Cost Estimator

STV; New York (NY); On-site; USD 86,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (including Health SAV

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare

Disability insurance

Life Insurance and AD&D

401(k) Plan

Retirement Counseling

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Back-Up Dependent Care

Parental Leave

Continuing Education Program

Professional Licensure and Society Sub

Job summary

STV is seeking a highly skilled Cost Estimator with our Project Controls group as an extension of staff at NYC School Construction Authority. This role will develop accurate, detailed estimates for proposed construction change orders and validate quantities, labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor pricing, overhead, and profit markups.

Responsibilities include negotiating fair costs with contractors, reviewing change requests, performing quantity takeoffs, and preparing independent estimates

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in construction management or engineering.
• 3–5+ years estimating experience on construction projects.
• Experience with quantity takeoffs and cost analysis from construction documents.
• Knowledge of construction means, methods, materials, and cost drivers.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Review and validate change requests (change orders, RFIs, scope revisions) and assess contractual validity.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and indirect costs.
• Evaluate contractor change order pricing and validate overhead and profit markups.
• Negotiate change orders and prepare fact-based recommendations for fair pricing.
• Conduct scope reviews, verify conditions, and coordinate with engineers, architects, contractors, and PMs.

Skills

Quantity takeoffs

Cost analysis

Analytical skills

Communication

Coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or related field

Tools

RSMeans

Bluebeam

Sage Estimating

Job description

STV is seeking a highly skilled Cost Estimator with our Project Controls group as an extension of staff at NYC School Construction Authority

This role will be responsible for developing accurate, detailed estimates to review, analyze, and develop independent cost estimates for proposed construction change orders. Validate quantities, labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor pricing, overhead, and profit markups. Negotiate fair and reasonable costs with contractors, and provide detailed recommendations to project management teams.

Key Responsibilities

Review and Validate Change Requests

• Analyze proposed change orders, RFIs, and scope revisions.
• Determine whether the change is contractually valid.
• Verify that the change is truly outside the original contract scope.
• Identify cost, schedule, and constructability impacts.

Quantity Takeoff and Cost Development

• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for changed work.
• Develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and indirect costs.
• Apply productivity factors and local market conditions.
• Prepare independent estimates for comparison against contractor proposals.

Evaluate Contractor Change Order Pricing

• Review contractor cost breakdowns.
• Verify labor rates, burden, equipment rates, production assumptions, and material pricing.
• Validate overhead and profit markups.
• Identify unsupported or excessive costs.

Negotiate Change Orders

• Participate in negotiations with contractors and subcontractors.
• Prepare fact-based recommendations regarding fair and reasonable pricing.
• Support owners, CM teams, and project managers during negotiations.

Conduct Scope Reviews

• Potential for project sites visits to verify existing conditions.
• Review field conditions affecting changed work.
• Coordinate scope with engineers, architects, contractors, and project managers.
• Resolve quantity and scope discrepancies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or related construction or field (or equivalent experience)
• 3–5+ years of estimating experience
• Experience with quantity take-offs and cost analysis from construction documents
• Knowledge of construction means and methods, materials, and cost drivers
• Excellent analytical, communication, and coordination skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with public-sector, educational, institutional, or vertical construction projects.
• Experience reviewing contractor change order submissions and claims.
• Familiarity with NYC construction practices and prevailing wage requirements.
• Proficiency with estimating tools and software (e.g., RSMeans, Bluebeam, Sage Estimating or similar software tools)

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Compensation Range:

$86,464.77 - $98,816.88

STV offers the following benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Back-Up Dependent Care
• Parental Leave
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good‑faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

Not sure this role is the perfect match?

We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.