AECOM’s Mining Team Canada is growing! We are seeking a Senior Cost Estimator for our Mining and Industrial projects team. The successful candidate will be responsible for estimating all elements of project cost across the mining project lifecycle, including labor, materials, permanent equipment, consumables, construction equipment, logistics, contingency, escalation, and risk.
This newly created position develops cost estimates for mining assets and related infrastructure such as brownfield/greenfield mine developments, processing facilities (e.g., crushing, grinding, flotation/leach, tailings handling), materials handling systems, utilities, water management, site civil works, rail/port interfaces (where applicable), and supporting infrastructure.
This position may be based in any of AECOM’s Canadian offices.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Develops estimates aligned to mining industry deliverables, including Basis of Estimate (BoE), estimating plan, assumptions/exclusions, indirect strategy, and contingency methodology.
- Provides estimates for each project phase: conceptual / scoping, pre-feasibility, feasibility, detailed design, and construction / execution.
- Prepares detailed cost estimates using industry-accepted methods and tools (e.g., factored/parametric, unit-rate, first-principles) appropriate to the maturity of engineering deliverables.
- Ability to specialize in one or more estimating disciplines commonly required for mining projects, including civil/earthworks, structural, mechanical (fixed plant), electrical/instrumentation, piping, process equipment, bulk materials handling, and infrastructure/temporary works.
- Prepares or assists in the preparation of order-of-magnitude, preliminary, definitive, and change estimates using appropriate methods and techniques.
- Prepares material, equipment, and labor take-offs from mining and industrial design deliverables (e.g., PFDs/P&IDs, equipment lists, plot plans, general arrangements, bulk MTOs).
- Develops and applies indirect and construction execution assumptions relevant to mining environments (e.g., remote site logistics, camp/temporary facilities, productivity factors, weather impacts, access constraints, work packaging).
- Performs cost comparison analyses between AECOM estimates, contractor/EPC/EPCM estimates, and vendor budget pricing; supports reconciliation and benchmarking.
- Works with Project Managers and discipline leads to evaluate the appropriateness of CAPEX/OPEX budgets and to support cost-driven decision-making and value opportunities.
- Utilizes appropriate company and industry historical data to support estimates and benchmarking, including equipment pricing, productivity norms, installation factors, and location indices.
- Establishes and maintains cost databases and mining-specific parametric/factored estimating tools (e.g., unit costs for earthworks, concrete, structural steel, piping, E&I, conveyors, crushers, mills, tanks).
- Leads estimate reconciliation workshops with the project team and supports stage-gate estimate reviews.
- Identify, evaluate, and quantify project risks and opportunities, including their potential cost and schedule impacts, and support the development of formal cost and schedule risk assessments as required.
- Prepares bid packages, conceptual estimates, and analysis of subcontractor bids for mining and industrial scopes, including bulk earthworks, concrete, structural/mechanical erection, electrical/I&C, piping, and SMP packages.
- Maintains consistent communications with other estimators and stakeholders across mining pursuits and delivery teams.
- Prepares and/or coordinates preparation of full project estimates, supporting internal approvals and client.