Data Center Senior Estimator (CSA)

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The Senior Estimator will serve as a critical member of the preconstruction team, providing leadership for CSA (Civil, Structural, Architectural) related trades. The Senior Estimator will be responsible for initial market research, conceptual budgeting, cost estimating, change order forensics, and buyout support for CSA-related scopes of work within the preconstruction team.

Key Responsibilities

Market Research & Analysis:

· Conduct regionally-specific market research on civil, structural, and architectural elements, including labor availability for civil trades, commodity trends for concrete and steel, local regulations impacting sitework, and other factors affecting costs. 

· Maintain detailed records of historical project costs, including labor, materials, and equipment. 

· Analyze historical data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for cost optimization. 

Conceptual Budgeting & Cost Estimation:

· Develop conceptual budgets for CSA scope elements based on market analysis and project scope. 

· Prepare detailed estimates for labor, materials, and equipment, factoring in project complexity and location. 

· Generate cost variance reports at major design milestones to track trends and inform stakeholder decisions and identify value-engineering opportunities. 

· Lead and support takeoffs using Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, or similar tools. 

· Solicit and analyze subcontractor and vendor pricing for structural steel, precast, tilt-up, mass concrete pours, etc. 

Cost Reconciliation and Change Order Support: 

· Collaborate with general contractors and trade-partners to reconcile project costs and ensure scope alignment.

· Provide support for change order forensics and perform cost reconciliation with trade-partners as needed to verify pricing accuracy. 

Constructability Reviews and Value Engineering: 

· Conduct thorough constructability reviews focused on civil, structural, and architectural scopes to identify potential challenges and improvements in design. 

· Work with project stakeholders to implement value-engineering solutions that optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness. 

· Evaluate alternative materials, methods, and technologies to enhance constructability and reduce long-term maintenance expenses. 

RFP Documentation and CSA Contractor Selection: 

· Assist in developing comprehensive RFP documentation for civil, structural, and architectural scopes, including specifications, scope of work, and evaluation criteria. 

· Ensure clarity and accuracy in RFP documents to support competitive bidding and selection. 

· Help with bid-leveling by compiling and analyzing data for informed decisions. Evaluate contractor proposals based on experience, qualifications, and cost competitiveness. 

· Participate in GC/contractor selection meetings and offer input on firm suitability.

CSA Buyout Support: 

· Draft specific language for RFPs to ensure precise scope definitions and requirements. 

· Coordinate with bidders during the procurement phase. 

· Assist with pre-bid RFIs by reviewing and responding to related inquiries. 

· Support the coordination and conduction of site walks focused on relevant elements. 

· Perform bid leveling for bids to compare and normalize proposals. Conduct post-bid interviews with bidders to clarify assumptions, resolve discrepancies, and negotiate terms. 

· Occasional travel to project sites for kick-offs, pre-bid walks, and constructability reviews

Requirements:

· 4+ years of estimating experience with a strong emphasis on civil, structural, and architectural scopes in mission-critical, data center, or other heavy industrial projects 

· Proven ability to estimate projects $50M+ in total construction value, with deep focus in these areas. 

· Ability to perform quantity takeoffs for concrete (cast-in-place and precast), structural steel, masonry, roofing, waterproofing, and sitework. 

· Proficiency with estimating software (Destini, RIB CostX, WinEst, or similar) and Microsoft Excel 

· Solid understanding of data center-specific challenges 

· Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment while collaborating with the estimating team.