Senior Project Cost Estimator

Level Five Painting, LLC; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company specializes in painting seeks an experienced Cost Estimator to manage the preparation of construction cost estimates. The ideal candidate will have a background in architecture or engineering, possess strong analytical skills, and provide oversight on cost review processes. This position requires 10 years of professional experience and offers an opportunity to work on diverse building projects.

Qualifications

• 10 years full-time paid experience in cost estimation.
• Extensive experience in estimating scope of work for change orders.
• Ability to quickly identify differences between estimates and contractor proposals.

Responsibilities

• Plans and supervises cost estimations for construction projects.
• Prepares and reviews cost estimates for grants and loans.
• Confers with architects to resolve cost discrepancies.

Skills

Cost estimation

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering or construction management

Job description

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Plans, supervises, and participates in the preparation of construction cost estimates of buildings or other structures from drawings, outlines, and specifications
• Prepares and reviews cost estimates and forms and other materials submitted to secure State and/or federal grants and loans from school aid programs and represents the District on matters pertinent to securing such funds
• Checks construction cost estimates submitted by commissioned architects and engineers for accuracy and completeness and compares them with District estimates
• Confers with commissioned architects and engineers to resolve differences in their cost estimates and District estimates for each project and negotiates agreements on preliminary estimates of construction costs
• Makes studies and prepares reports when contractors' bids vary widely from the agreed construction cost estimate
• Checks segregations of contract costs as estimated by building contractors and recommends acceptance or rejection as a basis for progress payments
• Analyzes change orders on construction work under contract and approves or rejects extras or credits submitted
• Prepares or reviews cost estimates for projects
• Establishes and maintains procedures for approval of plans and specifications for building projects and submission of approved projects to public bidding
• Develops methods for maintaining data used in records, charts, and graphs reflecting estimated construction costs compared with actual costs
• Conducts and participates in seminars and workshops with staff and minority contractors relative to school construction bidding procedures, contracts, and cost estimating
• Estimates costs of damages to District property caused by fire, natural disaster, and major acts of vandalism
• Establishes budgets for school building projects
• Assists other branches with related functions
• Prepares preliminary and final independent cost estimates of projects for comparison with designer or contractor for PM/CM to establish negotiating position
• Prepares change order estimates for Owner Authorized Representatives to establish negotiating position
• Provides support in price negotiations
• Prepares claim analyses and estimates
• Reviews contractor’s claims and proposals for merit and accountability
• Performs related duties as assigned

Required Experience/Skills:

• 10 years full time paid professional experience in the preparation of complete cost estimates for type I, II, or III, and V building construction as defined by the State building code, including two years in a supervisory capacity
• Knowledge of current local construction labor and material costs
• Extensive experience in developing and estimating the scope of work for change orders
• Ability to compare the independent cost estimate with contractor proposal to quickly identify differences
• Ability to develop scope of work based on RFI/RFC answers and estimates the detailed costs of those scopes of work independent of the contractor proposal
• Good oral and written communications skills

Required Education:

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering or construction management.