Chief Estimator

Mace; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 162,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Mace in New York is seeking a seasoned cost estimator to develop, assemble, and maintain capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates for major infrastructure programs from design through delivery. You’ll consolidate inputs from engineering, procurement, and delivery teams into an integrated program budget and present executive-level insights.

Applicants should bring deep experience in estimating methodologies, risk, escalation, and market pricing, with a proven ability to translate complex

Qualifications

• Significant experience in cost estimating, cost management, quantity surveying, cost engineering, commercial management, or project controls on major capital projects.
• Experience developing or reconciling integrated capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates.
• Understanding of construction scope, quantities, rates, escalation, risk, and market pricing.
• Ability to translate estimating information into executive advice for senior management and clients.
• Experience in major transportation/rail/transit/tunneling/heavy civil projects preferred.
• Familiarity with AACE estimating practices desirable.
• Relevant professional qualifications advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop, assemble, and maintain capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates for major infrastructure programs.
• Develop and review conceptual, ROM, design-stage, pre-tender, and progressively mature cost estimates.
• Review quantities, unit rates, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, risk, and other estimate components.
• Consolidate estimates from multiple projects into an integrated program-level capital budget.
• Lead estimate reconciliation, identifying movements related to scope, design, quantities, pricing, escalation, risk, and market conditions.
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarks using historical data, market intelligence, and pricing.
• Perform cost/option analyses to support decisions on scope, design, packaging, procurement, and delivery strategy.
• Support Basis of Estimate documentation, cost breakdown structures, assumptions, exclusions, and methodologies.
• Evaluate cost implications of design development, scope changes, procurement results, and contract changes.
• Maintain traceability between budgets, current estimates, commitments, changes, contingency, and forecast outturn cost.
• Prepare executive-level cost reports, reconciliations, variances, and decision-support materials.
• Collaborate with engineering, project controls, commercial, procurement, risk, schedule, finance, and project leadership.

Skills

Cost estimating

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Cost engineering

Project controls

Education

MRICS or equivalent

PMP

CCP or CEP

PQS qualification

Job description

At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities, and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture, and priorities, visit our strategy site. Within our consult business we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project deliveryconsultancy to unlock the potential in every project.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• Develop, assemble, and maintain comprehensive capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates for major infrastructure programs.
• Develop and review conceptual, ROM, design-stage, pre-tender, and progressively mature cost estimates.
• Review and challenge quantities, unit rates, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, risk, and other estimate components.
• Consolidate estimates from multiple projects, contracts, designers, consultants, and delivery teams into an integrated program-level capital budget.
• Lead estimate reconciliation, clearly identifying movements associated with scope development, design maturity, quantities, pricing, escalation, risk, procurement strategy, and market conditions.
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarks using historical project data, comparable programs, productivity information, market intelligence, and contractor/supplier pricing.
• Perform comparative cost and option analyses to support decisions regarding scope, design, packaging, procurement, phasing, and delivery strategy.
• Support development and review of Basis of Estimate documentation, cost breakdown structures, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and estimate methodologies.
• Evaluate the cost implications of design development, scope changes, procurement results, contract changes, and emerging project conditions.
• Maintain traceability between approved budgets, current estimates, commitments, changes, contingency, and forecast outturn cost.
• Prepare clear executive-level cost reports, reconciliations, variance analyses, trends, and decision-support materials.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, project controls, commercial, procurement, risk, schedule, finance, and project leadership teams.

You’ll Need To Have

• Significant experience in cost estimating, cost management, quantity surveying, cost engineering, commercial management, or project controls on major capital projects.
• Strong background in developing, reviewing, and reconciling complex construction estimates through successive stages of project development.
• Demonstrated understanding of construction scope, quantities, rates, productivity, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, risk, and market pricing.
• Experience developing or managing integrated capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates.
• Strong knowledge of estimating methodologies, Basis of Estimate development, cost benchmarking, estimate reconciliation, change management, and cost forecasting.
• Ability to translate detailed estimating information into clear advice for senior management and client decisionmakers.
• Major transportation, rail, transit, tunneling, heavy civil, or similarly complex infrastructure experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with AACE International estimating and cost-engineering practices is desirable.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as CCP, CEP, MRICS, PQS, CEC/ECC, PMP, or equivalent is advantageous.

Note: The estimated salary for this position is of $180,000 USD. Starting salary may vary based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as experience, skills and qualifications.

Our Values

• Safety First - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.
• Client Focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.
• Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.
• Create Opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.