Chief Estimator

Responsibilities

• Lead estimating efforts for residential and commercial construction projects from conceptual design through bid completion.
• Prepare conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, GMPs, hard bids, and cost analyses for complex ground-up construction projects.
• Develop accurate estimates for labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and construction facilities across various contract types, including lump sum, negotiated, GMP, and time-and-material contracts.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs, pricing analysis, scope reviews, constructability reviews, and value engineering exercises.
• Review architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings, specifications, and contract documents to develop complete project estimates.
• Solicit subcontractor and supplier pricing, evaluate proposals, identify scope gaps, and prepare comprehensive bid comparisons.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, consultants, and industry partners.
• Collaborate closely with development, construction, architecture, engineering, and project management teams to establish project budgets and support project feasibility.
• Attend pre-bid meetings, site visits, design coordination meetings, and project planning sessions.
• Prepare cost reports, estimate summaries, budget updates, and presentations for project teams and senior leadership.
• Maintain historical cost databases, benchmarking information, and estimating resources to improve estimating accuracy and forecasting.
• Monitor labor markets, subcontractor availability, material pricing, and industry trends affecting construction costs.
• Support project teams throughout the preconstruction process by updating estimates as designs evolve.
• Identify value engineering opportunities while maintaining project quality, constructability, and schedule objectives.
• Collaborate with operations and project management teams to support successful project turnover and execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred.
• 7-10+ years of progressive estimating experience in commercial, multifamily, mixed-use, or high-rise construction.
• Prominent experience independently preparing conceptual estimates, detailed estimates, hard bids, GMPs, and cost analyses for ground-up construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, building systems, scheduling, and project sequencing.
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and competing priorities while meeting project deadlines.
• Advanced understanding of construction drawings, specifications, scopes of work, and contract documents.
• Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively alongside ownership, developers, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and construction teams.
• Advanced proficiency in estimating software and Microsoft Office, including Excel, Project, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and database systems.
• Prior experience mentoring junior estimators or providing technical guidance is a plus.