Estimator

Position Summary

Estimators work within the Pre-Construction Services Team and with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers to plan cost factors for building projects. Estimators analyze construction documents, specifications, proposals, and other documentation to prepare time, cost, and labor estimates for projects. Estimators are responsible for ensuring that estimates are completed in a timely, professional, and competitive manner, and that they are accurate and consider risk factors and construction methods. Estimators are accountable and responsible for developing estimates that ensure maximum profitability of projects. Estimators develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, potential clients, vendors, and subcontractors while always maintaining impeccable ethical standards.

Safety Responsibilities: 

• Prioritizes safety as the utmost importance, even before production, and promotes a team culture that makes safety the primary focus for all employees at all times.
• Adheres to safety procedures in accordance with OSHA safety policies and regulations.

Design Process:

• Reviews plans and architectural drawings; prepares quantity take-offs on assigned projects.
• Ensures a complete review of plans and drawings. Identifies items that have been omitted and ensures appropriate accounting for such items in overall estimate package that represents the full scope of the project.
• Advises and consults with stakeholders during the design process using knowledge, contractual, program, and technical expertise.
• Is responsible for the coordination of all internal and subcontracted team members for the project during estimate phase.
• Is responsible for document control during estimate phase.

• Supports, understands, and advises clients on the projects, including their obligations in the development of building and site design.
• Generates scope sheets for all trades.
• Accurately and effectively defines the Company's and each subcontractor's responsibilities for each project.
• Defines expectations for all parties and identifies each party's roles and responsibilities.
• Obtains proposals and issues contracts for design consultants.
• Reviews and works towards reducing financial risk during construction that can be addressed at the design phase.
• Communicates with clients and documents any design changes, emphasizing monetary or time impacts associated with changes.
• Investigates value engineering options and constructability reviews of plans throughout design phases.
• Reviews and processes billings for consultants and clients for services rendered during estimate phase, partnering with SPAN Administrative Assistants.
Bidding Responsibilities / Quantity Takeoffs:
• Takes on the role of bid captain for projects; this includes taking bids, bid pricing, analyzing bid packages from clients, assembling a bid package, submitting bids, and overseeing team members assisting with the bid of the project.
• Solicits subcontractor bids for assigned projects, collaborates with Bid Clerk in identification, selection, and prequalification of new vendors or subcontractors.
• Critically analyzes bid documents and understands risk and opportunities and articulates those to management and relevant stakeholders.
• Organizes the bid team, providing leadership and direction with regards to means and methods, schedule, and strategy.
• Sets up bid packages for trades, including but not limited to, invitation to bid, bid form(s), safety, insurance, preliminary schedule, and client requirements.
• Performs quantity take-offs from bid documents utilizing Bluebeam or other appropriate estimating tools.
• Identifies and updates addenda into bidding packages.
• Compares SPAN takeoffs with quantities listed in trade, supplier, or vendor proposals.
• Uses and understands current quantity takeoff methods, software, and practices to ensure the accuracy of quantities.
• Understands the limitations, errors, and mistakes that can be made when performing quantity take-offs and takes action to mitigate the impact on the bottom line.
• Coordinates with other team members assisting in this project and reviews their work.
Cost Computing:
• Accurately assesses and plans takeoff workload.
• Uses quantity takeoffs, current labor rates, material costs, crew size, phasing, and the anticipated construction schedule to create an estimated cost for projects.
• Uses bids and proposals from trade contractors in the estimate to put together a final cost estimate.
• Appropriately assesses and accounts for expected general conditions and special requirements for the project.
• Identifies client expenditures, fees, soft costs, allowances, and items of work that are not carried in the bid proposal under SPAN's scope.
• Plans for and expects potential issues and provides a sufficient contingency plan to mitigate potential cost increases from unforeseen conditions.
• Finishes the estimate and technical proposal package within the agreed time period, along with presenting the information to the client.
• Includes the following items in the estimate as appropriate: taxes, insurance, bonds, client-controlled insurance program (OCIP), special wage rates, productivity, fees and permits, testing, special instructions, and commissioning.
• Maintains a very high level of confidentiality regarding financial details for all projects, including client names, estimates, bids, contract amounts, change orders, financing provisions, fees, and other project details.
• Works with Project Manager(s) to create a preliminary schedule to develop pricing, general conditions, and other costs/needs.
• Works through all site logistics during phasing of the project.
• Value engineers and reviews all design documents at appropriate intervals during the design process.
• At the completion of the estimate, meets and reviews bid documents with the Pre-Construction Services Manager and Vice President Pre-construction Services.
• Saves a copy of the estimate and proposal documents in Procore or other designated project folder as instructed by Company management.
• Is engaged in a team review meeting with the client to review project costs and execution of the contract.
• Meets with the Pre-Construction Services Manager and Vice President of Pre-construction Services to review the accepted budget for sign off.
• Awards contracts to subcontractors and vendors in conjunction with the Project Management Team.
• Negotiates and writes contractual agreements as required.
• Prepares conceptual estimates or Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) utilizing historical data.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of material unit costs, systems square foot costs, and total building square foot costs.
Requests for Information (RFI) During Bid:
• Reviews plans, specifications, and other construction and contract documents for missing, misleading, confusing, contradicting, conflicting, and other inadequate information.
• Submits requests for information to clarify items mentioned above to create an accurate estimate.
• Follows up with client or architect to ensure timely response to RFIs.
• Notifies clients of monetary or time impacts due to RFI responses.
Current and Historical Data:
