Senior Cost Estimator

HDR; Pennington (NJ); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Senior Cost Estimator who will play a crucial role in capital cost estimating within the company. This position entails analytical work along with providing technical direction to staff and ensuring project cost efficiency. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in the construction field and will contribute to HDR's commitment to high-quality engineering and environmental management.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Retirement savings plan with employer match

Paid time away

Employee referral bonus

Tuition reimbursement

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years' related experience required.
• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office software.
• Certifications in cost estimating preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform general or discipline cost estimating and data analysis.
• Support reporting and prepare detailed documentation.
• Participate in estimate reviews and presentations.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication

Team Leadership

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Construction Management or Construction Science Engineering

Tools

PACES

MCACES

BlueBeam

Job description

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At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

Environmental, Operations and Construction (EOC) operates within HDR’s Federal Business Group, capable of delivering services across all HDR business groups at any location. Our work is performed by our professional staff, scientists and engineers at remote sites, embedded in client office space or our own facilities. EOC delivers quality engineering, environmental, and construction management services at competitive prices.

In addition to posted locations, this position is open to other locations across the United States.

In the role of Senior Cost Estimator, we'll count on you to:

• Perform general or discipline cost estimating generating capital cost and/or services estimates; data analysis identifying problems and make recommendations; and control activities for project and/or proposal efforts
• Support estimate reporting and reviews
• Prepare basis and assumption documentation denoting rationale, inclusions and exclusions
• Prepare detailed notes, assumptions, and documentation in support of estimate development
• Execute simultaneous tasks within broadly defined parameters
• Provide technical direction to assigned personnel when delegated
• Prepare services, distributable, contractor indirect and/or capital cost estimates in specialized discipline areas using current techniques and market pricing
• Prepare cost/schedule products for planning and design deliverables
• Provide input on the level of effort required (cost/job hours) through coordination with functions and/or vendors, and consolidate input for costing
• Perform quantity takeoffs from conceptual or design drawings for multidiscipline sections and customize forms to reflect best effort
• Prepare detailed Job Office Cost models to capture labor/other direct costs (ODC’s)
• Produce capital costs estimate using a unit-cost, or crew-based, approach including formation of crews from multiple disciplines
• Provide detail pricing for manual labor rates
• Develop unit rates for discipline specific items
• Assist in developing conceptual quantities to supplement partial design-build design documents
• Identify, solicit, and obtain vendor quotes for major cost drivers, properly identifying source and cost data in each estimate
• Calculate fee based on established fee model
• Identify and develop appropriate escalation based on current market conditions
• Support risk analysis assessment by identifying areas of risk and potential cost impacts
• Support development of reasonable contingency for projects in design
• Assist in developing unit staffing, job hour and pricing data for a specific discipline or other specialty, including estimating parameters, factors, indices, and craft distribution reference data based on analysis of HDR and industry experience
• Perform data analysis, identify problems and make recommendations
• Identify or define data sources and techniques for data acquisition
• Prepare reports and estimate summaries for estimate reviews, as directed by supervisor
• Participate in estimate reviews and presentations as appropriate
• Work within assigned budget and time parameters to deliver products in a timely basis
• Use parametric and other estimating practices to decrease time needed while still achieving a complete estimate
• Carry out all activities required for estimate deliverable, including Initial kickoff/communication with PM, preparation of requests for information and maintaining accurate documentation
• Provide feedback on the level of effort (LOE) required to complete work if needed
• Volunteer to accept pending estimating jobs or seek out more estimating needs
• Perform all activities required to quantify the scope of construction, estimate organization (WBS), and tasks/line-item identification and creation
• Develop appropriate markups for direct costs, contractor assignments, owner’s markups, and justifications
• Prepare reports per regulatory guidance
• Follow QC and QA procedures
• Submit work to maintain and increase professionalism
• Support training activities as needed
• Perform other duties as needed
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications (one or more): CPE, CCT, CEP, PSP, EVP, PMI-SP, PMP, CCM, PRMP, DRMP, PE
• Ability to interpret construction schedules
• Ability to develop electronic takeoffs
• Experience with PACES, MCACES, BlueBeam software
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or Construction Science Engineering or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 10 years' related experience
• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office software
• Advanced understanding of construction estimating concepts, construction scheduling and elements associated with Risk
• Intermediate Management fundamentals
• Able to lead small project estimates
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
  
  

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Albany, NY: $109,200 - $156,000; Englewood, CO: $120,120 - $171,600; Pennington, New Jersey $125,580 - $179,400

Primary Location:

United States-Oklahoma-Tulsa

Other Locations:

United States-Arizona-Phoenix, United States-Georgia-Atlanta, United States-Virginia-Glen Allen, United States-New York-Albany, United States-Oklahoma-Oklahoma City, United States-Florida, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-New Jersey-Pennington, United States-Colorado-Englewood

Industry:

Federal

Schedule:

Full-time

Employee Status:

Regular

BusinessClass:

EOC SR and M Construction

Job Posting:

Jun 4, 2025
At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management, Consulting, and Engineering

• Industries

  Civil Engineering, Architecture and Planning, and Environmental Services

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