E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
Senior Cost Estimator roles in construction, engineering, and infrastructure qualify as E-3 specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, civil engineering, or a related field. Australian professionals can secure E-3 visa sponsorship without entering a lottery, with renewals available indefinitely as long as you hold a qualifying offer.
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Founded in 1952 and formerly known as Heery International Inc., the firm operates throughout the United States as part of Turner & Townsend. It specializes in project and program management for public sector organizations, with industry-leading experts in corporate, cultural, healthcare, justice, sports, K-12 education, higher education, aviation and government facilities.
Our purpose:
Transforming performance for a green, inclusive, and productive world.
The world is changing, and we have a responsibility to support that change, helping drive it and be part of it. Through the commitment, capability and care our team brings, we build trust between clients, suppliers, governments and society. Delivering better outcomes that have a positive impact on the world around us. We work smarter to face the challenges of the future; bringing clarity that helps teams realize their full potential across the real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. It’s how we’ve made the difference for more than 75 years.
Job Description
Turner & Townsend Heery are looking for an experienced Cost Estimator to join our growing Houston team.
The Senior Cost Estimator should have experience with cost management and estimating across all construction stages, ideally for real estate projects within the commercial, hospitality, interiors, and retail sectors.
To be successful in this position you must have consulting experience, great communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing role.
Responsibilities:
- Provide estimate and cost planning to include producing and presenting the final cost plan;
- Ability to estimate at conceptual, programming and detailed level;
- Assist in providing feasibility studies and using the application of parametric benchmark cost data;
- Provide benchmarking studies, analysis of cost data and presentation of data in reports;
- Undertake cost assurance of third-party estimates, report writing and presentation;
- Ability to perform all aspects of procurement, including managing the pre-qualification stage, produce bid list, bid analysis, produce bid report, and compile contractual documents;
- Participate effectively with post contract cost variances and the change control processes;
- Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger projects, and ensure timely and accurate cost checking, and valuation process;
- Produce monthly cost reports and present to clients;
- Provide input into value engineering and options analysis;
- Maintain liaison with client and other consultants at all projects stages;
- Provide leadership to cost management commissions, when necessary, ensure the delivery on all of accountabilities;
- Identify opportunities to develop new business with existing clients and report such opportunities to appropriate line manager, and utilize marketing database;
- Identify improvements for cost estimating and cost management procedures, templates, and products, and refer ideas to appropriate line manager;
- Provide leadership and training to estimating, direct-reports as necessary and appropriate;
- Demonstrated proficiency utilizing estimating formats, including Uniformat and CSI Masterformat.
Technical Requirements:
- Competency using Excel, Word, PowerPoint, CostX, Bluebeam;
- Proficient in use of industry estimating databases and other estimating data sources, e.g. RS Means, Trade Services, Richardsons.
Educational and Professional Qualifications:
- College degree in Engineering, Construction Management with a Technical Focus, Quantity Surveyor, or related technical field;
- Demonstrated experience as a Cost Manager on real estate (commercial, hospitality, interiors, and retail) projects is required.
- Must possess exemplary communication skills – both written and oral;
- Must be a “self-starter,” and a goal/results-oriented leader and team player;
- Demonstrated negotiation skills, required.
Additional Information
On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
LI-DL1
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
Company Description
Founded in 1952 and formerly known as Heery International Inc., the firm operates throughout the United States as part of Turner & Townsend. It specializes in project and program management for public sector organizations, with industry-leading experts in corporate, cultural, healthcare, justice, sports, K-12 education, higher education, aviation and government facilities.
Our purpose:
Transforming performance for a green, inclusive, and productive world.
The world is changing, and we have a responsibility to support that change, helping drive it and be part of it. Through the commitment, capability and care our team brings, we build trust between clients, suppliers, governments and society. Delivering better outcomes that have a positive impact on the world around us. We work smarter to face the challenges of the future; bringing clarity that helps teams realize their full potential across the real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. It’s how we’ve made the difference for more than 75 years.
Job Description
Turner & Townsend Heery are looking for an experienced Cost Estimator to join our growing Houston team.
The Senior Cost Estimator should have experience with cost management and estimating across all construction stages, ideally for real estate projects within the commercial, hospitality, interiors, and retail sectors.
To be successful in this position you must have consulting experience, great communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing role.
