POSITION OBJECTIVE: Estimators prepare budgets and plans for potential construction projects. They are responsible for effectively estimating costs by collecting and studying information to ensure that costs of building materials, subcontractors, permits and other fees are appropriate for each project.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
PROJECT BIDDING
- Develop accurate estimates of the cost, and duration of construction projects based on conceptual designs through construction documents and project specifications
- Participate in the pre-bidding decision making process including, but not limited to, review of preliminary drawings and specifications, site visits, and participate in conceptual design, subcontractor coordination & OAC meetings, and bid interviews/presentation with clients
- Prepare internal cost estimates and review subcontractor proposals
- Evaluate and analyze bids made by subcontractors and identify qualified subcontractors and identify the risks for each project
- Develop cost summary for the entire project including general conditions, general requirements, overhead, taxes, insurance, markup and any other additional costs that may affect the project
- Manage and maintain a database of proposal responses
- Establish construction budget by evaluating plans, updating specifications, identifying and estimating costs
- Maintain a competitive bidding process by soliciting multiple subcontractors to provide a minimum of 3 bids per trade to ensure proper coverage and risk mitigation
- Perform quantity takeoffs on anything that can be quantified utilizing on-screen takeoff software.
- Develop project RFIs to Owner/Clients to clarify or establish SOW
- Develop value engineering ideas to improve the overall design, constructability, and limit cost of the project
- Compare subcontractor bids and identify scope gaps between the bidders to reduce the risk of cost exposure in an estimate or fill the gap with an internal budget number
PLANNING/COORDINATION
- Review design documents for compliance to specifications and contract, assessing needs of the project and projecting cost
- Work with architects, developers, and design consultants managing the Design/Build process.
- Collaborate with Business Development team to prepare client presentations
- Review design documents for compliance to specifications and contract, assessing needs of the project and projecting cost
- Demonstrate where costs are trending and can explain reasons why
- Ability to identify when to be aggressive and conservative in estimates
DATA QUALITY
- Prepare and maintain accurate and detailed reports or bids for submission to appropriate parties
- Review all documents for accuracy of data
- Analyze data to produce accurate estimates
- Document and provide backup to all work
- Review all provided information (plans, specs, details, etc.) to fully understand the scope of the project and communicate it in detail to other members on the team
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
- Foster and maintain effective subcontractor and vendor relationships and leverage their expertise in their associated fields to better understand project scope to reduce associated cost risks
- Maintain communication among clients, Production, Operations, and Corporate Services divisions throughout process
CORE COMPETENCIES
- ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
- ACTION ORIENTED: Taking on new opportunities, and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
- COLLABORATES: Building and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
- COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
- MANAGES COMPLEXITY: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
- BUILDS NETWORKS: Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization
- NIMBLE LEARNING: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
REQUIRED:
- BS/BA in Engineering, Construction Management or related field or equivalent work experience
- Previous industrial construction estimating experience with an emphasis on distribution, cold storage, manufacturing, or data centers
- Basic understanding of accounting and project management concepts
- Understanding of estimation metrics, data analysis and research methodology
- Ability to read and understand blueprints and job specifications
- Ability to conceptualize developer ideas and solidify such ideas by creating plans and implementing them
- Basic understanding of scheduling and the sequence of work
- Proficient in Bluebeam or on-screen take-off software
- Intermediate to advanced skill level in MS Excel
- Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to multitask by working on several bids simultaneously
PREFERRED:
- Knowledge of all technical and project management aspects of design build projects
- Knowledge of OSHA and public construction safety and security issues and regulations
- Proficiency with MS Project or Primavera
- Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) or DBIA a plus
- Basic understanding of balancing a site, interpreting the Geotech, and understanding what additional items are needed to develop site construction costs
- Experience in successfully meeting and exceeding project objectives and timeframes
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Mobility on and around construction sites with uneven surfaces and inside the office
- Able to climb stairs and/or ladder if required
- Works in inclement weather/high noise level at times during site visits
- Work at a desk or computer screen with keyboard for extended periods of time
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
Following are key success factors for this role which measure results in meeting critical elements of the position. The specific goals for each element are set annually.
DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION & TIME MANAGEMENT
Measured by accuracy of calendars and project schedules
- Bids are presented in a way so other team members and managers can follow/understand an estimator’s thought process
- Estimate job tasks are completed well in advance of deadlines which ensures the ability to handle the unexpected.
SUBCONTRACTOR QUALIFICATION & RELATIONS
- Ability to properly evaluate, review and rank subcontractors
- Maintain an updated and effective database of qualified subcontractors and contacts by trade
PROJECT BIDDING
- Defined as the quality of the bid showing cost estimates in such a way that the internal costs reflect closely to the subcontracted costs, and scopes of work are complete and thorough with no gaps or holes.
- Measured by the projects won and completed on budget through the evaluation of estimates of projects awarded
FCL Builders is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected status. FCL Builders does not sponsor applicants for work visas.
FCL Builders participates in E-Verify, click here to view the Right to Work Poster.
