Queensland Construction Recruitment

Construction Recruitment
built on trust, clarity and proper qualification.

GemSource helps Queensland builders, civil contractors and developers connect with proven construction professionals through considered search, honest advice and a deeper understanding of fit.

Roles We Work With

White-collar construction roles across builders, civil contractors and developers.

Project Manager Estimator Quantity Surveyor Contract Administrator Site Manager Project Engineer Development Manager Construction Manager HSEQ Advisor Scheduler / Planning Engineer
Kendall Gemmell, Founder of GemSource Recruitment

Working with Kendall

A more personal approach, shaped by real construction experience.

Before starting GemSource, I spent more than five years working across civil and commercial construction in Australia, including NSW, South Australia and Queensland. That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how much the right people matter on a project, not just to delivery, but to the teams carrying the work every day.

  • Built from firsthand construction experience
    I’ve worked in the environments I now recruit for, so I understand the pace, pressure and standards that sit behind each hire.
  • You work directly with me
    When you work with GemSource, you deal with the person leading the brief, running the search and staying close to the detail throughout.
  • Focused on Queensland construction
    Queensland construction is the market I’ve chosen to specialise in, with a focus on builders, civil contractors and developers across white-collar construction roles.
  • Honest advice and properly qualified introductions
    I take the time to understand the role, the team, the motivation behind each candidate and the fit required before anyone reaches your desk.
For Builders, Contractors & Developers

Your search, handled personally from brief to shortlist.

When you trust someone with a key hire, you need more than CVs. You need a search partner who understands the role, represents your opportunity with care, and gives you a clear view of each person before they reach your desk.

What you can expect

A search that's clear from the first conversation.

Every search starts with a proper brief, then moves through targeted conversations and a shortlist built around fit, motivation and timing. You'll know why each person is being introduced before they reach your desk.

01

Clarity before a single CV

We start with a proper role brief — a real conversation, not a form. You'll get a clear view of what the role needs, what success looks like, and where the market sits before search begins.

02

A shortlist worth your time

You receive a small, considered shortlist with context around experience, salary expectations, motivation, availability and fit.

03

Support beyond the introduction

I stay close through interview, offer and start date so communication stays clear and the move is handled properly.

Fee Structure

Three ways to work with GemSource.

Every engagement includes headhunting, risk profiling, and a replacement guarantee. The difference is speed, depth, and ongoing access.

◆ Non-Exclusive

Non-Exclusive Search

Contingent · 10–14 business days

18% of base

Payment on acceptance · 60-day replacement guarantee

Access to active and passive talent with GemSource screening, qualification, and Kendall-direct contact throughout.

  • Active & passive candidates via database, LinkedIn, and advertising
  • GemSource screening and qualification
  • Shortlist of 2–3 candidates
  • 60-day replacement guarantee
  • Kendall-direct throughout
◆ Extended Cover

Exclusive + Extended Guarantee

Retained · senior / hard-to-replace roles

23%

23% with 120-day guarantee

25%

25% with 6-month guarantee

Everything in Exclusive Search with an extended replacement window and quarterly market intelligence for your team.

  • All Exclusive Search features included
  • Extended replacement guarantee: 120 days or 6 months
  • Ideal for senior or hard-to-replace roles
  • Full process management from brief to placement
  • Quarterly market intelligence included

All fees are calculated on the candidate's agreed annual base salary, exclusive of superannuation, bonuses, and allowances. Payment is due within 7 calendar days of the invoice date. The Replacement Guarantee applies to Exclusive Search engagements. Non-Exclusive Search includes a 60-day guarantee. Replacement is one search at no additional fee. No cash refunds. Ask about the Founding Partner rate (17%, locked for life) →

FAQ

Questions builders ask before they brief a role.

