Estimator - Commercial Construction

The Burt Group, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Burt Group, Inc. in Austin, TX is seeking an Estimator to project and control construction costs from RFP through bidding and startup to completion.

You will review drawings, develop scopes, prepare bid packages, manage subcontractor procurement, and provide leadership reports on cost trends and risk.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4+ years of experience in commercial construction estimating or related field.
• Projects estimated at $2M or more demonstrated track record.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Construction Science or Construction Management.
• Ability to review drawings, RFP specifications, and create detailed scope sheets.

Responsibilities

• Bid Preparation & Scoping: review drawings and specifications, set up templates, communicate with team.
• Procurement & Partner Management: invite and negotiate with subcontractors and suppliers, build relationships.
• Estimation & Project Oversight: manage templates, review SOVs, document revisions, provide cost reporting.
• Handoff Management: coordinate transition to construction with logs, notices, and risk assessments.
• Documentation: maintain project records, correspondence, and revisions.
• Leadership Reporting: summarize preliminary vs. hard bid costs, competition analysis, and risk.

Skills

Contract Expertise

Analytical Skills

Detail-Oriented

Execution

Communication

Bilingual Spanish

Project Estimating

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Science/Management

Tools

MS Excel

SmartBid

On-Screen Takeoff

Job description

Summary

As the Estimator, you will project and control construction costs for assigned projects, spanning from the RFP to the bidding phase. From reviewing drawings and Schedules of Values (SOV) to project startup through completion, you will play a key role in the ultimate success of our projects.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Bid Preparation & Scoping

• Project Startup: Manage the project bid startup process, including the thorough review and analysis of all drawings and RFP specifications, master template setup, and team communication.
• Scoping: Scope projects to create comprehensive lists of required subcontractors, trades, and materials; write detailed scope sheets.
• Proposal Response: Respond to RFPs in strict accordance with the TBG checklist.

Procurement & Partner Management

• Bid Invitation: Create and distribute bid invitations to subcontractors, specialty trades, and supply houses while monitoring subcontractor competition.
• Negotiation: Negotiate pricing and secure firm commitments for subcontractor participation.
• Relationship Building: Maintain strong ongoing relationships with existing subcontractors and suppliers.
• Strategic Sourcing: Establish new industry relationships to ensure adequate project resources, continuously improve pricing/quality, and implement new purchasing strategies for ongoing cost reductions.

Estimation & Project Oversight

• Template Management: Create estimate templates incorporating TBG and client SOVs, and manage the ongoing SOV review process.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate, up-to-date project correspondence, documentation, and revisions.
• Leadership Reporting: Provide comprehensive recaps to senior management and sales, covering preliminary vs. hard bid costs, competition analysis, scheduling, cost spreads, and subcontractor risk.
• Handoff Management: Manage the transition to construction, including handoff meetings, drawing logs, contractor/subcontractor notifications, project management sub-lists, printed plans, permits, and following up on builder’s risk quotes and bonds.
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications & Skills

• Contract Expertise: Ability to successfully work with cost-plus, GMax, and stipulated sum contracts.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze complex numerical information, construction plans, and drawings to determine precise project requirements and budgets.
• Operational Strengths: Exceptionally detail-oriented with robust documentation, reporting, and organizational skills.
• Execution: Proven ability to manage a variety of tasks effectively while working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines.
• Communication: Strong communication skills tailored for work teams, project managers, vendors, clients, building owners, and senior management.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient with MS Excel, SmartBid, and On-Screen Takeoff (OST).
• Language: Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

Education & Experience

• Experience: Minimum 4+ years of experience within commercial construction estimating or relevant field experience.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Science or Construction Management preferred.
• Track Record: Demonstrated history of successful construction estimating on projects valued at $2M or more.