Sr. Manager - Proposal Estimator Heavy Engineering

Job Title : General Manager/ Sr. Manager - Proposal Estimator Heavy Engineering

Location : Pipavav (Gujarat)

The Proposal Estimator Heavy Engineering is responsible for creating accurate, competitive cost and resource estimates for business development (BD) of heavy engineering and offshore fabrication projects. This role requires analysing technical drawings, project specifications, and market trends to ensure profitability and compliance of heavy engineering projects with shipyard financial and strategic objectives. The Proposal Estimator Heavy Engineering is instrumental in developing profitable bids, leveraging market insights, and supporting revenue generation.

This role is essential for generating precise, market-aligned estimates for heavy engineering projects, supporting the shipyards financial objectives, and ensuring bids are competitive within profitability guardrails. By combining technical analysis with cost management, the Proposal Estimator Heavy Engineering contributes significantly to the shipyards competitive positioning and long-term growth.

Swan group is a 115+ year old engineering & project-oriented conglomerate with businesses across textile, real estate, oil & gas, petroleum products, shipyard and heavy engineering. Pipavav shipyard is a cornerstone of marine infrastructure in India. Ideally located to access global trade routes and industrial ecosystem. We have a vision for redeveloping the asset as "National Champion Shipyard"

Develop Comprehensive Estimates:

• Analyze technical drawings, specifications, and heavy engineering project requirements to accurately determine material, labor, and equipment costs.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and production teams to gather critical data for precise cost estimations, ensuring alignment with heavy engineering project needs.
• Utilize cost estimation software and tools to develop detailed, data-driven estimates that support competitive pricing strategies for heavy engineering projects.
• Prepare and submit competitive bids and proposals in response to client inquiries and tenders, ensuring heavy engineering project estimates meet profitability standards.

Ensure Profitability & Risk Management:

• Assess each heavy engineering project estimate against the shipyards profit guardrails, ensuring bids meet financial targets and profitability standards.
• Conduct risk assessments to identify potential cost implications and develop strategies for competitive pricing of heavy engineering projects while maintaining margins.
• Analyze cost variances post-project to identify areas for improvement, refining estimation practices for future heavy engineering project bids.

Coordinate Bid Submissions:

• Prepare detailed bid documents, coordinating with stakeholders to ensure all submissions are comprehensive and aligned with shipyard’s strategies.
• Review contract terms, conditions, and specifications to fully understand project scope, identifying potential cost and risk factors for heavy engineering project bids.
• Work with legal and Business Development teams to negotiate favorable terms and conditions, ensuring heavy engineering contract compliance and alignment with shipyard objectives.

Leverage Market Insights & Support Supplier Negotiations:

• Gather and analyse market intelligence, including competitor pricing and supply chain costs, to make informed decisions on pricing benchmarks about heavy engineering activity.
• Obtain quotes and negotiate pricing with suppliers and subcontractors to secure competitive rates for materials and services.
• Evaluate supplier performance regularly, maintaining relationships that support timely and cost-effective procurement for heavy engineering projects.

Support in Optimizing Cost Estimation Processes:

• Identify process improvements within heavy engineering estimation and bidding activities, implementing best practices to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
• Develop and maintain a cost database, including vendor pricing and historical heavy engineering project costs, to streamline future estimates and support benchmarking.
• Implement and manage digital estimation tools to improve accuracy and maintain transparency in the heavy engineering project estimation process, supporting seamless project execution.

Prepare Detailed Reports & Documentation:

• Prepare and present heavy engineering cost estimation reports, including detailed cost breakdowns, to management and relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate documentation of all heavy engineering cost estimates, bid submissions, contracts, and project-related correspondence, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and company policies.
• Provide Estimation In charge, regular updates on cost estimation activities, bid profitability, and market trends, ensuring alignment with the shipyard’s strategic goals.

Internal:

• In charge Estimation: Report regularly on heavy engineering estimation progress, profitability analysis, and bid status, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives.
• Heavy Engineering BD Team: Collaborate closely to understand client requirements, refine estimates, and develop proposals aligned with customer needs.
• Engineering, Procurement, and Production Teams: Engage with these teams to validate technical specifications, cost factors, and gather essential information for precise estimates.
• Legal Team: Work with them on contract reviews, ensuring all terms are favorable, compliant, and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Finance Team: Coordinate on financial validation of estimates, profit margin analysis, and compliance with pricing guardrails.

External:

• Suppliers & Subcontractors: Maintain relationships to secure estimates for competitive quotes.
• Industry Peers & Market Analysts: Stay connected with industry sources to gather current data on pricing trends, labor rates, and competitive insights.
• Clients: Interface as necessary to clarify estimate assumptions, providing transparency in bid submissions and ensuring alignment with client expectations.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, or Marine Engineering; an MBA or similar advanced degree is advantageous.
• Professional certifications in Estimation, Cost Control, or Project Management (such as PMP) are beneficial.

Preferred Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in cost estimation, financial planning, or project management within heavy engineering or offshore fabrication with at least 3 years in a managerial role.
• Proven experience in creating competitive estimates, managing bids, and monitoring market trends for cost-effective and strategic decision-making.
• Familiarity with heavy engineering, offshore fabrication.
• Proficiency in cost estimation software and tools (e.g., CostOS, Bluebeam, AutoCAD).

Functional Competency:

• Knowledge of heavy engineering and offshore fabrication projects and commercial acumen.
• Good technical knowledge on costs, estimation, planning, execution, client management, contract management, etc.
• Good knowledge of business clients and their profiles
• Good knowledge of engineering companies and their abilities
• Good knowledge of specialist subcontractors and their abilities
• Ability to discuss technical issues with the clients apart from approving commercial proposal
• Ability to discuss contractual conditions excluding liability and insurance issues

Generic and Behavioral Competency:

• Negotiation skills
• Cost control and management 
• Risk management skills
• Critical thinking
• Effective communication and creative thinking
• Team oriented
• Customer focused
• Planning and organizing skills
• Problem solving and decision making capabilities.