Lead Estimator & Benchmarking

Job Description

Job Description

LEAD ESTIMATOR

The Estimating & Benchmarking Lead oversees the estimating group in the development, review, validation, and reconciliations of all capital estimates for the project. This role acts as the estimating SME for the project.

The individual also provides benchmark analyses, cost validation studies, and other estimating-related assessments for the project. This role helps develop the project budgets at early stages of development and tracks the progress of the project with respect to the established budget. At later stages of development, the role oversees the development of check estimates, as necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, review, validation, reconciliation, and benchmarking of project capital cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle.

• Serve as the project's estimating subject matter expert and provide independent estimate assurance, cost validation, and benchmarking analyses.

• Support development of project budgets, contingencies, and funding requirements during early project phases.

• Monitor estimate performance against approved budgets and identify trends, risks, variances, and cost growth drivers.

• Oversee development of check estimates, estimate updates, and independent assessments as the project progresses.

• Coordinate estimating activities with project controls, engineering, procurement, construction, and contractor organizations.

• Provide estimating insights and recommendations to client and PMC leadership to support project decision-making.

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Business, or a related discipline.

• Minimum 15 years of estimating, cost engineering, or project controls experience supporting major capital projects.

• Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing, and validating capital cost estimates across multiple project phases.

• Strong knowledge of estimating methodologies, benchmarking, contingency development, estimate assurance, and cost analysis.

• Experience supporting large industrial, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, life sciences, energy, or infrastructure projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing projects.

• Experience in an Owner's Representative, PMC, EPCM, or Integrated Project Management Team (IPMT) environment.

• Experience supporting large projects with multiple phases exceeding $500 million TIC.

• Proficiency with Aspen Capital Cost Estimator or similar cost estimating software.

• Professional certifications such as CCP®, CEP®, EVP®, PSP®, PMP®, or equivalent credentials.

• Familiarity with benchmarking databases, estimating software, and capital project governance processes.