Estimating & Benchmarking Manager

Air Liquide USA LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions is hiring an Estimating & Benchmarking Manager in Houston, TX. You will lead capital estimates, align with project scopes, and collaborate across disciplines to ensure robust cost models.

The role requires 5–10 years in estimating for construction projects, with strong analytical and communication skills and a proactive, team-oriented mindset. Travel locally or internationally may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or chemistry or equivalent required.
• U.S. work authorization required; visa sponsorship not available.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; ability to apply rigorous estimating standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare overall capital estimates (ISBL/BOP/OSBL/Owner's Cost) at all stages.
• Develop Monte Carlo ranges (@Risk) and P50 evaluations.
• Coordinate with internal/external stakeholders to ensure accurate costing.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Proactive

Team player

Estimating experience

Education

Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry or equivalent in Engineering field

Tools

PRI risk analysis

PRA risk analysis

Estimating software

Job description

R10103328 Estimating & Benchmarking Manager (Open)

Location: Houston, TX (HO) - Engineering - E&C Houston

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions is a technology partner of choice for the design, engineering and construction of leading-edge processing facilities and related infrastructures worldwide. We enable our customers to optimize the use of the planet's natural resources in order to provide clean and sustainable energy thanks to our people and their capability to innovate constantly. Through cutting edge innovation applied to our proprietary technology we contribute to the transformation of the energy industry and help to preserve & protect the atmosphere of our planet. Looking back on decades of operational expertise within the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, we develop creative, safe, reliable and competitive solutions for our customers, proposing a sustainable worldwide offer of best-in-class plants in a dynamically changing marketplace.

Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability - with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy.

How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the unique perspectives of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders, and cultures across the world. We believe that a variety of backgrounds makes our team stronger and more innovative.

At Air Liquide we RESPECT, HONOR and VALUE diversity.

Air Liquide is hiring for a Estimating & Benchmarking Manager in Houston, TX.

Job Responsibilities:

• Works cooperatively with Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions US disciplines including, solution development / proposals, E&I, Mechanical, Construction, Project Controls.
• Works cooperatively with other AL/E&C groups in Europe, India, Asia, and elsewhere.
• Assist in World Wide Engineering convergence efforts with other managers and estimators in other countries to foster global alignment.
• Prepare overall Capital Estimate (ISBL/BOP/OSBL/Owner's Cost) at all stages to ensure consistency with latest Facilities Scope Definition (FSD), Project Execution Strategy Summary (PESS) and Risk & Opportunity Profile (ROP), or other documents as required per stage, for assigned proposals. Estimates will be on an EP and / or EPC basis.
• Develop and perform the @Risk Monte Carlo ranges and the required evaluation of the estimate P50.
• Develop, communicate, and provide rationale for estimating deliverables and analysis in support of management decisions and collaborative commercial negotiations.
• Comply with E&C Global and local engineering standards and other industry standards, and advance the company's safety standards.
• Coordinate estimates of contributing groups and nurture interface relations with stakeholder and supplier elements to leverage existing AL tools and talents.
• Coordinate with product and project groups to understand technical scope and division of work and ensure complete and accurate costs are estimated.
• Work with the business group to understand the commercial aspect of the projects to ensure accurate modeling.
• Work closely with the CIG Benchmarking and Cost Integrity Manager in support of the validation of Target and investment CAPEX, contributing to investment confidence & competitiveness on assigned opportunities.
• Ensure application of quality alignment & estimating procedures while providing input to their continuous improvement.
• Contribute to benchmarking studies, give recommendations for project design standards and decisions through value analysis, design to cost and risk management techniques.
• Interact with key interfaces (CIG, CI Hubs, WBL, external EPCs, subcontractors and suppliers).
• Analyze and monitor business performance during Project Development and Execution activity, contributing to the development, maintenance and improvement of cost references. Participate in key gate reviews such as PRB A/C/B/O.

Tasks:

• Develop and approve estimating plan and time to develop the estimates.
• Review & approve revisions of Basis of Estimate.
• Ideally, you stay informed on the use and development of E&C estimating techniques, tools and formats.
• Optimize estimating methods and tools and update procedures and training material for the benefit of the team.
• Recommend necessary modifications in estimating strategies as needed.
• Serve as a central connector in the development of capital estimates (ISBL/BOP/OSBL/Owner's Cost) and develop networking accordingly with the AL business lines/operations (Airgas, ALLIUS, H2E US, EL US, GM&T,...).
• Validate estimates input and output deliverables, as well as final capital estimates.
• Guide and facilitate scope clarifications with regards to estimating with both internal and external partners.
• Actively collaborate on competitiveness reviews, such as risk and quality analysis, ensuring they are performed in a timely manner in support of management reviews.
• Enthusiastically gather market information to stay current.
• Analyze win/loss data to foster continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry or equivalent in Engineering field required
• Candidates must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-visa sponsorship.
• Basic knowledge of Air Liquide's technology portfolio, plant engineering, processes and tools;
• Estimating of industrial projects, inclusive of risk processes (PRI, PRA, E&C Risk Analysis)
• Strong analytical skills
• Market interest and analysis; Ability to understand the AL business objectives.
• Strong communication skills;
• Able to apply rigorously estimating standards & procedures, keep excellent traceability of the work performed.
• Proactive, team player, able to quickly build respect with internal clients and other stakeholders;
• Able to work under significant pressure and to adapt to changing environment
• 5 to 10 years experience in an estimating function with focus on construction activities
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Excellent problem solving skills. Will be called upon to take independent decisions.
• Interfacing with Marketing, External customers, Alliance Partners.
• Strong organizational skills
• Good understanding of various vendor equipment used in industrial gas plants
• Short term travel locally or internationally is required depending on the assigned work tasks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Notion of French, German language is an asset
• Previous interactions with other AL Groups entities, worldwide is an asset

Our Differences make our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.