Job Description
Chief Estimator - Mission Critical
US-VA-Herndon | US-MA-Boston
The Role
The Mission Critical Center of Excellence manages billions of dollars in projects annually, specializing in data center and mission-critical construction for leading technology and telecommunications clients across the United States. Focused on fast-paced projects, the group is recognized for delivering complex solutions while offering significant opportunities for career advancement within the thriving mission-critical construction industry. The Chief Estimator, Mission Critical is responsible for managing the Mission Critical Estimating team, including identifying bid opportunities, managing the bid process, delivery of bids, staff development, making cost adjustments and assigning estimating personnel and resources.
This position can be located in Boston, MA, OR Washington DC Metro area
Responsibilities
Department and Staff Management:
- Assign Estimating team members to projects. Balance and manage time of staff.
- Lead bid strategies.
- Create estimating templates and tools to increase overall effectiveness of the department.
- Create monthly estimating reports to track estimating success.
- Perform strategic and business planning and budget development for the department.
- Develop talent on the Mission Critical Estimating team by coaching and providing feedback, and performing annual performance reviews. Create individual development plans for each staff member’s career growth.
Unit Cost Pricing:
- Prepare detailed take off of materials by clearly understanding the complexity of the scope(s) of work as shown on the construction documents.
- Prepare detailed labor estimates utilizing production hours, crews and equipment.
- Obtain and organize the material and labor information for pricing.
- Solicit material prices from suppliers.
- Verify and compare your unit prices or the price of a system with a subcontractor and previous similar estimates.
- Review all unit pricing on projects prepared by the Estimator. Make changes as required.
- Understand the influence of market conditions on pricing.
Bid Activities:
- Review or compile GC's with the Senior Estimator and review with senior management.
- Assure on time delivery of bids and estimates, reviewing final plans and specifications with the Estimating team.
- Review of subcontractor selection and scopes and subcontractor/trade close outs on bid day.
- Review scope sheets and pricing with Estimating team members, ensuring that trade summary ties into bid form.
- Close out the subcontractor bid process.
- Review plans and specs with the lead Estimator. Assist the lead Estimator in directing additional staff assignments on bid day.
- Manage bid day activities by ensuring completion of bid forms, managing the clock and trying to develop a competitive advantage. Follow up with the client regarding bid results.
- Make Subcontractor, A/E fees, overhead, and fee recommendations to upper management.
- Identify pre-construction fees, where applicable.
Experience and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or related field
- 10+ years of experience estimating Mission Critical projects
- Quantity Surveys, Take off skills, Computer Skills
- Working knowledge of Excel spread sheets, and Word processing programs
- Ability to work with and manage a team of a various Estimating roles. Understanding of Construction Documents specific to Mission Critical projects
- Ability to read & interpret blue prints in order to understand the scope of work at SD, DD and CD phases of design.
- Ability to coordinate construction document plans, details and specifications.
- Ability to apply CD details to a conceptual set of documents to capture all cost impacts of the details.
- If called to the table or awarded the bid, review the estimate and discuss strategy with the team for any holes, value management, or potential profit pockets.