Lead Project Cost Estimator

Lead Project Cost Estimator

Location: Los Angeles County, California Company: Dabri, Inc.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Lead Project Cost Estimator to support The Los Angeles Unified School District, Facilities Services Division. The successful candidate will lead and coordinate the preparation, review, and validation of construction cost estimates for capital improvement and facilities projects. This position works closely with project managers, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and District stakeholders to establish project budgets, evaluate bids and change orders, reconcile cost variances, and support contract negotiations. The role is responsible for developing independent cost estimates, maintaining cost databases and estimating procedures, analyzing construction costs throughout the project lifecycle, and ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of project cost information to support effective planning, budgeting, and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Leads and supervises a team of Estimators, including designating daily assignments
• Plans and participates in the preparation of construction cost estimates of buildings or other structures from drawings, outlines, and specifications
• Prepares and reviews cost estimates and forms and other materials submitted to secure state and/or federal grants and loans from school aid programs and represents the district on matters pertinent to securing such funds
• Checks construction cost estimates submitted by commissioned architects and engineers for accuracy and completeness and compares them with District estimates
• Confers with commissioned architects and engineers to resolve differences in their cost estimates and District estimates for each project and negotiates agreements on preliminary estimates of construction costs
• Conducts studies and prepare reports when contractors' bids vary widely from the agreed construction cost estimate
• Checks segregations of contract costs as estimated by building contractors and recommends acceptance or rejection as a basis for progress payments
• Analyzes change orders on construction work under contract and approves or rejects extras or credits submitted
• Prepares or reviews cost estimates for projects
• Establishes and maintains procedures for approval of plans and specifications for building projects and submission of approved projects to public bidding
• Develop methods for maintaining data used in records, charts, and graphs reflecting estimated construction costs compared with actual costs
• Conducts and participates in seminars and workshops with staff and minority contractors relative to school construction bidding procedures, contracts, and cost estimating
• Estimates costs of damages to District property caused by fire, natural disaster, and major acts of vandalism
• Establishes budgets for school building projects
• Assists other branches with related functions
• Prepares preliminary and final independent cost estimates of projects for comparison with designer or contractor for PM/CM to establish negotiating position
• Prepares change order estimates for Owner Authorized Representatives to establish negotiating position
• Provides support in price negotiations
• Prepares claim analysis and estimates
• Review of contractor's claims and proposals for merit and accountability
• Performs related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Fourteen (14) years full-time paid professional experience in the preparation of complete cost estimates for major/complex type I, II, or III, and V building construction as defined by the State building codes
• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering or construction management
• Three (3) years of full-time paid experience in supervising estimators
• Must have worked for a construction cost consulting firm for at least five (5) years
• Extensive knowledge and experience in developing conceptual and pre-construction cost estimates for complex school building projects.
• Ability to prepare cost estimates quickly in a fast-paced working environment
• Knowledge of current local construction labor and material costs
• Extensive experience in developing and estimating the scope of work for change orders
• Ability to compare the independent cost estimate with contractor proposal to quickly identify differences
• Ability to develop scope of work based on RFI/RFC answers and estimates the detailed costs of those scopes of work independent of the contractor proposal

About Dabri, Inc.

Dabri, Inc. is a California-based consulting firm specializing in program and construction management, engineering support, project controls, cost estimating, scheduling, environmental compliance, and QA/QC oversight. Since 2001, we have supported complex public infrastructure and capital improvement programs across education, healthcare, transportation, aviation, and civic facilities. Our team works collaboratively with public agencies and project stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with applicable standards.

Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted no later than June 30, 2026. Resumes received after the deadline will be retained for consideration for future opportunities but will not be considered for this specific position. Salary Range: $120,000 - $178,000/per year + benefits

How to Apply: Please submit your resume along with your education, relevant experience, project history, and expected salary for consideration.