If you have experience in Facilities Management and Catering and are looking for a senior estimating role in Saudi Arabia, this Soft Services Estimator vacancy in Al Khobar may be worth checking.
Big Fish Recruitment is currently hiring for a Soft Services Estimator position based in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The job is full time and offers a monthly salary of SAR 20,000 to 25,000, inclusive of fixed allowances.
This is an experienced-level position. The employer is looking for someone with 3 to 5+ years of experience in estimating, costing, tendering or commercial pricing. More importantly, previous experience in both Catering and Facilities Management (FM) is mandatory for this vacancy.
The selected candidate will work on cost estimates, pricing, manpower calculations and commercial proposals for soft services contracts. The role requires a good understanding of how soft FM and catering operations work, along with strong Excel and financial modelling skills.
Saudi Arabia or GCC tendering and estimating experience is highly preferred. Candidates should also have strong English communication and analytical skills.
Quick Job Overview
| Job Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Soft Services Estimator |
| Company | Big Fish Recruitment |
| Job Type | Full Time |
| Location | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| Nationality | Any Nationality |
| Salary | SAR 20,000 – 25,000 per month |
| Allowances | Fixed allowances included in salary |
| Gender | Not Specified |
| Arabic Fluency | Not Specified |
| Experience | 3–5+ years |
| Industry | Facilities Management |
| Job Function | Engineering – Mechanical & Aeronautical |
| Catering Experience | Mandatory |
| FM Experience | Mandatory |
| GCC Experience | Highly preferred |
| Benefits | Visa, Medical Insurance, Flight Ticket |
| Reference | RP281-1399 |
About the Soft Services Estimator Role
The main responsibility of the Soft Services Estimator is to prepare accurate and commercially suitable estimates for soft services contracts.
This involves looking at the requirements of a contract, calculating the expected costs, working out manpower requirements and preparing pricing for the proposal.
The person will need to make sure that the final estimate is competitive while still being commercially viable.
This means the role is not simply about preparing numbers. The estimator needs to understand the actual operation behind the numbers.
For example, manpower requirements, labour costs, suppliers, subcontractors and other operational costs can all affect the final price of a contract.
Salary for Soft Services Estimator in Saudi Arabia
The advertised salary for this position is:
SAR 20,000 to SAR 25,000 per month
The company states that this amount is inclusive of fixed allowances.
This is a relatively senior-level salary range and matches the experience expected for the position.
The job advertisement does not provide a separate breakdown of the fixed allowances, so candidates should confirm the exact salary structure during the recruitment process.
Benefits Offered
In addition to the salary, the vacancy mentions several benefits.
These include:
- Visa
- Medical insurance
- Flight ticket
The advertisement does not provide further details about the flight ticket policy, insurance coverage or other employment benefits.
Candidates should confirm the complete benefits package with the employer or recruitment team.
Is Experience Required for This Job?
Yes.
This is not presented as a fresher position.
The employer is looking for candidates with 3–5+ years of experience in areas such as:
- Estimating
- Costing
- Tendering
- Commercial pricing
However, experience alone is not enough for this particular vacancy.
The candidate must also have experience in both Catering and Facilities Management.
Catering and Facilities Management Experience Is Mandatory
This is one of the most important requirements in the vacancy.
The employer specifically says:
Previous experience in both Catering and Facilities Management (FM) is mandatory.
So candidates who have experience only in general estimating but have never worked with Catering or Facilities Management may not match the requirement.
The employer wants someone who understands both areas and can use that knowledge when preparing commercial proposals and estimates.
What Does a Soft Services Estimator Do?
A Soft Services Estimator works on the financial and commercial side of service contracts.
The work involves understanding what a client requires and calculating how much it will cost to deliver those services.
The estimator may need to consider manpower, labour costs, operational expenses, suppliers, subcontractors and other costs before preparing the final commercial proposal.
The aim is to create a price that is competitive enough for the tender while also making commercial sense for the company.
Preparing Cost Estimates
Preparing accurate cost estimates is one of the main responsibilities.
The estimator needs to study the service requirements and calculate the expected costs.
This can include manpower and operational costs, depending on the contract.
Accuracy is important because an incorrect estimate can affect the commercial viability of a proposal.
The employer is therefore looking for someone who understands costing and can work carefully with financial information.
Pricing and Commercial Proposals
The role also involves pricing and preparing commercial proposals for soft services contracts.
A commercial proposal needs to reflect the expected cost of providing the required services.
The estimator must therefore understand the contract requirements before preparing the pricing.
The final submission should be competitive but should also take the actual operating costs into account.
Manpower Calculations
Manpower planning is another major part of this vacancy.
The estimator will need to calculate the workforce required for a particular contract and understand the related labour costs.
This is especially important in soft services because manpower can represent a significant part of the overall operating cost.
The employer specifically asks for strong knowledge of:
- Manpower planning
- Labour costing
- Operational cost calculations
Candidates with practical experience in these areas should clearly highlight it in their CV.
Labour Costing
Labour costing involves calculating the cost associated with the employees required to deliver a contract.
The estimator needs to understand how manpower requirements affect the overall project cost.
The exact calculation method can vary from one contract to another.
For this reason, previous experience with commercial pricing and operational costing can be very useful in this role.
Understanding Soft FM Operations
The employer wants someone with a strong understanding of soft Facilities Management and catering operations.
This means candidates should have practical knowledge of the services involved rather than only theoretical knowledge of estimating.
The vacancy does not provide a fixed list of every soft FM service that the estimator will handle.
However, the overall requirement is clear: the candidate needs to understand how soft FM and catering operations work and how those operations affect contract costs.
