Senior Consultant (Construction Cost Estimating)

Engineering Systems Inc; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in the United States seeks a Senior Consultant with expertise in construction cost estimating. The role involves conducting forensic investigations, analyzing project documentation, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team on complex cases. Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years' experience and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. This full-time position comes with a competitive salary between $130,000 and $180,000 annually and offers opportunities for bonuses based on performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in construction cost estimating and project management.
• Experience in building damage mitigation across various structures.
• Ability to prepare technical reports and provide expert testimony.

Responsibilities

• Conduct forensic investigations and expert analysis of construction costs.
• Create high-quality technical reports and client presentations.
• Manage project scope within prescribed budget and schedule.

Skills

Construction cost estimating

Communication skills

Report writing

Project management

Client interaction

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related field

Tools

Xactimate

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Any ESI location not a remote position

Salary Range: $130,000.00 To $180,000.00 Annually

ESi’s Civil Structural Practice Group is seeking a Senior Consultant with deep expertise in construction cost estimating. This role involves forensic investigations, expert analysis, and consulting regarding construction costs. The ideal candidate is a professional with hands‑on experience managing construction and restoration projects who is ready to apply their knowledge in a forensic consulting environment.

This consultant will conduct site inspections, analyze project documentation, assess construction progress and property damages, and communicate findings through expert reports, presentations, and testimony. This role offers the opportunity to work on challenging cases involving claims, disputes, and failures—while collaborating with ESi’s multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists nationwide.

Compensation will be made up of a competitive base salary as well as bonus potential determined by your own individual performance and the performance of the organization overall.

Key Responsibilities

• Authors high-quality technical reports.
• Conducts well-developed and well-prepared client presentations.
• Testifies in court or provides depositions if requested by clients.
• Establishes work plan, staffing, and budget for each project phase and arranges for assignment of project personnel.
• Confers with project staff to outline work plan and to assign duties, responsibilities, and scope of authority.
• Directs and coordinates project within prescribed schedule and budget scopes.
• Confers with project personnel to provide technical advice and resolve problems.
• Seeks technical advice and oversight from more experienced consultants when necessary.
• Coordinates proper internal project technical reviews.
• Works with Business Development to identify potential clients and strategies to build client base.
• Actively participates in Business Development activities, including client meetings, presentations, and appropriate conferences.
• Mentors earlier-career employees in growth and development.
• Actively seeks to develop professionally in skills, experience, and industry reputation.
• Actively works to develop client base and book of business.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related field required.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 5‑years’ experience in construction cost estimating, building damage mitigation, performing large scale investigations, project management, and technical report writing and preparation.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating construction and building damage (e.g., fire, water, storm loss) across a wide range of structure types (e.g., single & multi‑family residential, commercial, educational, healthcare, hospitality, etc.).
• Experience with construction cost estimating software (e.g., Xactimate) required, with software certification preferred.
• Ability to interact with clients in a professional manner and develop business both internally and externally.
• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner both orally and in writing.
• Experience preparing technical reports and providing expert testimony desired.
• Must be available to travel occasionally as part of the national practice.
• Multidisciplinary project management preferred.

Computer Skills

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint as well as Adobe Acrobat Professional.
• Windows Operating System experience highly preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and sit. Travel and field inspections may involve walking, climbing, and carrying equipment up to 30 pounds.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Most of the work is in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work may occasionally be outdoors, in an industrial workplace, a construction site, or in unheated buildings and might be in noisy and dirty work spaces.

It is the policy of ESI, as an equal opportunity employer, to attract and retain the best qualified individuals available, without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. ESI is committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting people with disabilities, as well as veterans.