Senior Estimator - School Construction

Armand Corporation is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to provide construction cost estimating and technical review services in support of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA). Minimum eight (8) years of full-time professional experience in construction, design, engineering, or a related technical field, including a minimum of five (5) years of direct construction estimating experience. Candidates without at least five years of construction estimating experience will not be considered.

The Senior Estimator will work with SCA project personnel, design professionals, consultants, contractors, and other technical stakeholders to develop and evaluate construction cost estimates throughout various phases of project design and construction. A key responsibility of this position is the independent review and evaluation of contract estimates prepared by private consultants and providing recommendations to SCA regarding whether those estimates are reasonable, complete, and appropriate for implementation.

The successful candidate will also prepare detailed estimates, quantity takeoffs, and cost analyses; evaluate proposed contract changes; participate in cost negotiations; and identify cost discrepancies, risks, or omissions that could affect project budgets.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of construction methods, labor, materials, equipment, drawings, specifications, and cost development, with estimating expertise in one or more disciplines including architectural, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing construction.

Job Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate contract estimates prepared by private consultants for accuracy, completeness, reasonableness, and consistency with project scope, drawings, specifications, and applicable SCA requirements.
• Prepare written analyses and recommendations regarding whether consultant-prepared estimates are appropriate for SCA implementation, identifying significant discrepancies, unsupported assumptions, omissions, or potential cost exposure.
• Prepare detailed construction cost estimates for projects at various stages of design and construction, including conceptual, design development, bid, and construction phases.
• Develop and/or review detailed cost estimates incorporating labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor costs, general conditions, quantities, unit pricing, and other applicable construction costs.
• Perform and oversee quantity takeoffs, quantity surveys, and cost evaluations based on design documents, contract drawings, specifications, and proposed contract changes.
• Review architectural, engineering, and construction documents to determine scope, constructability considerations, cost impacts, and potential estimating risks.
• Evaluate consultant and contractor pricing against historical cost data, current market conditions, applicable labor rates, material pricing, productivity assumptions, and other relevant cost benchmarks.
• Prepare independent cost estimates and analyses for change orders, additional work, scope modifications, and other proposed contract changes.
• Review contractor proposals and supporting cost documentation to assess the reasonableness of labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, and other proposed costs.
• Participate in cost negotiations with consultants and contractors, providing technical estimating analysis and recommendations to support SCA's financial interests.
• Identify and reconcile significant variances between SCA estimates, consultant estimates, contractor proposals, project budgets, and other cost benchmarks.
• Confer with SCA personnel, architects, engineers, construction managers, consultants, contractors, and other technical professionals to clarify project scope and resolve estimating discrepancies.
• Prepare clear written estimating reports, cost comparisons, variance analyses, recommendations, and supporting documentation for review by SCA project management.
• Plan, coordinate, assign, and review estimating activities as required, ensuring the quality and accuracy of estimating work products.
• Maintain organized estimating records and supporting documentation suitable for management review, negotiations, contract administration, and audit purposes.
• Perform other related estimating and cost-management duties in support of SCA capital projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related construction discipline.
• Minimum eight (8) years of full-time professional experience in construction, design, or a closely related technical field.
• Minimum five (5) years of direct construction estimating experience is required.
• Demonstrated estimating experience in at least one major construction discipline, including architectural, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing.
• Demonstrated ability to independently prepare detailed construction cost estimates and quantity takeoffs.
• Experience reviewing contractor and/or consultant estimates and supporting construction cost negotiations.
• Strong understanding of construction drawings, specifications, contracts, construction methods, materials, labor, and cost development.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Adobe Acrobat, and applicable estimating tools/software.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project locations throughout the New York City area as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience estimating large-scale public-sector, educational, institutional, transportation, or other complex capital construction projects.
• Experience evaluating change orders and preparing independent cost estimates.
• Experience representing an owner, construction manager, or program management consultant in contractor cost negotiations.
• Familiarity with New York City school construction costs, labor conditions, and public-sector contracting requirements.