Large-Scale Contract Experience
Experience with large-scale contracts is another important part of the vacancy.
The employer specifically mentions experience estimating contracts related to:
- Facilities Management
- Catering
- Hospitality
- Accommodation
- Integrated support services
Candidates who have previously worked on large contracts should explain the type and size of projects they handled, where appropriate.
This can help recruiters understand whether their experience matches the level required for the position.
Working With Suppliers and Subcontractors
The Soft Services Estimator will also work with suppliers and subcontractors.
Supplier and subcontractor costs can have a direct effect on the overall contract estimate.
The estimator therefore needs to be comfortable collecting cost information and working with different parties during the pricing process.
Experience working closely with commercial teams is also mentioned in the vacancy.
Excel and Financial Modelling Skills
Strong Excel skills are specifically required.
Excel can be used for different parts of estimating and costing work, including calculations, manpower planning, pricing and financial analysis.
The company also asks for strong financial modelling skills.
The advertisement does not specify a particular Excel certification or software version.
Candidates should instead focus on their actual ability to use Excel and work with financial information.
Saudi Arabia and GCC Experience
Saudi Arabia or GCC tendering and estimating experience is highly preferred.
This is an important advantage for candidates who have already worked on tenders or commercial estimates in the region.
However, the wording in the vacancy says this experience is highly preferred rather than describing it as mandatory.
The mandatory requirement that stands out is previous experience in both Catering and Facilities Management.
Education Requirements
The employer accepts candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in several related areas.
The listed fields include:
- Quantity Surveying
- Engineering
- Finance
- Business
- Hospitality
- Related fields
This gives candidates from different professional backgrounds a chance to match the educational requirement.
The degree should be relevant to the type of estimating, commercial or operational work involved in the position.
Communication Skills
Strong English communication skills are required.
The role involves working with commercial teams, suppliers and subcontractors and preparing commercial proposals.
Clear communication is therefore important when discussing costs, requirements and pricing information.
The job advertisement does not specify an Arabic language requirement.
Arabic fluency is listed as Not Specified.
Analytical Skills
Strong analytical skills are another important requirement.
Estimating involves working with different pieces of information and turning them into a practical cost proposal.
The candidate needs to understand the numbers and also think about how the proposed services will actually operate.
This is why the employer is looking for someone with both commercial knowledge and an understanding of FM and catering operations.
Who Can Apply?
The vacancy is listed as open to any nationality.
There is no specific nationality requirement mentioned in the advertisement.
However, candidates need to meet the professional requirements, especially the mandatory experience in both Catering and Facilities Management.
A relevant Bachelor’s degree, several years of estimating or commercial experience and strong Excel skills are also important.
Is This a Fresher Job?
No.
The position is clearly aimed at experienced professionals.
The employer asks for 3–5+ years of experience in estimating, costing, tendering or commercial pricing.
In addition, candidates must have previous experience in both Catering and Facilities Management.
Fresh graduates without this professional background would therefore not normally match the stated requirements.
Is Saudi Experience Mandatory?
Not exactly.
The vacancy says Saudi Arabia/GCC tendering and estimating experience is highly preferred.
This means regional experience can give a candidate an advantage, but the advertisement does not describe it as an absolute mandatory requirement.
The stronger mandatory requirement is experience in both Catering and FM.
What Skills Should Your CV Show?
If you are applying for this position, your CV should make the relevant experience easy to find.
You can highlight genuine experience in areas such as:
- Soft FM estimating
- Catering costing
- Tender preparation
- Commercial pricing
- Manpower planning
- Labour costing
- Operational cost calculations
- Financial modelling
- Supplier coordination
- Subcontractor coordination
- Large-scale FM contracts
- Hospitality or accommodation contracts
- Saudi/GCC tendering
Candidates should only include skills and experience they actually have.
How to Prepare for the Interview
Candidates should be prepared to explain their previous estimating and costing work clearly.
You may be asked about how you calculate manpower requirements and labour costs.
Questions about tendering and commercial proposals may also be relevant.
Because Catering and FM experience is mandatory, candidates should be ready to explain their experience in both areas.
It can also be useful to prepare examples of large-scale contracts you have worked on and explain your role in preparing the estimate or commercial submission.
Important Things to Check Before Applying
Before applying, candidates should carefully compare their experience with the vacancy requirements.
The biggest point to check is the Catering + Facilities Management experience requirement.
Having only one of these backgrounds may not be enough because the employer has specifically made experience in both areas mandatory.
You should also check whether your educational qualification matches one of the fields mentioned by the employer.
Your Excel, financial modelling, tendering and commercial pricing experience should also be clearly presented.
About Big Fish Recruitment
Big Fish Recruitment describes its service as providing recruitment support to both clients and candidates.
The company says its consultants specialize in their respective fields and have experience in the region and beyond.
Big Fish also highlights its focus on knowledge, long-term relationships, trust and integrity.
The company also says it supports initiatives related to human welfare, environmental protection and sustainability.
Final Thoughts
The Soft Services Estimator vacancy in Khobar, Saudi Arabia is an experienced-level opportunity for professionals who understand both the commercial and operational side of Facilities Management and Catering.
The salary is SAR 20,000 to 25,000 per month, inclusive of fixed allowances, and the listed benefits include visa, medical insurance and a flight ticket.
The most important requirement is previous experience in both Catering and Facilities Management. Candidates should also have 3–5+ years of experience in estimating, costing, tendering or commercial pricing.
Strong Excel and financial modelling skills are required, while Saudi Arabia or GCC tendering experience is highly preferred.
For professionals who already have the required FM and catering background, this could be a strong opportunity to consider in Saudi Arabia.
