Job Details

The Senior Estimator plays a key role in setting the project up for success by ensuring all probable costs and preconstruction considerations have been reviewed and included in the estimate. By so doing, the project team is better able to administrate the project, manage relationships, and secure more work through excellent performance. The Senior Estimator prepares comprehensive estimates and budgets by joining with trade partners and vendors, performing quantity take-offs, and utilizing historical cost data. You bring a strong general knowledge of commercial construction practices and build expertise by digging in deep to specifically assigned scopes of work. You will have experience in multiple project types and have expert-level knowledge of one or more. This experience gives you an intuitive understanding of market values, and they exhibit mastery in managing and using historical data. The successful candidate will act as a Bid Captain for the company's largest, most complex projects (up to $100 million) and supervise the efforts of other Estimating Team members or support the team by focusing on specifically assigned scopes of work and managing all aspects.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Be a leader and a positive role model as an ambassador to the community by living PETRA's Culture and Petra's Core Values. Further the advancement of OUR Vision and Mission Statements.
• Partner with colleagues to clearly understand project objectives and metrics of success, communicate them to the project team, and ensure they are met.
• Conduct market research into current construction industry trends, methods, new materials and products, and costs.
• Survey proposed project sites for suitability and needed logistics and adjust the estimate accordingly.
• Create preliminary construction schedules.
• Facilitate the “hand-off” meeting to Operations for awarded projects, providing detailed history to the project team.
• Perform conceptual estimating (or rough order of magnitude “ROM”) as required for proposed projects.
• Manage all document control for projects, update them as revisions are received, and distribute changes to bidders and trade partners.
• Partner with Risk Management to understand and estimate insurance and security needs and review potential trade partners and vendors and assess their ability to perform work.
• Analyze bids and proposals submitted by trade partners and vendors, compare to the project requirements, evaluate pricing for accuracy, and document info on bid-leveling sheets.
• Create budgets/estimates based on project documents, perform updates as plan design progresses, perform analysis of changes between revisions, and report to the project stakeholders.
• Ensure that estimates include provisions for any required general or scope-specific safety needs.
• Create and maintain the clarifications and assumptions document for the project. Ensure the products and materials included in bids align with project requirements, communicate to the TEAM when they are not, and make plans to address discrepancies.
• Maintain a database of trade partners and vendors, their areas of expertise, and capacity to perform work.
• Submit pre-bid requests for information, distribute addendums to bidders, and verify inclusion in final bids and proposals.
• Facilitate bid review meetings with the estimating team and operations team and company leadership.
• Complete bid proposal forms and submit final bids to owners and requesting parties.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience as an Estimator in the construction industry is required. A bachelor's degree in construction management is desired or Construction Engineering and Technology, Engineering OR any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties (required).
• Demonstrated mastery of knowing how to evaluate and estimate projects, integrate schedules, and ask the right questions of all the project stakeholders (design team, owners, Operations, Estimating).
• Expert working knowledge of different contract types including hard-bid/lump-sum, cost-plus, and guaranteed-maximum price is required.
• Experience successfully negotiating contracts and agreements and resolving issues with project partners.
• Highly proficient at reading and interpreting construction drawings, specifications, and other contract documents.
• Experience in researching issues, determining clear courses of action, and demonstrating decisiveness.
• Intermediate to expert-level proficiency in MS Office Suite of programs, such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint and cost estimating software required is required.
• Experience with a bid distribution platform such as Building Connected, SmartBid, or similar is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of generally accepted construction practices and processes.
• Strong demonstrated experience managing, coaching and mentoring team members.
• High standard of ethics, fairness, and appropriate transparency with bidders and partners.
• OSHA 10-hour and CPR/first aid certification required either initially or upon hire.
• Must be organized, reliable, punctual, and be able to work in a team-oriented atmosphere while maintaining confidentiality.
• A proven self-starter with the ability to manage and maintain timelines and deadlines.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to clearly understand and champion company mission and values.
• Embrace, advance and promote Safety as a Core Value, including mental and physical safety, creating a culture where work is performed safely or not at all; there is no compromise.
• Ability to collaborate with various departments and personnel at various levels of management and of diverse personalities.
• Ability to read and understand critical path method (CPM) schedules.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate discretion.
• Excellent presentation, writing, and communication skills with the ability to multi-task and change direction quickly.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, self-directed, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to take appropriate action with firmness and tact.
• Ability to effectively simplify and communicate complex issues.