Estimator

Centurion Selection, LLC; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Centurion Selection, LLC is seeking an Estimator in Southern California to evaluate project specifications and drawings, manage the bid process, and negotiate with vendors to secure competitive pricing. You will coordinate RFQ/RFP activities, review bids, and ensure timely award of subs and contracts.

The role requires a college degree in business or construction management and 3–5 years of related purchasing experience, with strong MS Office proficiency and excellent communication across teams

Qualifications

• College degree in business or construction management; 3–5 years in purchasing for residential/multi-family construction.
• Experience bidding, negotiating, and managing trade contractors.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead bidding and contracting with trades and suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing and terms with vendors.
• Manage bid process and timelines.
• Coordinate RFQ/RFP processes.
• Train Junior Estimators.
• Maintain relations with trade partners.

Skills

Bidding

Negotiation

Vendor management

Cost analysis

Project budgeting

Education

College degree in business or construction management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The primary duties of the Estimator are to evaluate Project specifications and drawings, ensuring that the Company knows everything required to successfully buy out our products.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Estimator’s duties and other job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Main point of contact for bidding and contracting all trades. Takes full responsibility for bidding, negotiation, and hiring trade contractors to maintain a competitive edge on costs while meeting the company’s standards for quality, reliability, and overall performance of trade contractors and suppliers.
• Negotiate contracts with vendors, trade partners, and suppliers to establish and maintain pricing. Ensure pricing is in accordance with specifications, plans, and scopes of work, to obtain the best deals on behalf of the company.
• Manage bid process and ensure timelines are met.
• Research, review, and recruit new products, procedures, methods of construction, qualified trade contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors available to identify opportunities for improved quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness for cost analysis and consideration on future projects or specifications, in addition to facilitating the improvement of existing trade contractor and supplier relationships.
• Conduct cost analysis, price proposals, analyze other data and information and establish benchmarks for improvement to determine prices, quality and service are in best interest.
• Initiates and coordinates the Request for Quote (RFQ) and/or Request for Proposal (RFP) for goods, materials, supplies and inventory items.
• Reviews bids, negotiate price and favorable terms. Request budget approval from Vice President.
• Communicate with subcontractors to ensure proper coverage from subcontractors on bid day.
• Research and evaluate potential suppliers based on price, quality, availability, reliability, production, capability and supplier’s reputation and track records, and other criteria.
• Verify purchases by comparing them to previous purchases and recommending alternatives.
• Analyze and compare bids and proposals with respect to prices, past performance (quality, ability to work on schedule, proper supervision) financial stability, or in the case of a trade contactor new to the company, their relationship with other builders.
• Have a thorough understanding of all current plans and specifications, the scope for specific trades assigned, and how to fit subs to the size/scope of the project. Know each trades capability, capacity, and quality of work prior to awarding the bid.
• Develop RFI's and clarifications to ensure adequate subcontractor coverage.
• Perform a comprehensive "bid day" analysis and scoping of specific assigned trades.
• Create bid lists that fit scope of job ensuring that we have the right subs for the project. Include value-engineering ideas on every bid.
• Accurately and thoroughly bid and contract communities so the best market costs are received, accurate budgets are reported and maintained.
• Thoroughly check requirements to buy the proper scope.
• Award subs in a timely manner to ensure release of materials.
• Interact with appropriate internal and external personnel to clearly and thoroughly communicate proper standards and expectations and respond to and resolve any concerns.
• Communicate work progress and any outstanding issues, provide support for any concerns regarding subcontractor, scopes, and contracts.
• Maintain open communication with on-site construction team.
• Respond to calls/emails from production regarding contracts, plans, misc. questions, etc.
• Respond to calls from subcontractors regarding contracts, field concerns, etc.
• Interact and maintain relationship with suppliers to schedule or expedite delivery and shipping times.
• Prepare purchase orders for review and approval and organize and confirm delivery of goods and services.
• Prepare contract change order requests.
• Maintain material take-offs from working drawings and check take-offs made by suppliers.
• Maintain trade scopes of work to ensure they match the project plans and specifications.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with trade partners and strong team relationships with other departments, including project management, marketing, business development, accounting, and superintendents.
• Train and oversee Junior Estimators.
• Enter all relevant information in Bid Spreads. Submit 100% of bids and budgets by the bid deadline.
• Review and track requisition orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications.
• Analyze documentation, drawings, plans, landscaping plan, T24, soil reports, and project timeline with Project Management team and highlight areas of concern.
• Review job cost with team and highlight any subs/material vendors that still need to be awarded.
• Communicate with Project team in a proactive manner to ensure that all necessary plans are obtained and bid in a timely manner and to ensure all contracts, job, start, and other purchasing items are accurate, thorough, completed, and distributed.
• Provide subs with as much information as possible (PM, Super, permit status, etc.). Ensure that subs are aware of (and commit to) the project schedule.
• Double-check all critical work deliverables to minimize mistakes.
• Additional duties as may be assigned by Vice President.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations are available, upon request, to assist qualified persons with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, as needed.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• College degree in business, construction management or related field, preferred. Minimum of 3-5 years related experience and/ or training in purchasing capacity with a residential and/or multi-family construction builder required.

TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIRED:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to lift, push, pull, and/ or move up to 20 pounds. Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, or otherwise move about the property, units, and rooftop, squat, open doors, climb/ descend stairs.
• At times, may require prolonged movement about the construction site.
• Regularly performs computer work, and operates general office equipment (computer, phones, fax machine, copier or scanner) and does filing.

COMMUNICATIONS:

• Must be able to communicate effectively (orally and written) in a professional manner on a regular basis with management and co-workers within the company as well as residents and outside vendors. Works well as part of a team. Follows instructions and responds to management’s direction. Takes constructive criticism and uses it as a learning tool.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for training and overseeing Junior Estimators.

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY:

• Is reliable and consistently at work and on time; willing to travel, and work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

TRAVEL

Travel may be required within the Southern California and Arizona Region