Head of Project Costing & Estimation – Africa (Hindi Speaker)

About the role

Black Pearl Consult is recruiting a Head of Project Costing & Estimation for large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa. The role suits an experienced professional who can build robust cost models to support competitive bids for major, government-funded infrastructure projects. The position is based in Dubai.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare complete project cost estimates from early-stage inputs such as 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 labour, 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, keeping estimates updated through design development and value engineering.
• Prepare Bills of Quantities, quantity take-offs, rate analyses, cost breakdown structures, cash-flow projections and cost-to-complete assessments.
• Benchmark costs against comparable African and international projects and maintain a live database of rates, productivity norms, supplier prices and market intelligence.
• Conduct value engineering and quantify and price project risks such as design maturity, ground conditions, logistics, security, import restrictions, local-content requirements and regulatory exposures.
• Develop escalation provisions for labour, materials, equipment, fuel, freight and currency, and model currency exposure, inflation, interest during construction, taxes and duties.
• Recommend contingency, management reserve, escalation and risk allowances with assumptions and sensitivity analyses, and prepare bankable cost summaries for lenders, DFIs, ECAs and government clients.
• Lead technical-commercial coordination for tenders, RFPs/EOIs and contract negotiations, issue RFQs, evaluate quotations and assess local subcontractors.
• Review contract terms, payment mechanisms, escalation clauses, currency provisions, delay damages and change-management provisions.
• Travel frequently across Africa, especially West and Central Africa, to validate market conditions, logistics routes, labour availability and material sources, and conduct site assessments.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Cost Engineering or a related discipline; Master's degree or professional certification 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 and building projects in Africa, preferably West and Central Africa, including government-funded, donor-funded or bank-financed projects.
• Hands-on experience preparing complete cost estimates for building infrastructure from conceptual or limited design inputs.

Required skills

• In-depth familiarity with FIDIC or equivalent international contract forms, EPC contracting, PPP structures and development-finance requirements.
• Hindi speaking.