GemSource is direct, personal and thorough. I take the time to understand the role properly, then speak with candidates about what they want, where they’re at, and whether the opportunity genuinely lines up before they reach your shortlist. You get fewer surprises, clearer conversations and a better sense of who you’re meeting.
We aim to deliver a shortlist within 10–12 business days. That's the benchmark — not a forced deadline. Strong briefs and aligned expectations speed things up, while tight markets or unclear parameters slow things down. Either way, you'll know exactly where things are at every step.
Advertising has its place, but it mostly reaches people already looking. For key construction roles, strong candidates are often employed and not watching job boards. GemSource goes direct as well, so you can reach a wider, more relevant part of the market.
If the placement doesn't work out within the guarantee period, I run a full replacement search at no additional fee. Exclusive Search: 90 days standard. Extended options: 120 days (23%) or 6 months (25%). Founding Partners get 6-month cover at 17%. No cash refunds — the guarantee is a replacement search, not a cheque.
Yes — Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and regional QLD. Queensland construction is the whole focus. Not a sideline between other states or industries.

◆ Free Resource

Download the 2026 QLD Construction Salary Guide.

Queensland salary ranges for white-collar construction roles, built from what we're actually seeing in active placements across the state. Before you make an offer — or accept one — know where the market sits.

  • Pay ranges for Project Managers, Site Managers, Construction Managers, and more
  • Notes on QLD market conditions and candidate availability
  • Where salary expectations and offers typically diverge — and why it stalls hiring
  • Built from active Queensland placements, not job ads or survey data

◆ Get Instant Access

✓ On its way — check your inbox. If it doesn't arrive, email kendall@gemsource.com.au directly.

By submitting, you consent to GemSource Recruitment collecting and using your information to respond to your enquiry, assess suitability, and communicate opportunities. We only share your details with client consent or as required by law. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

For Construction Professionals

Your next move starts with the right conversation.

I work with construction professionals across Queensland to understand where they’re at, what they want next, and what kind of opportunity genuinely fits. Whether you’re actively looking or just open to the right move, GemSource helps you find the step that actually feels worth taking.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Tell me what the right move looks like.

Registering with GemSource gives me a clearer picture of where you’re at, what matters to you, and what kind of move would actually be worth considering. If a suitable client role comes through, I can speak with you early and properly. Your information stays private, and nothing is shared with a client without your consent.

1
Your Details
2
Role Preferences
3
Consent & Submit

Personal Details

Step 1 of 3 — Tell us the basics

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter your mobile number.
Please enter your suburb or city.
Please select your state.
Click to upload or drag and drop PDF, DOC, DOCX — max 5MB
Please enter your job title.
Please select your experience level.
Sector
Employment
Availability & Expectations
Please select your work rights status.

GemSource Recruitment (ABN 40 959 948 696) is committed to protecting your personal information. Please read the following before submitting.

Collection. We collect your contact details, employment history, qualifications, and role preferences for the purpose of providing recruitment services in the construction industry.
Use. Your information will be used to assess your suitability for current and future roles, contact you about relevant opportunities, maintain your candidate profile in our internal systems, and comply with our legal obligations.
Storage. Your information is stored securely in GemSource's internal systems and retained for two (2) years from your last engagement. Records are securely deleted or de-identified after this period unless you provide written consent for GemSource to retain them longer, or retention is otherwise required by law.
Disclosure. Your resume and profile will not be submitted to any prospective employer without your explicit written consent for each individual opportunity. We may also disclose information to technology, CRM, and cloud storage providers who assist in our operations, and to regulators where required by law.
Access, Correction & Complaints. You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information at any time by contacting GemSource in writing. Requests are actioned within 30 days. Unresolved complaints may be directed to the OAIC at www.oaic.gov.au.
Compliance. We handle all personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). We will never sell your information to any third party.
Please tick both boxes to continue.

Please note: Submitting this form does not create a right to representation, placement, interview, shortlist, or ongoing consideration. GemSource Recruitment may determine, at its discretion and subject to law, whether a candidate profile is suitable for current or future opportunities.

You're registered.

Thanks for reaching out. I'll review your details and be in touch about relevant opportunities — on your terms, not mine.

Registration received

FAQ

Questions candidates ask before they make a move.

