Position Summary

The Estimator position with RBA Builders serves an essential function in construction operations through the preparation and/or supervision of conceptual and hard bid estimates for competitive or negotiated bids. The RBA Estimator handles day to day work challenges confidently and is willing and able to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities, ambiguity and rapid change while showing resilience in the face of time constraints, frustrations or adversity while bidding various projects throughout Southern California.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Job requires effective oral and written communication skills combined with excellent listening skills. Must be able to meet multiple, conflicting deadlines. Must be self-motivated, able to set and achieve goals independently with minimum supervision. 

Essential Job Functions: 

• Operations
  • Understands field operations in relation to the construction means and methods with prior exposure to different project types.
  • Has experience with interpretation and understanding of critical project documentation to determine special requirements for work.
  • Prepares take-offs to quantify materials, special tools and labor required to complete work described in the construction documents.
  • Reviews scope of work to identify any work not specifically included in construction documents.
  • Has detailed knowledge of the systems installed by RBA Builders, Inc., and its various subcontractors.
  • Understands the effects of building codes on the cost of work.
  • Understands the effect of general conditions costs.
• Estimating
  • Attends all job walks and related meetings.
  • Compiles and reviews subcontractor proposals.
  • Prepares bids for submission to clients or general contractors.
  • Manages bids, develops bid strategies, clarifications, and qualifications.
  • Analyzes value engineered options and assemble alternates.
  • Participates in final job cost review to determine project status with respect to the original estimate.
• Scheduling
  • Reviews sequencing of work and determines what work must be completed prior to beginning the work being estimated.
  • Understands logic of critical path management (CPM) scheduling systems and can understand the lead times associated with the project schedule.
  • Understands needs associated with procurements log for all long lead material and related costs.
  • Has ability to prepare work schedule and personnel requirements along with a general timeline schedule with rough durations and an overall time frame of the project.
• Business Development
  • Maintains professional relationships with owners, architects, subcontractors, and vendors.
  • Maintains a network of material sales representatives to stay abreast of the latest developments in the products used in work.
  • Maintains and builds subcontractor base to meet needs of core markets for RBA construction projects.
  • Assists marketing staff in pursuing new work opportunities.
• Financial Understanding
  • Has a detailed understanding of project cost control systems, and how they relate to proper cost coding, and sub status reports.
  • Conducts research to obtain data on labor costs, materials, and production times to ensure accuracy of all bids and/or estimates.
  • Ability to determine key variables in predicting cost overruns with data analysis, forecasting and budgeting.
  • Evaluates project completion to ensure that costs were kept in line with forecasts.
• Contract Agreements
  • Understands the basics of owner’s contract: AIA 101, AIA 111, AIA General Conditions to contract.
  • Understands the basics of RBA standard subcontract agreement and how risk is transferred from General Contract to Subcontract agreements.
  • Capable of managing and communicating the scope of work interpretation for a subcontract agreement.
  • Has the ability to transfer relevant information to project team necessary for creation of subcontract agreement.
• Communication
  • Speaks clearly and expresses self well in both group and one to one conversation
  • Actively listens and conveys understanding of comments and questions posed by others and tactfully requests clarification in situations where needed.
  • Communicates clearly and effectively through both formal and informal documents, reviews and edits written work constructively.
  • Ability to bring substantive conflicts and/or disagreements into the open and attempts to resolve them in a collaborative and amicable consensus.
• Strategic Thinking
  • Gathers relevant information systematically and considers a broad range of issues or factors while grasping complexities and identifying relationships among problems.
  • Ability to seek input from others and use accurate logic in analyses to make sound judgements that are timely and often under conditions of uncertainty.
  • Generates new ideas; goes beyond the status quo; recognizes the need for new or modified approaches; brings perspectives and approaches together, combining them in creative ways.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• AFLAC
• FSA
• Life insurance
• Paid Time Off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education, Experience and Requirements:

• (EST 1-2) Associate degree in related field and/or 1-5 years of combined estimating experience in the construction industry or production environment. 
• (EST 3) Bachelor’s degree in related field and/or 5-7 years of estimating experience in the construction industry or production environment.Strong process improvement and scheduling experience.
• Valid California driver’s license.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check for badging purposes at high security jobsite.