Cost Estimator Specialist LATAM

Location

Santiago, Chile; Bogotá, Colombia

Mission

At Zelestra, we are looking for a Cost Estimator Specialist LATAM to join our LATAM Business Unit based in Santiago or Bogotá.
This role will be responsible for developing accurate, consistent, and competitive cost estimates for renewable energy projects in the region (solar PV, wind, and hybrid PV+BESS solutions).
The position will be in charge of consolidating, analyzing, and modeling cost databases from Procurement, Operations, and other internal teams, transforming them into structured information to enable agile and reliable CAPEX and OPEX estimates.
This role will be key in strategic decision-making, optimization of the regional pipeline, and continuous improvement of the technical and economic competitiveness of projects.
The specialist will ensure that estimates comply with corporate standards, local regulations, internal governance processes, and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review detailed cost estimates for solar PV, wind, and hybrid PV+BESS projects at different stages of development.
• Process, consolidate, and analyze cost databases provided by Procurement and Operations, ensuring quality, consistency, and traceability of information.
• Develop comparative models and sensitivity analyses (historical vs benchmark vs market) to evaluate technical and financial alternatives.
• Assess and economically quantify different design alternatives, technologies, and construction schemes, identifying the most efficient option for the company, prioritizing detail for the most relevant drivers and including sensitivity analysis.
• Estimate and periodically update CAPEX and OPEX to feed corporate financial models and support decision-making on pipeline prioritization and execution.
• Monitor market trends and contingencies, evaluating their potential impact on cost structures.
• Prepare clear and executive reports for the Engineering Manager LATAM and other areas, with concrete conclusions and technical/economic recommendations.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, project management, O&M, asset management, and finance, ensuring alignment between design, costs, schedules, and financial projections.
• Maintain updated databases of unit costs, regional benchmarks, productivity factors, and market prices.
• Support bidding processes, proposal analysis, and negotiations with contractors and suppliers, providing reliable and timely technical-financial input.
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards, governance guidelines, and best practices in renewable energy cost estimation.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in cost estimation, budgeting, or cost control for renewable energy and storage projects.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, engineering, and construction of renewable energy projects (wind, solar PV, and hybrid PV+BESS systems, including energy storage).
• Strong knowledge of EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) projects and associated contractual structures.
• Experience in CAPEX/OPEX modeling and financial analysis applied to renewable energy and storage projects.
• Familiarity with LATAM markets, including regional cost structures, suppliers, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience supporting bidding processes, proposal preparation, and negotiations with contractors and suppliers.
• Knowledge of risk and sensitivity analysis methodologies applied to project costs.
• Advanced proficiency in cost estimation software and Excel (models, databases, pivot tables, etc.).
• Experience working with cost databases and analytical tools.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in structuring, cleansing, or analyzing cost databases.

What we offer

• Hybrid work.
• Health insurance.
• Other benefits.

Zelestra celebrates the diversity of thought and experience that comes from a variety of backgrounds including, but not limited to, gender, age and ethnicity. Our mission is to contribute to a more just and equitable society.

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