JOB ROLE – ESTIMATOR & COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGNER
Department: Commercial Interiors
Reporting To: Design Manager / Division Head
Industry: Commercial Interior Design & Execution
Job Type: Full-Time
1. JOB PURPOSE
The Estimator & Commercial Interior Designer is responsible for understanding client requirements, site measurement, space planning, design development, BOQ preparation, estimation, costing, quotation preparation and final design coordination for commercial interior projects.
The role requires close coordination with the client, sales team, project team, vendors and factory/production team to ensure that the project is commercially viable, accurately estimated and properly handed over for execution.
2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESA. Client Requirement & Site Study
- Understand the client's business requirements and project expectations.
- Visit project sites for measurement and technical assessment.
- Study existing site conditions, dimensions and services.
- Identify site constraints and execution challenges.
- Prepare detailed measurement sheets.
- Coordinate with the client and sales team for clarification of requirements.
B. Commercial Interior Design
Prepare professional designs for:
- Offices
- Retail outlets
- Clinics and dental clinics
- Restaurants and cafés
- Showrooms
- Salons
- Hotels
- Educational spaces
- Corporate spaces
- Other commercial establishments
Responsibilities include:
- Space planning
- Furniture layouts
- Ceiling layouts
- Flooring layouts
- Partition layouts
- Electrical requirements
- Lighting concepts
- Joinery and furniture design
- Reception and feature walls
- Storage solutions
- Material and finish selection
- 3D visualisation where required
C. BOQ & Estimation
Prepare accurate BOQ (Bill of Quantities) based on approved design and site measurements.
The BOQ should clearly identify:
- Product/work description
- Dimensions
- Quantity
- Unit
- Material specification
- Labour requirements
- Hardware/accessories
- Installation requirements
- Applicable rates
- Total value
Ensure that all major project components are included before quotation submission.
D. Costing & Quotation
- Prepare project cost estimates based on approved designs.
- Obtain material/vendor rates where required.
- Calculate material, labour, accessories and installation costs.
- Check current material prices before final costing.
- Prepare client quotations accurately.
- Ensure taxes and other applicable charges are correctly considered.
- Clearly identify exclusions and assumptions.
- Ensure there are no major omissions or duplication in the quotation.
E. Design-to-Cost Coordination
- Ensure the design matches the project budget.
- Suggest alternative materials or specifications when required.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising the overall design.
- Highlight major cost variations to the Division Head/Management before quotation submission.
- Ensure the final design and quotation are commercially viable.
F. Final Drawing & DTF Preparation
Before sending the project to execution/factory:
- Verify final measurements.
- Verify approved drawings.
- Check BOQ against drawings.
- Check quantities and specifications.
- Confirm materials and finishes.
- Confirm hardware and accessories.
- Ensure all client changes are incorporated.
- Prepare the final DTF (Design-to-Factory/Execution) package.
- Ensure the information provided to production/execution is complete and accurate.
G. Coordination with Sales Team
- Support the sales team during client presentations.
- Explain design concepts and material specifications.
- Assist in technical discussions with clients.
- Provide revised quotations when requirements change.
- Clearly communicate additional costs arising from design changes.
- Ensure verbal commitments are not made without proper costing and approval.
H. Project Handover
Provide the execution/project team with:
- Final approved drawings
- BOQ
- Final quotation
- Material specifications
- Finishing details
- Hardware/accessory details
- Site measurements
- Special instructions
- Client-approved changes
Ensure a proper handover before production or execution begins.
3. ACCURACY & QUALITY RESPONSIBILITY
The Estimator & Designer is responsible for reducing:
Any major error caused by incorrect measurement, estimation, design or quotation must be reported immediately to the Design Manager/Division Head.
4. DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work on assigned commercial projects.
- Complete site measurements and design requirements.
- Update BOQ and estimation.
- Prepare/revise quotations.
- Coordinate with clients and sales team.
- Complete drawings and design revisions.
- Follow up on pending approvals.
- Coordinate with execution/factory teams where required.
5. WEEKLY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Review all active commercial projects.
- Update project status.
- Review pending quotations and approvals.
- Check design and BOQ accuracy.
- Coordinate with the project/execution team.
- Report major project issues and cost variations to the reporting manager.
6. REQUIRED SOFTWARE SKILLS
Strong working knowledge of:
- AutoCAD
- SketchUp
- Excel / Google Sheets
- BOQ and estimation software
Knowledge of the following will be an advantage:
- Coohom
- 3D rendering software
- Revit
- Photoshop
7. REQUIRED SKILLS
- Strong knowledge of commercial interior design
- Good understanding of materials and construction
- Strong estimation and costing skills
- Excellent measurement accuracy
- Valuable knowledge of BOQ preparation
- Understanding of furniture and joinery
- Knowledge of electrical, ceiling and flooring requirements
- Good numerical and analytical skills
- Client communication skills
- Ability to coordinate multiple departments
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work within deadlines
8. PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Performance will be evaluated based on:
- Design quality
- Estimation accuracy
- BOQ accuracy
- Quotation accuracy
- Timely completion
- Number of design/quotation errors
- DTF accuracy
- Project handover quality
- Client satisfaction
- Coordination with sales and execution teams
- Project profitability
9. KEY PERFORMANCE PRINCIPLE
“Measure correctly. Design practically. Estimate accurately. Hand over completely.”
The primary responsibility of this role is to ensure that every commercial project moves from client requirement → site measurement → design → BOQ → costing → quotation → approval → DTF → execution with minimum errors and maximum clarity.
10. REPORTING & COORDINATION
Reports To: Design Manager / Division Head
Works Closely With:
- Sales Team
- Commercial Design Team
- Branch Head
- Project Manager
- Site Execution Team
- Factory/Production Team
- Purchase Team
- Accounts Team
- Vendors and subcontractors
- Client/Client representatives