Hire an offshore estimating assistant for your Australian construction business
An offshore estimating assistant supports your estimators with takeoffs, supplier pricing, tender preparation, and bid administration, handling the volume work behind every tender. Through Lite-Force, they're employed properly via an EOR structure with payroll, compliance, and HR support included. Most hires are live within 2-4 weeks.
A day in the life of an offshore estimating assistant.
Typical responsibilities:
- Quantity takeoffs: rom drawings and BIM models in Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Center
- Subcontractor RFQ management: istributing tender packages and chasing returns
- Supplier pricing: ourcing material and labour rates against tender requirements
- Tender document preparation: ssembling submission packages with the estimator
- Bid log and rates database maintenance: eeping pricing libraries current
- Tender clarifications: rafting and lodging clarification requests with the client
- Procurement schedules: reparing long-lead items lists and supplier programmes
- Post-tender admin: ebrief notes, won/lost analysis, file archiving
Why estimating support works well offshore.
Estimating support is structured volume work.
Takeoffs, RFQs, and bid prep follow defined patterns. Once your offshore assistant knows your trades, subcontractor base, and estimator's preferences, they execute consistently across tenders.
Estimating tech is cloud-based.
Bluebeam Revu Cloud, PlanSwift, On-Center, Buildxact, CostX, BuildSmart, BuildPlanner, all cloud-accessible. Your offshore assistant works in the same files as your estimator.
Timezone overlap supports tender deadlines.
Philippines hours align with Australian business hours. RFQs go out, supplier responses come in, and bid clarifications happen during your trading week.
More tenders won.
Estimators win deals by submitting more (and better) tenders. Offshore support multiplies tender capacity, your estimators chase opportunities, your assistant runs the volume work.
What does an estimating assistant cost locally vs offshore?
Indicative comparison based on typical Australian salary ranges for this role.
| Local Australian hire | Lite-Force offshore | |
|---|---|---|
| Base cost | $70,000-$95,000/yr | Confirmed on call |
| Super (11.5%) | $8,050-$10,925 | Included |
| Payroll tax (~5%) | $3,500-$4,750 | Included |
| Leave loading | $2,000-$3,000 | Included |
| Recruitment | $8,000-$12,000 | Included |
| Estimated annual total | $91,550-$125,675 | Get a specific quote |
Indicative comparison based on typical Australian salary ranges for mid-senior estimating assistant roles supporting tenders on commercial projects (sources: PayScale, SEEK Estimator Melbourne, Hays FY25/26 Construction Guide, Talent.com). Cadet figures excluded. Lite-Force pricing confirmed on a per-role basis during your discovery call.
What you get with a Lite-Force estimating assistant.
- Full sourcing, screening, and shortlisting
- EOR employment contract structured for local compliance
- Monthly payroll and statutory contributions
- Leave tracking and management
- HR support and regular check-ins
- Replacement commitment within initial period
- 3-7 years estimating, quantity surveying, or construction-cost support experience
- Strong English (written, RFQs, clarifications, tender documentation)
- Hands-on with takeoff software (Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Center, Buildxact, CostX)
- Familiar with Australian construction documentation and tender processes
- Filipino or Southeast Asian, timezone-aligned with Australia
Three steps to your offshore estimating assistant.
Book a discovery call
Tell us about your project type mix, tender volume, software stack, and team structure.
We source and shortlist
You review candidates with relevant project type experience, interview your favourites.
They start
Employment, payroll, and onboarding handled. You manage the work.
Frequently asked questions.
Most experienced offshore estimating assistants have worked for Australian or UK builders, they understand standard documentation, NCC references, AS standards, and Australian subcontract conventions. We screen for AU-specific experience.
Common: Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift, On-Center, Buildxact, CostX, Vico Office, Cubit. Specific software requirements confirmed during scoping.
Many experienced assistants can, BIM 360, Navisworks, Revit viewers are common. For deep BIM coordination, screen specifically for BIM-focused experience.
Commercial decisions (mark-up, contingency, win strategy) remain with your senior estimator. Assistants handle the volume work, takeoffs, RFQs, comparisons, feeding into the estimator's commercial judgement.
Replacement commitment within the initial engagement period. If technical depth or fit isn't right, we source again at no additional placement cost. Details confirmed in your service agreement.