Estimating Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role

Smart Dwellings is looking for a detail-oriented Estimating & Purchasing Assistant to support our new home construction process. This person plays a critical role in ensuring that every project is built with the right materials, in the right quantities, at the right time. You will read construction plans, perform detailed takeoffs, and enter information into our estimating system to generate accurate material quantities. You will also visit job sites to see how materials are being used and look for ways to improve accuracy and reduce waste.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret residential construction plans to identify and measure all relevant components
• Perform detailed material takeoffs based on what is drawn on the plans, following a consistent process
• Enter takeoff data accurately into our estimating system to generate material quantities for each project
• Review quantities for errors, flag discrepancies, and verify that estimates match the plans
• Cross-check your own work to catch math errors and ensure numbers are correct before submitting
• Visit job sites to observe how purchased materials are being used and installed
• Use field observations to identify opportunities to improve estimate accuracy and reduce waste
• Communicate clearly with the project and purchasing team about findings, questions, and issues

What We’re Looking For

• Strong attention to detail — you notice when something doesn’t look right and you follow up on it
• Ability to read residential construction plans (experience preferred; willingness to learn required)
• Basic understanding of construction and building materials
• Comfortable working with numbers — you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and accurately
• Consistent and process-driven — you follow a standard method every time and don’t cut corners
• Clear communicator, both written and verbal
• Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and keep the details of each one straight — at any given time we typically have 4–6 projects in preconstruction and 6–9 under construction
• Reliable and organized

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in construction estimating, purchasing, or a related field
• Familiarity with estimating or takeoff software
• Experience with Microsoft Excel
• Background in residential construction or building materials

Smart Dwellings is a growing home builder committed to quality, efficiency, and doing things right. If you take pride in accuracy and want to play a meaningful role in how homes get built, we’d love to hear from you.