Senior Estimating Manager

STV Incorporated; New York (NY); On-site; USD 234,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid time off

Job summary

STV Incorporated is seeking a Senior Estimating Manager for its New York City office. The role directs estimating strategy, governance, and execution for large transportation programs, leading a team of estimators and cost engineers.

The candidate brings 20+ years of cost estimating, cost engineering, and project controls experience with complex mega-projects valued at $10B+. The position emphasizes strategic leadership, development of estimating procedures, and collaboration with executive

Qualifications

• 20+ years of cost estimating, cost engineering, or project controls experience.
• Experience leading estimating on mega programs valued at $10B+.

Responsibilities

• Direct development of estimates across project phases from conceptual through closeout.
• Lead five+ estimators and set performance expectations.
• Oversee cost databases, benchmarks, and independent estimates.
• Provide executive-level cost advisory services and client engagement.
• Integrate project controls with cost estimates and schedules.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Cost estimating

Risk management

Forecasting

Financial controls

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Sage Estimating

HCSS HeavyBid

Primavera P6

Power BI

CostX

RSMeans

Kahua

eBuilder

Oracle Primavera Cloud

Job description

STV is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Estimating Manager to join our Project Controls Department in our New York City office. This senior leadership position will be responsible for directing estimating strategy, governance, and execution across some of the nation's largest and most complex and ambitious transportation programs in the country. The ideal candidate will possess more than 20 years of progressive cost estimating and project controls experience, including leadership responsibility on mega-programs valued at $10 billion or greater. This individual will oversee a team of estimators, establish estimating standards and methodologies, provide executive-level cost advisory services, and serve as a trusted partner to clients, project leadership, and executive stakeholders. The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of capital program delivery, cost engineering, risk-based estimating, change management, forecasting, and financial controls while helping drive continued growth of STV's Project Controls practice throughout the Northeast and nationally.

What You Will Do

Strategic Estimating Leadership

Establish and lead estimating strategies, methodologies, standards, and governance processes across major programs and portfolios. Direct development of conceptual, planning, design, procurement, and construction phase estimates. Serve as the senior technical authority for estimating practices and cost management initiatives. Develop and maintain enterprise estimating procedures, benchmarking standards, and cost databases. Provide executive leadership regarding project cost performance, budget development, and financial risk exposure. Support strategic business planning and major pursuit efforts through development of program-level cost strategies. Conduct independent estimate review for high-risk or high-value projects.

Team Leadership & Practice Development

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of five or more estimators, cost engineers, and project controls professionals. Establish performance expectations, quality standards, and professional development plans for estimating staff. Support workforce planning, recruiting, succession planning, and technical training initiatives. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Promote adoption of advanced estimating technologies, digital project delivery tools, and data analytics solutions.

Cost Estimating & Cost Engineering

Direct preparation and validation of estimates across all project phases, including: Conceptual Planning Feasibility Studies Preliminary Engineering Design Development Final Design Procurement Construction Oversee quantity take-offs, pricing strategies, market evaluations, productivity assessments, and cost modeling activities. Evaluate escalation, contingencies, allowances, and risk adjustments associated with major capital programs. Develop independent cost estimates and provide estimate reconciliation for large infrastructure initiatives. Guide historical cost databases and benchmarks to improve estimate accuracy and consistency.

Mega-Program Cost Management

Provide estimating leadership for complex infrastructure programs exceeding $10 billion in total program value. Support program budgeting, forecasting, and long-range capital planning initiatives. Analyze trends, market conditions, labor impacts, escalation factors, and procurement risks affecting project costs. Collaborate with executive program leadership to identify opportunities for cost optimization and risk reduction. Support program-level financial reporting and executive decision-making.

Risk & Change Management

Lead risk-based estimating and quantitative cost risk analysis efforts. Evaluate change orders, contractor claims, and scope modifications impacting project budgets. Develop independent opinions of probable cost and support dispute resolution activities. Participate in value engineering initiatives and cost optimization workshops. Assist in development of contingency strategies and program risk mitigation plans.

Client & Executive Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as the primary estimating representative to owners, public agencies, executive leadership teams, and program stakeholders. Lead executive estimate presentations, budget reviews, and cost validation workshops. Build and maintain trusted client relationships while identifying opportunities for expanded project controls services. Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering, construction management, and project controls teams.

Project Controls Integration

Ensure alignment between cost estimates, project schedules, risk registers, forecasts, and reporting systems. Collaborate with project controls managers, schedulers, cost engineers, and PMIS teams. Support implementation of integrated project controls processes, dashboards, and performance reporting solutions. Contribute to earned value management and program performance measurement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Project Management, or related discipline. Master’s preferred. 20+ years of progressive experience in cost estimating, cost engineering, or project controls. Demonstrated experience leading estimating efforts on infrastructure, transportation, aviation, transit, energy, water, or capital improvement programs valued at $10 billion or greater. Proven experience managing and developing a team of five (5) or more estimators. Extensive experience preparing and reviewing: Conceptual Estimates Engineer's Estimates Independent Cost Estimates (ICE) Program-Level Estimates Life-Cycle Cost Analyses Risk-Based Estimates Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, procurement strategies, and project delivery models. Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and industry-standard estimating software, such as Sage Estimating or HCSS HeavyBid. Exceptional analytical, communication, negotiation, and leadership skills. Ability to effectively communicate with executive leadership, clients, and technical teams. Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with Primavera P6, Power BI, CostX, RSMeans, Kahua, eBuilder, Oracle Primavera Cloud, and other project controls platforms. Experience supporting Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CM/GC, and Public-Private Partnership (P3) delivery models. MBA or advanced technical degree.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting major public-sector agencies such as MTA, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NYSDOT, NJ Transit, Amtrak, FAA, or other large transportation authorities. Experience on large-scale transit, rail, aviation, tunnel, bridge, highway, or vertical construction programs. Ability to guide or assist with modern estimating technologies and collaborate with digital solutions teams to enhance data-driven estimating practices. ASPE Certified Professional Estimator (CPE), AACE International Certified Cost Professional (CCP), or equivalent certification.

Compensation Range: $233,646.46 - $259,607.18

Benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Back-Up Dependent Care
• Parental Leave
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good‑faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,400 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 32nd in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 10th in its transportation category. STV is deeply committed to investing in its people and creating a world‑class employee experience. We are passionate about mentoring, coaching and cultivating our talent because we know they are destined to become the next generation of industry leaders. We’re also committed to delivering formative career experiences – and we do that by providing challenging and unique work experiences, by mapping multiple ways to advance (beyond the traditional career ladder!) and by recognizing those who successfully chart new and exciting paths for the firm. We value a wide range of perspectives and experiences, without regard to any factor or characteristic, regardless of whether it is a category protected by federal, state and/or local law, making them an integral part of how we work. Our approach ensures that every individual is respected, heard, and given opportunities to contribute meaningfully. We remove barriers and create pathways for growth, embedding fairness into our daily operations. Learn more atstvinc.com. STV exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places and the present to the future. Our local teams throughout the country deeply understand the needs of their communities and have the expertise to provide solutions. We are also committed to giving back to our communities and our neighbors through volunteering and philanthropic activities; fundraising events; scholarships, internships, and mentoring; and sustainability and community improvement projects. Learn more.

STV provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.