, and contract negotiations. You will monitor change orders, manage cost trends, and provide informed negotiation support, while producing clear cost reports, variance analysis, and dashboards that communicate forecasts and emerging issues effectively. Regular site visits, field verification, and engagement with project teams will further strengthen cost validation and ensure alignment between commercial reporting and on-site progress.
Working collaboratively with project management, design teams, and clients, you will bring a proactive, solutions-focused approach to budgeting, change management, and constructability risk mitigation, particularly within complex or high-tech environments. Success in this role will require strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills, executive-level communication, and a deep understanding of construction processes and end-to-end cost management. You will be someone who builds trusted relationships, promotes contractor transparency, and consistently contributes to project excellence while identifying opportunities to strengthen client partnerships and create future business value.
Qualifications & Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Minimum 10 years of relevant cost management experience, ideally in data centers, technology, advanced/high-tech manufacturing, or life sciences
Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholders, resolve conflicts, and deliver executive-level presentations
Proven experience obtaining and validating detailed cost breakdowns from contractors and subcontractors
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with proficiency in quantity take-offs, cost reconciliations, and pricing reviews
Proficient with industry-standard cost and project management tools
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Willingness and ability to travel regularly and maintain a strong site presence
Strong interpersonal skills, with a talent for building effective relationships with clients, contractors, and internal teams
Why Arcadis?We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we a