Responsibilities:
- Provide estimate and cost planning to include producing and presenting the final cost plan;
- Ability to estimate at conceptual, programming and detailed level;
- Assist in providing feasibility studies and using the application of parametric benchmark cost data;
- Provide benchmarking studies, analysis of cost data and presentation of data in reports;
- Undertake cost assurance of third-party estimates, report writing and presentation;
- Ability to perform all aspects of procurement, including managing the pre-qualification stage, produce bid list, bid analysis, produce bid report, and compile contractual documents;
- Participate effectively with post contract cost variances and the change control processes;
- Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger projects, and ensure timely and accurate cost checking, and valuation process;
- Produce monthly cost reports and present to clients;
- Provide input into value engineering and options analysis;
- Maintain liaison with client and other consultants at all projects stages;
- Provide leadership to cost management commissions, when necessary, ensure the delivery on all of accountabilities;
- Identify opportunities to develop new business with existing clients and report such opportunities to appropriate line manager, and utilize marketing database;
- Identify improvements for cost estimating and cost management procedures, templates, and products, and refer ideas to appropriate line manager;
- Provide leadership and training to estimating, direct-reports as necessary and appropriate;
- Demonstrated proficiency utilizing estimating formats, including Uniformat and CSI Masterformat.
Technical Requirements:
- Competency using Excel, Word, PowerPoint, CostX, Bluebeam;
- Proficient in use of industry estimating databases and other estimating data sources, e.g. RS Means, Trade Services, Richardsons.
Educational and Professional Qualifications:
- College degree in Engineering, Construction Management with a Technical Focus, Quantity Surveyor, or related technical field;
- Demonstrated experience as a Cost Manager on real estate (commercial, hospitality, interiors, and retail) projects is required.
- Must possess exemplary communication skills – both written and oral;
- Must be a “self-starter,” and a goal/results-oriented leader and team player;
- Demonstrated negotiation skills, required.
Additional Information
On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
LI-DL1
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
See all E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding E-3 Visa Sponsorship in Senior Cost Estimator
Frame your Australian credentials for U.S. employers
A three-year Australian bachelor's degree in quantity surveying or civil engineering satisfies E-3 visa degree requirements. Pair it with an AIQS membership or CPEng registration to signal professional standing that U.S. hiring managers recognize as equivalent to AACE certification.
Target project-heavy sectors with established LCA pipelines
Construction management firms, defense contractors, and large infrastructure consultancies file Labor Condition Applications regularly. Roles tied to active capital projects, highways, data centers, industrial plants, give employers a clear business case for sponsoring an E-3 cost estimator.
Clarify the specialty occupation requirement before applying
If a job posting lists a degree as preferred rather than required, the role may not qualify as a specialty occupation under E-3 rules. Ask the recruiter directly whether the position requires a bachelor's degree in a specific technical discipline before investing time in the process.
Negotiate LCA filing timing into your offer timeline
Your employer must obtain a certified LCA from DOL before you can apply at the consulate. Standard DOL certification takes seven business days. Build that window into your start date negotiation so neither side is caught short before your visa interview.
Use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service to coordinate LCA and consulate prep
The LCA, DS-160, and consulate appointment must align precisely or your start date slips. Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service manages the entire process from offer to consulate appointment, so your employer handles the cost estimation work and you handle the visa paperwork together.
Prepare for specialty occupation scrutiny at the consulate
Consular officers sometimes question whether cost estimating requires a specific degree rather than general experience. Bring your degree transcript, a detailed job description linking duties to your field of study, and any professional certifications to demonstrate the role is genuinely degree-dependent.
E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find Senior Cost Estimator jobs that offer E-3 visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for Australian professionals searching for U.S. roles with E-3 sponsorship. Rather than filtering through general job boards that don't surface visa status, Migrate Mate connects you with employers who have active E-3 hiring intent for specialty occupation roles like Senior Cost Estimator.
How much does it cost to get an E-3 visa?
Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service covers the entire process for $499, including the Labor Condition Application, visa document preparation, and consulate appointment guidance. Traditional immigration lawyers charge $2,000–$5,000+ for the same work. The E-3 has less paperwork than most work visas, so paying thousands for legal help is usually unnecessary.
Does a Senior Cost Estimator role qualify as a specialty occupation for the E-3 visa?
Yes, provided the employer's position description requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field such as civil engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying. If the job description accepts any degree or treats education as optional, the role may not satisfy the specialty occupation standard, and the employer will need to tighten the requirements before filing the LCA.
How does the E-3 visa compare to the H-1B for Senior Cost Estimator roles?
The E-3 is available year-round with no lottery and no annual cap, so your employer can sponsor you as soon as a role opens rather than waiting for an April registration window. H-1B visa selection is random and limited to 85,000 slots annually. For Australian nationals in cost estimating, the E-3 is a materially faster and more predictable path to starting work in the U.S.
Can I change employers or projects while on an E-3 visa as a cost estimator?
You can change employers, but your new employer must file a fresh LCA with DOL and you'll need a new E-3 visa stamp before you can work for them. There is no transfer mechanism equivalent to H-1B portability. If you're moving between projects within the same employer entity, no new filing is required unless your work location, job title, or wage level changes materially.