PROJECT & TENDER ENGINEER – ZAMBIA

PROJECT & TENDER ENGINEER – ZAMBIA

Location: Lusaka, Zambia, with travel to project sites

Department: Projects & Commercial

Reports To: Managing Director / Head of Projects

Employment Type: Full-Time

ROLE PURPOSE

We are looking for a hands-on Engineer who can manage construction projects, work confidently on site and independently coordinate tenders from opportunity through submission.

This is not a desk-based tender position and it is not purely a Site Engineer role.

The successful candidate must be able to move between:

SITE WORK | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | TENDERS

The Engineer will be responsible for supporting and supervising project delivery on site, coordinating project teams and contractors, monitoring programme, cost and quality, and running tender submissions for new work.

1. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

A. PROJECT MANAGEMENT & SITE WORK – 60%

The Engineer shall:

- Manage assigned construction projects from mobilisation through completion.

- Coordinate day-to-day site activities.

- Supervise contractors, subcontractors and site teams.

- Interpret architectural and engineering drawings.

- Monitor works against drawings, specifications, BOQs and approved programme.

- Carry out site inspections and measurements.

- Monitor workmanship and quality.

- Track construction progress against programme.

- Coordinate materials, labour, equipment and site requirements.

- Conduct and document site meetings.

- Prepare weekly project progress reports.

- Identify delays, risks and technical problems and drive corrective action.

- Coordinate consultants, suppliers and subcontractors.

- Raise and track RFIs and technical queries.

- Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets.

- Verify completed works and quantities.

- Support valuations, variations and payment certification.

- Maintain accurate project/site documentation.

- Monitor Health, Safety and Quality requirements.

- Coordinate snagging and defects rectification.

- Support practical completion and project close-out.

- Maintain strong communication with clients and consultants throughout delivery.

The Engineer is expected to take ownership of assigned projects, not simply report what is happening on site.

2. TENDERS & ESTIMATING – 40%

The Engineer shall:

- Identify relevant construction and engineering tender opportunities.

- Review RFQs, RFPs, EOIs and tender documents.

- Assess technical requirements and recommend Go/No-Go decisions.

- Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits.

- Interpret drawings, specifications and BOQs.

- Undertake quantity take-offs where required.

- Prepare preliminary estimates and cost build-ups.

- Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations.

- Prepare construction methodologies and method statements.

- Prepare preliminary project programmes and resource requirements.

- Identify construction and commercial risks.

- Prepare tender compliance checklists.

- Coordinate statutory, technical, commercial and financial tender inputs.

- Compile complete tender submissions.

- Coordinate required approvals and signatures.

- Ensure approved bids are submitted before deadline.

- Respond to tender clarifications.

- Follow submitted tenders through evaluation and award.

- Support commercial negotiations.

- Hand successful tenders over into project execution.

The Engineer should understand what we are bidding for, how we will build it, what resources it requires, what it should cost and what risks we are accepting.

3. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Project Management & Site – 60%

KPI| Target

Projects delivered against approved programme| ≥90% milestone achievement

Weekly site/project reports| 100% on time

Site inspections| 100% as scheduled

Project action items| ≥90% closed by agreed deadline

Works compliant with approved drawings/specifications| ≥95%

RFIs/technical issues| 100% tracked to closure

Variations identified and documented| 100%

Project cost tracking| Updated weekly

Client/site meeting actions| Issued within 24 hours

Preventable rework attributable to poor supervision| Minimal / target <2% of project value

Snag/defect close-out| Within agreed project timeframe

Project documentation| 100% current

Tenders – 40%

KPI| Target

Relevant opportunities identified| Tracked weekly

Qualified opportunities presented for Go/No-Go| 100%

Approved tenders submitted| 100%

Tender submissions before deadline| 100%

Mandatory tender compliance| 100%

Preventable tender disqualification| Zero

Required tender site visits| 100%

Technical/BOQ review| 100% of applicable bids

Supplier/subcontractor pricing obtained| 100% where applicable

Tender follow-up| 100%

Tender win/loss analysis| Quarterly

Tender performance will be judged on quality, compliance and commercial discipline, not simply the number of bids submitted.

4. REQUIRED PROFILE

We are specifically looking for an Engineer, not a general Tender Officer or Administrator.

Essential

- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering or closely related Engineering discipline.

- 3–6 years’ practical construction experience.

- Demonstrable site experience.

- Project management experience.

- Experience preparing or coordinating construction tenders.

- Strong ability to read architectural and engineering drawings.

- Understanding of BOQs, quantities and construction costing.

- Ability to undertake quantity take-offs.

- Understanding of construction methods, materials and sequencing.

- Strong Microsoft Excel, Word and project reporting skills.

- Strong written and verbal communication.

- Ability to manage contractors and site teams.

- Willingness to travel and work on sites across Zambia.

- Valid driving licence strongly preferred.

Advantage

- Registered or eligible for registration with relevant engineering professional bodies in Zambia.

- Experience with construction contracts and contract administration.

- Experience in buildings, civil works, infrastructure or mining-related construction.

- AutoCAD capability.

- MS Project or equivalent planning software.

- Experience in estimating and cost control.

5. THE PERSON

We are looking for someone who can genuinely run with work.

On Monday, they may be on site inspecting reinforcement before a concrete pour.

On Tuesday, they may be coordinating subcontractors and updating a project programme.

On Wednesday, they may receive a tender, review the drawings and BOQ and start obtaining supplier quotations.

On Thursday, they may attend a pre-bid site visit.

On Friday, they should be able to tell management:

Where the projects stand.

What is behind programme and why.

What is over budget and why.

What decisions are required.

Which tenders are being pursued.

What each tender requires.

And what must happen next.

We want an Engineer who is:

Hands-on. Technically competent. Commercially aware. Organised. Accountable. Good with people. Strong on site. Strong with documentation. Able to manage deadlines. And a finisher.

6. SUCCESS IN THE ROLE

Success is straightforward:

RUN THE SITE.

MANAGE THE PROJECT.

RUN THE TENDER.

CLOSE THE ACTIONS.

The Project & Tender Engineer should give management confidence that projects are being properly controlled while ensuring the next pipeline of work is being professionally pursued.