Senior Cost Manager

Rider Levett Bucknall RLB; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) seeks a Senior Cost Manager in Los Angeles to oversee cost estimation, adhere to quality standards, and ensure client satisfaction. You will interface with clients, consultants, and designers to drive project outcomes and identify value-add opportunities.

The role reports to the Office Director and requires strong leadership in planning, cost control, and proactive communication across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• 4-year college degree in Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Cost Estimating or equivalent recognized technical qualification.
• 5-10 years’ relevant experience in construction cost estimating of a variety of building types from program, conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document stages.

Responsibilities

• Review construction plans and specs during preconstruction to complete quantity take-offs and prepare estimates for all scopes from schematic through final design.
• Prepare value engineering, cost option and cost strategy estimates.
• Prepare independent post- contract estimates and report differences in scope, quantities, and pricing from contractor’s estimate.
• Lead estimating tasks within the Estimating Team and review estimates prior to supervisor final review.
• Compile and analyze data on factors that influence costs, such as materials, labor, equipment and margins.
• Forecast costs of future projects and changes to existing projects.
• Present recommendations to management and client in memos and letters.
• Attend client meetings and participate in design charrettes and workshops.

Skills

Cost estimation

Cost analysis

Project cost control

Client collaboration

Value engineering

Education

4-year college degree in Construction Management or related field

Tools

Estimating software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview Of Role

The Senior Cost Manager is responsible for oversight of cost estimation and adhering to the company’s quality standards and the client’s satisfaction. Employees in this position will interface with clients, consultants, and designers to achieve the project’s goals and ensure that all project activities are consistent with Company policy. The Senior Cost Manager should have the ability to identify opportunities within a project that will add value and help successfully accomplish the client’s desired project outcome.

Title: Senior Cost Manager

Reporting to: Office Director

Salary Range: $111,500 - $148,500

Truth. Trust. Together. Tomorrow.

At RLB, we speak the truth, build for the long term, look out for each other and work to do good. We are driven by outcomes, creating tailored solutions that deliver successful projects. We believe that when we bring together the right people doing things the right way, we make progress for our clients and our communities.

RLB is an award-winning international firm, known for providing property and construction consultancy advice at all stages of the construction cycle. Utilizing its many years of experience and professionally trained employees, RLB continues to firmly establish itself as one of the major players in the construction industry throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. Our employees are involved in a variety of projects across a range of sectors, from sports arenas and healthcare to higher education and convention centers.

As a privately held company, we hire the best people, give them exceptional training, and provide extensive opportunities for professional growth while working on exciting projects, and provide an excellent compensation and benefits package.

Essential Functions

• Review construction plans and specifications during preconstruction to complete quantity take-offs and prepare estimates for all architectural, structural, and civil scopes from schematic through final design for new construction and renovation projects


• Prepare value engineering, cost option and cost strategy estimates


• Prepare independent post contract estimates, including reporting differences in scope, quantities, and pricing from contractor’s estimate


• Work as integral part of our Estimating Team to perform plan and specification analysis, takeoff, and pricing of various types of construction projects


• Acts as lead individual for specific projects


• Review estimates prepared by Estimating Team, prior to supervisor final review


• Compiles and analyzes data on all factors that influence costs, such as material, labor, equipment, and profit margins


• Evaluates cost estimating deliverables prepared by architects and engineers, for cost containment


• Acquires and evaluates historical and vendor cost data for the development of cost estimates and price recommendations


• Accurately forecasts costs of future projects and changes to existing projects


• Prepares technical evaluations, cost estimating draft reports, memos, and letters and presents recommendations to management and client


• Attend client meetings


• Participate in design charrettes and design workshops, including presenting estimates to the client and AE team


• Participate in Value Engineering studies, reconciliations, and negotiations with contractors


• Prepare valuations of work in progress reports from contractor draw requests


• Undertake other cost-related tasks as directed by supervisor, including review of estimates prepared by others


• Assist with training and mentoring others


• Contributes to team performance by collaboration and effective communication.


• Contributes to and understands the clients desired project outcomes, identifies opportunities to add value to accomplish the desired outcomes.


• Adds to team effort by accomplishing other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive proactive approach to the role and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence.

• Minimum Education (or substitute experience) required: 4-year college degree in Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Cost Estimating or equivalent recognized technical qualification.


• Minimum Experience required: 5-10 years’ relevant experience in construction cost estimating of a variety of building types from program, conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document stages of design in elemental and CSI format for all architectural, structural, and civil components of new construction and renovation projects. Some MEP estimating experience preferred. AACE International and/or Certified Cost Professional preferred.


• Knowledge and understanding of execution of cost management services; good planning, organization, and communication skills essential. Understanding of technical and non-technical documents related to cost management services required. Knowledge and use of industry-estimating software and Microsoft Office software programs.

RLB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items.