Senior Cost Estimator

JLL; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with matching

Medical-Dental-Vision

Paid parental leave

Paid time off

Daily Pay

Job summary

JLL is looking for a seasoned Cost Estimator/Cost Manager to support capital planning, budgeting, and ROM/detailed estimates for real estate projects in the Charlotte area. The role demands leadership of the estimating function and collaboration with Client, internal teams, and external partners to deliver accurate, defensible costs.

Responsibilities include standardizing estimation processes, analyzing costs, and ensuring timely delivery within SLAs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or Quantity Surveying.
• Experience analyzing construction documents to extract cost information.
• Knowledge of real estate asset management or commercial construction.

Responsibilities

• Serve as cost estimating subject-matter expert for client accounts and oversee all deliverables.
• Lead the estimating function: prepare estimates, manage workload, ensure SLAs.
• Develop budgets and ROM estimates and communicate with clients and partners.
• Maintain standardized Estimating templates, tools, and quality control.
• Drive cost control practices and track variances against budgets.
• Support onboarding of new estimators and adopt AI-enabled workflows.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Mathematical ability

Ambiguity handling

Education

Bachelor's degree (Architecture/Engineering/Construct Management/Quantity Surveying)

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Project

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Smartsheet

Estimating software

Job description

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented peopleand empowering them tothrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you've got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you're looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Capital Planning, funding approval, and investment decision-making processes with expert cost estimates, analysis and advice
• Function as the primary estimating subject-matter expert for the client account, providing oversight and guidance on all estimating deliverables including vendor proposal and bid evaluation
• Lead the estimating function by preparing estimates, managing team workload, delegating assignments, and ensuring all estimates are delivered within service level agreements
• Represent the estimating function and manage stakeholder expectations by interfacing directly with the Client, JLL teams, and external partners during development of ROM and detailed estimates and budgets
• Review, develop, track, and update detailed cost estimates and budgets during project development and design for inclusion in project funding packages
• Serve as the primary reviewer for all cost estimates, validating accuracy and challenging assumptions to ensure robust and defensible outputs
• Lead the development, implementation, and enforcement of program-wide estimating standards, methodologies, and quality control procedures
• Establish and maintain a suite of standardized estimation templates, tools, and best practices
• Research, develop, and manage strategic initiatives to refine the estimating function, including the creation of an estimate request tracker and estimate comparison tools, and developing and maintaining a historical unit cost database for various project types and scopes
• Prioritize requests to meet or exceed the Client's expectations
• Provide superior client service through objective recommendations

Performance & Process

• Serve as the single point of contact for all estimate requests from the Client and internal JLL teams
• Coordinate the estimating team's daily workload, tracking assignments and progress through a standardized tool to ensure timely delivery
• Provide regular status reports on workload and pipeline to the Cost Estimating Team Lead
• Support the onboarding of new estimating resources by providing guidance on account-specific processes, standards, and tools
• Investigate and incorporate existing and emerging technologies, including JLL's internal AI tools, to automate workflows (e.g., email notifications, preliminary estimate generation) and conduct scope gap analysis
• Periodically compare and verify actual costs against approved budgets and detailed cost estimates then track and report any deviations, variances, or risks
• Leverage historical data to continuously improve program-level benchmarks and cost models
• Provide and maintain accurate and organized records of cost estimates including detailed breakdowns of costs, assumptions, and risk assessments
• Maintain understanding and impacts of market conditions in Client's territories where projects are being executed and stay updated on industry best practices and market trends
• Build rapport with internal and external stakeholders including Client's Real Estate team and internal service providers, project management team, design partners, and contractors
• Enhance overall cost controls service delivery by increasing efficiency and improving processes
• Comply with all JLL policies and procedures, including but not limited to ethics and business practice

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years as an Estimator, Cost Manager or similar role
• Ability to work and communicate effectively within cross-functional teams and interact with internal and external clients and stakeholders
• Strong understanding of real estate asset management or commercial construction
• Demonstrated ability to analyze construction documents and extract relevant cost information
• Highly organized with attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong analytical skills and mathematical abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively, independently and through ambiguity to create structure and consensus

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a preference toward Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or Quantity Surveying
• Knowledge of industry standards and market conditions, costs, and cost databases
• Broad background of project management budgets and schedules
• Intermediate to Expert level in Excel, Project, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Smartsheet and estimating software

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Location:

On-site -Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits may include:

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you'repursuing.

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