Cost Estimator

SteerBridge; Maryland; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SteerBridge is seeking a Construction Manager - Estimator (CM-EST) to provide estimating, cost analysis, and project controls for VA medical facilities. You will act as the Government's cost estimator and support cost decisions in an active healthcare environment.

You will analyze scope, quantities, labor and material costs, review contractor proposals, and develop cost models. You will coordinate with VA staff, architects, engineers, schedulers, and stakeholders to ensure accurate, defendable

Qualifications

• Current credentialing as an Estimator.
• Degree or 3 years estimating experience with at least three projects.
• Experience preparing and analyzing estimates, schedules of values, pay requests.
• Ability to identify inconsistencies in contractor work vs baseline.
• Ability to understand local, state, federal requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Government's owner’s representative for construction estimating, cost analysis, and cost control.
• Prepare, review, and validate estimates for various project phases.
• Review plans, specs, and cost-related docs for completeness and accuracy.
• Analyze contractor pricing and identify discrepancies and scope gaps.
• Evaluate cost components using current market data and estimating practices.
• Coordinate with VA staff, architects, engineers, and schedulers.

Skills

Communication

MS Office

Estimating

Scheduling

Project controls

Education

Degree in estimating or related

3 years estimating experience

Tools

Estimating software

Cost databases

Takeoff software

Job description

The Construction Manager - Estimator (CM-EST) provides specialized construction estimating, cost analysis, and project controls support for a diverse portfolio of construction, renovation, infrastructure modernization, utility, and facility improvement projects at Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities. Serving as the Government's owner's representative for cost estimating and cost control, the CM-EST supports project planning, design, procurement, construction, change management, payment review, and closeout activities within an active healthcare environment.

The CM-EST applies sound estimating judgment to evaluate project scope, quantities, labor and material costs, contractor pricing, schedules of values, and monthly payment requests. Working collaboratively with VA personnel, architects, engineers, contractors, schedulers, and multidisciplinary stakeholders, the CM-EST identifies cost risks, verifies alignment between work completed and amounts billed, and supports accurate, defensible, and timely project cost decisions.

Mode:

• This is a full-time, onsite position.
• Employees are expected to report to the designated work location during scheduled work hours.
• Any required travel is the employee's responsibility and is not compensated unless otherwise required by applicable law.
• The company does not provide a company vehicle. Employees must use their own transportation when travel is required.

Role Responsibilities

The Construction Manager - Estimator is expected to:

• Serve as the Government's owner's representative for construction estimating, cost analysis, and cost control throughout all phases of assigned construction projects.
• Prepare, review, and validate conceptual, schematic, design-development, construction-document, change-order, and independent cost estimates for assigned projects.
• Review plans, specifications, statements of work, contractor proposals, schedules of values, monthly pay requests, change requests, and other cost-related documentation for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with contract requirements.
• Analyze contractor pricing and identify incongruities, unsupported costs, quantity discrepancies, scope gaps, duplicate charges, and other deficiencies in relation to the approved baseline schedule of values and documented work in place.
• Evaluate labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, profit, escalation, contingency, and other cost components using current market data and sound estimating practices.
• Support project planning, budgeting, value engineering, acquisition, and funding decisions by preparing cost models, quantity takeoffs, estimate narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and risk analyses.
• Coordinate with VA staff, architects, engineers, contractors, schedulers, and other project stakeholders to reconcile scope, quantities, pricing, schedule impacts, and cost-related issues.
• Monitor project cost performance, commitments, expenditures, forecasts, and potential changes, and provide timely reporting on budget status, variances, and emerging cost risks.
• Assist in evaluating proposed changes, contractor claims, equitable adjustments, delays, and differing site conditions by preparing or reviewing detailed cost analyses and supporting documentation.
• Maintain accurate estimating files, cost databases, estimate backup, payment review records, change logs, and other project documentation in accordance with VA and contract requirements.
• Use applicable estimating, scheduling, spreadsheet, document management, and project controls software to monitor, update, analyze, and produce required work products.
• Apply applicable local, state, federal, and VA requirements while producing clear, traceable, and defensible estimates and cost-control recommendations for projects in occupied healthcare and other mission-critical environments.

Reporting Relationships

• Direct administrative report: Regional Manager.
• Operational direction: Government Contracting Officer's Representative
• Day-to-day supervision: Task Order Lead, providing onsite and remote oversight as applicable for assigned Task Orders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current professional credentialing as an Estimator, with the ability to maintain the credential throughout the period of employment.
• Degree from an accredited institution with a specialty in estimating, or evidence of at least three (3) years of construction estimating work experience and knowledge in lieu of higher education, subject to review for acceptability.
• Demonstrated working experience preparing and analyzing construction estimates, schedules of values, monthly payment requests, contractor proposals, and change-order pricing. Credentials shall identify completed work on at least three (3) projects of similar scale and difficulty, and the candidate shall provide an estimating work sample comparable to the assigned project for review.
• Demonstrated ability to identify incongruities and deficiencies in contractor work and payment documentation in relation to the approved baseline schedule of values and actual work completed.
• Ability to quickly understand and apply applicable local, state, and federal jurisdictional requirements, contract requirements, and project-specific cost-control procedures.
• Strong communication, language, and software skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and construction estimating, scheduling, spreadsheet, and project controls applications.
• Eligibility to obtain a Public Trust Clearance and Veterans Affairs PIV badge.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal, Veterans Affairs, healthcare, occupied-facility, or other mission-critical construction programs.
• Experience preparing independent cost estimates, quantity takeoffs, estimate narratives, bid analyses, change-order estimates, and cost reconciliation reports.
• Experience reviewing contractor schedules of values, cost-loaded schedules, progress billings, pay applications, and supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Demonstrated experience with project cost controls, budget forecasting, variance analysis, change management, claims support, and lifecycle cost considerations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent estimates, task orders, and priorities while working independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present estimating methodology, assumptions, findings, and recommendations to Government and project stakeholders.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be physically capable of conducting routine site visits and field verification activities throughout active construction environments.
• Ability to walk, stand, climb stairs and ladders (as applicable), and access various areas of construction sites for extended periods.
• Ability to work in offices, mechanical rooms, utility spaces, and other industrial or construction environments as necessary to verify project scope and quantities.
• Must be able to safely navigate uneven terrain, confined work areas, and changing site conditions.
• May occasionally be required to lift, carry, push, or pull materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to wear and properly use required personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, gloves, and other job-specific safety equipment. The company provides required PPE; employees are responsible for providing steel-toed footwear, which is eligible for a one-time reimbursement in accordance with company policy.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.