Estimating & Benchmarking Lead

KBR Careers; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

Medical, dental & vision insurance

Flexible spending account

Paid time off & flexible schedule

Job summary

KBR is seeking an Estimating & Benchmarking Lead to oversee capital cost estimates across the full project lifecycle. You will serve as the estimating SME, driving independent assessments and benchmarking analyses to support budget development.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years in estimating for large capital programs in industrial sectors, with proficiency in cost software and strong collaboration across project teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree inEngineering/related discipline and 15+ years estimating experience.
• Proven ability to develop, review, validate capital cost estimates across project phases.
• Experience with large industrial, pharma, life sciences, or infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, review, validation, reconciliation and benchmarking of project cost estimates.
• Act as estimating SME providing independent estimate assurance and benchmarking analyses.
• Support development of project budgets, contingencies and funding needs early on.
• Monitor estimate performance against budgets and identify cost growth drivers.
• Coordinate estimating activities with controls, engineering, procurement, construction and contractors.
• Provide insights to leadership to support project decisions.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Benchmarking

Cost analysis

Project controls

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/related field

Tools

Aspen Capital Cost Estimator

Job description

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets.

KBR is looking for a 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.

Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• 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, & Skills:

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

Decarbonization – Energy Transition – Sustainability

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.