Most of the people I place weren't actively looking. A conversation now means I know what you're after when the right role comes up. If nothing fits right now, I'll come back when it does. No pressure, no weekly check-ins.
Not through me. Nothing moves without your say-so — every time. I don't post CVs speculatively, and I don't approach anyone on your behalf unless you've asked me to. That's not a policy, it's just how it works.
No. My fee is paid by the employer. There is no cost to candidates at any stage.
I check the salary before I come to you. There's no point going three rounds in a process and finding out the number doesn't work. If it doesn't match what you need, I'll say so upfront.
The role has to match your level, experience, and where you're heading. I'm not going to put a senior PM in front of a $90k estimating role. One opportunity that actually fits is worth more than six that don't.
Yes. GemSource tracks live Queensland construction salary benchmarks across project-critical roles, using current market activity and placement data to give clients a clearer view of what the market is actually paying. View salary table →

◆ Free Resource

Download the 2026 QLD Construction Salary Guide.

Queensland salary ranges for white-collar construction roles, built from what we're actually seeing in active placements across the state. Before you make an offer — or accept one — know where the market sits.

  • Pay ranges for Project Managers, Site Managers, Construction Managers, and more
  • Notes on QLD market conditions and candidate availability
  • Where salary expectations and offers typically diverge — and why it stalls hiring
  • Built from active Queensland placements, not job ads or survey data

◆ Get Instant Access

✓ On its way — check your inbox. If it doesn't arrive, email kendall@gemsource.com.au directly.

By submitting, you consent to GemSource Recruitment collecting and using your information to respond to your enquiry, assess suitability, and communicate opportunities. We only share your details with client consent or as required by law. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Market Intelligence

A clearer read on the Queensland construction market.

Straightforward commentary on hiring conditions, salary movement and the roles shaping Queensland construction. Written to help builders, civil contractors and developers make better-informed hiring decisions.

Salary Intelligence

Know where the market is sitting before you make a move.

Current Queensland construction salary benchmarks, informed by GemSource Engine data and live market conversations. These figures are designed to give employers and candidates a practical starting point for salary discussions, not a one-size-fits-all answer.

RoleSectorAvg Package
Project ManagerCommercial$139,718
Project ManagerCivil$165,775
Project ManagerResidential$136,250
Contract AdministratorCommercial$135,962
EstimatorCommercial$113,611

Total package includes base salary, superannuation and allowances where applicable. Figures are indicative averages across role, level and sector. Individual packages may vary depending on company, project scope, location, experience and market conditions. Request a role-specific benchmark →

Architectural detail

Articles

From the GemSource desk.

◆ Job Board Mysteries

Why Some Ads Hide Salary and Others Show It

The real reasons employers hide pay, what it does to candidate quality, and when salary transparency gives you the edge.

Kendall · GemSource

Coming June 2026
◆ Talent Market

What Actually Makes a Construction Role Senior?

A practical framework for understanding junior, mid, and senior roles in construction leadership, beyond just years of experience.

Kendall · GemSource

Coming June 2026
◆ HIRING STRATEGY

The Hidden Cost of a Placement Fall-Through

How failed hires disrupt live projects, what it really costs a business, and how to reduce the risk before you make an offer.

Kendall · GemSource

Coming June 2026

Stay Ahead

A monthly market read from GemSource.

Get practical updates on Queensland construction hiring, salary movement, role trends, candidate availability and standout businesses in the market. Written to help employers and construction professionals stay informed before decisions need to be made.

By submitting, you consent to GemSource Recruitment collecting and using your information to respond to your enquiry, assess suitability, and communicate opportunities. We only share your details with client consent or as required by law. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Get in Touch

Speak directly with Kendall.

Whether you’re hiring, exploring your next move, or want a clearer read on the market, send through a few details and I’ll come back to you personally.

Send an Enquiry

By submitting, you consent to GemSource Recruitment collecting and using your information to respond to your enquiry, assess suitability, and communicate opportunities. We only share your details with client consent or as required by law. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Direct Contact

Based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Location

Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Serving

Queensland-wide: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & regional QLD

I respond to every enquiry personally within one business day. For urgent hiring needs, call me on the number above or email directly and mark it Priority in the subject line.