Senior Estimator

ZipRecruiter; City of Syracuse (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Senior Estimator to join its Project Controls team. This full-time position involves providing detailed cost estimates and ensuring all estimating outputs meet industry standards. The successful candidate will play a key role in project investment decisions and lead estimation processes across various projects.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost estimation within the construction, engineering, or related sectors.
• Familiarity with latest industry trends in cost estimation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop CAPEX and OPEX estimates across all classes.
• Prepare Basis of Estimate documentation and support governance reviews.
• Train and mentor junior team members in estimating processes.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Professional certification in cost estimation (CEP)

Job description

Job Description

Job Type: Full-time (Mon-Fri), Permanent – Hybrid (4 days in the office)

Location: PBS (Semco) Westhill, Aberdeenshire

The Senior Estimator plays a critical role within the Project Controls function, providing robust, data-driven cost estimates that inform project investment decisions, baseline definition, and financial forecasting across all stages of the project lifecycle.

Reporting to the Lead Estimator, the role ensures the integrity, accuracy, and traceability of estimating outputs, supporting value assurance, change control, and performance management frameworks in line with best practices.

As a key contributor to the wider Project Services team, the Senior Estimator promotes integrated planning, supports the onboarding & change management process, and ensures estimating standards, tools, and processes are consistently applied across the portfolio to enable scalable and repeatable project delivery.

Details/duties:

•Development of CAPEX and OPEX Estimates across Class 5 to Class 1 in accordance with approved estimating procedures and industry standards

•Preparation of Basis of Estimate (BoE) Documentation, clearly outlining assumptions, exclusions, methodologies, escalation, and contingency rationale for governance reviews.

•Develop estimation strategies and methodologies to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the estimation process.

•Integrated Estimate Reviews with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Project Services to validate scope, quantities, unit rates, and risk allowances.

•Liaise with project management and procurement teams to gather comprehensive data for accurate costing.

•Training and Mentoring of Junior members of the team, fostering capability development across the estimating and wider project controls team.

•Continuous Improvement of Estimating Tools and Templates, ensuring alignment with corporate standards, digital estimating platforms, and evolving best practice

•Interrogate & challenge data from engineering, cost, planning and procurement departments.

Qualifications/Experience required:

•Essential: Experience in cost estimation within the construction, engineering, or related sectors, with proven leadership experience.

•Essential: Experience with international projects and advanced project estimation techniques.

•Desirable: Professional certification in cost estimation, such as AACE’s Certified Estimating Professional (CEP).

•Desirable: Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering related field

•Essential: Familiarity with the latest industry trends in cost estimation and project management.

•Essential: Understanding Project Controls principals

•Essential: Exceptional analytical and numerical skills for high-level cost analysis.

•Essential: Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously

•Essential: Excellent communication and negotiation skills to effectively deal with stakeholders and external parties.

•Essential: Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously

•Desirable: Advanced problem-solving skills to handle complex estimation challenges.