Senior Estimator

Bird Construction; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Bird Construction in Ottawa, Ontario is seeking a Senior Estimator to accurately estimate costs for civil and concrete construction projects and lead cost-related preconstruction efforts.

The role requires on-site involvement, strong communication with project teams and stakeholders, and a track record of delivering competitive bids for large-scale projects.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in quantity surveying or engineering.
• Eligible for or have PQS, CET, or P.Eng designations.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience as Cost Consultant or Estimator on large projects $30M+.
• Experience with estimating software programs.
• Ability to communicate with project team, sub-trades, consultants, and owner; participate in preconstruction.
• Strong analytical, math, and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Develop accurate estimates for civil and concrete construction projects.
• Lead preconstruction activities and contribute to bid strategies.
• Prepare budgets, cost plans, and value engineering exercises.
• Develop procurement plans, labor/equipment forecasts, and risk registers.
• Support project scheduling and master budget development.
• Promote cost-conscious delivery through all project phases.

Skills

Cost estimation

Budgeting

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Engineering/QS degree

Tools

Estimating software

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Estimator to join our dynamic Buildings & Commercial team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in accurately estimating costs for construction projects, ensuring competitive bids and successful project delivery. The Senior Estimator will collaborate closely with project managers, engineers, and subcontractors to develop comprehensive and precise estimates for civil and concrete construction projects.

• This position is based in the Ottawa, Ontario office and will require on-site visits as requested.
• Ability to obtain Secret-level Security Clearance, required

What You Will Be Working On

Opportunity Response

• Working with the Regional Management Team (RMT), support the development of new market initiatives and business opportunities based on the best use of the regional resources/assets and current trends in the industry and the competitive landscape.
• Establish and maintain strategic relations with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders including governments and the public.
• Preparing Estimating deliverables to Proposal Strategy.

Preconstruction

• Act as a key contributor in the project development activities to secure the project.
• Develop and execute a project strategy that meets the project’s required performance, schedule, and profitability targets. Meet or exceed these targets.
• Assist the bid process by driving and communicating strategies to the project team to help win bids.
• Provide preconstruction services including the development of preliminary budgets, cost plans, and value engineering exercises.
• Participate in internal contract kick-off and conduct contract partnering sessions.
• Led internal construction project start-up meetings and administrative project setup.
• Establish Preconstruction in Progress (PIP) form/KPIs and begin monthly updates.
• Actively participate in project scheduling activities including post-it note scheduling/pull planning.
• Actively participates in developing procurement plans, labor and equipment forecasts, logistics plans and site workflow, project risk register, and project execution plan (PEP).
• Actively participates in developing and maintaining the master project schedule.
• Ensures that the preconstruction schedule is achieved.
• Develop Milestone Cost Plans (schematic, design development, working drawings).
• Participates in design, constructability, and value engineering reviews.
• Work closely with the project manager, owner, consultants, suppliers, and trades to identify, develop, implement, and support cost-effective project delivery.
• Prepare and manage project budgets during the design.
• Ensure that constructability is addressed before sub-trade tendering.
• Oversee the tendering, risk assessment, and award of sub-trade contracts.
• Identify, address, and resolve issues and problems as or before they occur.
• Contribute current cost and productivity information for the SAP upload sheet.

Construction

• Keep informed on track and forecast labor, materials, and equipment.
• Conduct monthly project Work-in-progress (WIP) updates and meetings.
• Assists with the development of a project strategy that secures the project. Meets or exceeds the project's required performance and scheduled profitability targets.

Post-Construction

• Conduct lessons learned.
• Participate in the reconciliation of contract value.
• Participate in project close-out report.

Employee and Talent Management

• Develop the assigned project team members with the help of the division/branch management team, including the acquisition of new talent, continuous positive and constructive feedback, and the assessment of non-performing employees.
• Mentoring those at a more junior level on the team (interns, juniors, etc.).

What We Are Looking For

• Undergraduate degree in quantity surveying or engineering
• Eligible for or have attained PQS, CET, or P.Eng designations
• 10+ years of 'hands-on' experience in the capacity of Cost Consultant or Estimator including a full range of project delivery methods including lump sum, construction management, and design-build. This should include direct estimation experience of large commercial, Highrise, civil, and/or institutional construction projects $30M and greater
• Demonstrate integrity and strive for excellence in the quality of work
• Ability to communicate with the project team, sub-trades, consultants, and owner; understand the issues and be an active participant in the preconstruction process
• Experience working with estimating software programs
• Ability to forge, grow, and maintain positive relationships
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet the time demands of unpredictable activities, capable of handling pressure and challenges in a dynamic business environment
• Ability to work within tight deadlines and prioritization of work to achieve them
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, strong math skills, and a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Highly developed interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and a strong commitment to achieving goals; ability to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment
• Ability to work collaboratively with a positive attitude
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Supportive of a culture that encompasses the highest ethical standards aligned with the Company's Promise

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