• Understands and anticipates what factors in the market can lead to cost escalations or decreases in cost.
• Utilizes cost data from previously completed projects to compile and maintain historical data for use and reference in future estimates.
• Conducts special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or effect cost reductions.
• Organizes and manages a centralized cost estimating database and a formal process to support cost estimating to ensure historical data is utilized.
• Analyzes completed projects to compare estimate costs to actual costs and determine the reason for any discrepancies.
• Provides and implements recommendations to cost estimating procedures to reduce future discrepancies between estimated and actual costs.
• Research current market trends and fluctuations on material pricing, labor rates, and other cost-related factors that could impact the accuracy of an estimate.
Other Responsibilities:
• Participates fully as a team member in building an atmosphere of openness, honesty, respect, cooperation, and accountability. Is visible, approachable, accountable, and available.
• Exercises confidentiality and a high level of discretion.
• Projects a positive image of the organization to employees, customers, industry, and community.
• Sets up bidders list and prequalifies new trade contractors for the Company with the help of the Bid Clerk.
• Develops a list of potential bidders and solicits proposals from those companies.
• Is responsible for setup and facilitation of the construction handoff process.
• Mentors new team members, Bid Clerk, and other appropriate staff.
• Attends and represents the Company in project estimating, review, and pre-bid meetings (as requested).
• Attends and represents the company at trade shows and events.
• Conducts jobsite visits and attends offsite client meetings when needed.
• Meets with trade contractors and vendors to develop business relationships.
• Is responsible for the reconciliation process during post construction.
• Performs other duties as required by circumstances or assigned by the Pre-Construction Services Manager or Vice President of Pre-Construction Services.
• Maintains current information on trends in and changes to existing construction codes in order to ensure complete bids from subcontractors and material suppliers.
• Shares information about reliable subcontractors and suppliers with other Design-Build Managers, Bid Clerks, and other appropriate staff.
• Effectively manages responsibilities for simultaneous multiple projects.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
• Assertiveness – Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment.
• Accountability – Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
• Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Adaptability – Ability to adapt to change in the workplace.
• Analytical Skills - Ability to use thinking and reasoning to solve a problem.
• Autonomy - Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Friendly – Ability to exhibit a cheerful demeanor towards others.
• Business Acumen - Ability to grasp and understand business concepts and issues.
• Communication - Must be an effective communicator, generating professional written material and delivering effective verbal presentations.
• Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the others' needs while following company procedures.
• Deadline Oriented – Ability to successfully work from a calendar, arrange tasks by due date, execute tasks as necessary to stay on track and meet deadlines.
• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
• Deductive Reasoning – Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Applied Learning - Ability to participate in needed learning activities in a way that makes the most of the learning experience.
• Energetic - Ability to work at a sustained pace and produce quality work.
• Ethical - Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards.
• Enthusiastic – Ability to bring energy to the performance of a task.
• Research Skills - Ability to design and conduct a systematic, objective, and critical investigation.
• Training – Ability to develop a particular skill in other to bring them up to predetermined standard of performance.
• Self-Motivated - Ability to be internally inspired to perform a task to the best of one's ability using his or her own drive or initiative.
• Motivation - Ability to inspire oneself and others to reach a goal and/or perform to the best of their ability.
• Working Under Pressure - Ability to complete assigned tasks under stressful situations.
• Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers.
• Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
• Judgment - The ability to formulate a sound decision using the available information
• Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.
• Initiative – Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal.
• Reliability – Possessing the trait of being dependable and trustworthy.
• Patience – Ability to act calmly under stress and strain, and not being hasty or impetuous.
• Persistence - Ability to complete tasks or continue in a course of action in spite of opposition or discouragement.
• Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.
• Organizational Skills – Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree (four-year college or technical school) in Construction Management, Industrial Technology, Business Administration, or equivalent industry experience.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS: Minimum of 5 years of experience as a General Construction Estimator or a combination of Project Manager and Estimator experience.
Proficiency in reading and interpreting drawings and project specifications.
Proficiency in takeoffs, estimating tools, and estimating practices.
Experience with federal, state, regional, and local laws and regulations related to the construction industry.
Ability to discern and point out potential design conflicts.
Strong technical writing skills for proposals
Strong mathematical abilities and skills
Working knowledge of:
• General construction equipment
• Building materials
• Construction techniques and means and methods
• Plan set types and levels
COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY SKILLS: Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite; Outlook, Excel, Word
Microsoft Project Professional scheduling software
Bluebeam, Adobe Pro
Sage Estimating, preferred but not required
Procore, preferred but not required
Building Connected, preferred but not required
ACC, preferred but not required
Smartsheet, preferred but not required
AutoCAD, Revit or Navisworks, preferred but not required
CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES: None
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to be insured on the Company's insurance policy as a driver for the Company.
Experience with federal, state, regional, and local laws and regulations related to the construction industry.
Must be able to receive instruction and supervision.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously; prioritizing/multitasking in order to complete a high volume of work.
Possess and conduct their work with the highest ethical standards.
Strong estimating, communication, financial, analysis, budgeting, purchasing, influencing, and negotiating skills.