Pre-Sales Costing Associate

About Us

The Design Gallery is East Africa's premier destination for luxury interior design, representing an exclusive portfolio of premium European brands. We inspire extraordinary living by turning imagination into beautifully crafted spaces and unforgettable experiences.

About the Role

We are looking for a detail-driven Pre-Sales Costing Associate to own pricing accuracy across every proposal we issue. Sitting within the Sales team, you will apply quantity surveying discipline to each quotation, covering measurement, cost build-up, pricing logic, and margin integrity, so that every number leaving The Design Gallery is independently verified.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce and verify proposal costings, taking off measurements and confirming quantities against design specifications and drawings

• Build line-by-line quotations showing buying price, selling price, and margin on each item

• Calculate gross margin on every quotation and confirm it meets minimum profit targets across residential, commercial, hospitality, and bespoke projects

• Manage currency and import-cost exposure, including exchange rate movement, freight, and duty on imported products

• Identify value-engineering options that reduce cost without compromising quality or design intent

• Flag pricing risks, scope gaps, and measurement discrepancies before issue, and escalate any deal below target margin

• Confirm specifications, finishes, and scope with the Design team before pricing is locked

• Run the tender and bid process end to end, from logging opportunities and preparing Bills of Quantities to compiling final submissions

• Maintain costing templates, quotation version control, and a live pricing database covering labour rates, material costs, supplier catalogues, exchange rates, and freight

• Document commercial assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications in each proposal to protect the company against disputes

What We're Looking For

• 2 to 4 years in costing, estimating, or quantity surveying within a project-based environment

• Experience in interior design, construction, or architecture will be an advantage

• Proven record of preparing BOQs, take-offs, and cost build-ups

• Strong numeracy, including confident handling of rates, wastage allowances, currency conversion, and the difference between mark-up and margin

• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, and finishes schedules

• Working knowledge of AutoCAD or similar, sufficient to take off quantities from drawings

• Advanced Excel, with comfort building and maintaining structured pricing templates

• Familiarity with CRM and accounting ERP systems such as HubSpot, Zoho, Odoo, or Sage

• Meticulous attention to detail and the discipline to hold accuracy under deadline pressure

• Relevant professional qualifications in Quantity Surveying or any related field is an advantage

OUR CULTURE: FUSE

At The Design Gallery, we live by one mantra: when we Figure It Out and Evo-Create with Synergy, we are Unstoppable. That is FUSE, and it shapes how we work:

F - Figure It Out; We bring Creativity, Grit, Ownership and Passion in our work.

U – Unstoppable; We are Visionary, Bold, Adaptable and driven by boundless energy to deliver.

S – Synergy; We win through Teamwork, Communication, Empathy, and Loyalty.

E - Evo-Creative; We stay adaptable, dynamic and progressive, leading in our field through thought-leadership.