Estimator

Position Overview 

The Estimator is responsible for preparing and supporting accurate, complete, and competitive estimates for multifamily, affordable housing, senior housing, workforce housing, market-rate, and related construction projects. The role supports projects from early conceptual pricing through final bid review and transition from Preconstruction to Operations. 

This position requires the ability to read and interpret construction documents, perform quantity takeoffs, evaluate subcontractor and vendor proposals, develop scope sheets, identify document deficiencies, apply value engineering, and communicate pricing and scope information clearly to internal and external stakeholders. 

The Estimator must have working knowledge of construction pricing, subcontractor scopes, bid documentation, compliance requirements, project funding considerations, and project phasing. Success in this role requires accuracy, organization, sound judgment, professional communication, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced preconstruction environment. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Bid Administration and Document Management 

• Manage bidder communication, including bid invitations, calls, emails, follow-ups, and correspondence with subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers. 

• Prepare, issue, store, distribute, and maintain bid documents, including drawings, specifications, reports, addenda, pre-bid conference notes, sample subcontracts, insurance and bonding requirements, wage scales, compliance requirements, alternates, schedules, bid packages, logistics plans, front sheets, HUD forms, and related project information. 

• Review and distribute addenda and other updates to ensure bidders are working from current project information. 

• Maintain organized digital bid files, proposal folders, takeoff files, scope folders, bid trackers, bidder lists, and estimating records. 

• Collect, organize, and track subcontractor proposals, vendor quotes, subcontractor information forms, MWSBE certifications, and other required bid or compliance documentation. 

• Maintain updated subcontractor and vendor lists, including contact information, trade categories, certifications, bid participation, pricing history, and relationship notes. 

Document Review, Takeoffs, and Scope Development 

• Analyze bid and contract documents to gain a thorough understanding of project scope, requirements, risks, and opportunities. 

• Read and interpret drawings, master project specifications, addenda, reports, schematic design documents, design development documents, construction documents, and other source information. 

• Perform quantity takeoffs using Bluebeam and other estimating tools for assigned scopes and CSI divisions. 

• Identify deficiencies, inconsistencies, conflicts, omissions, scope gaps, and unclear requirements in drawings, specifications, addenda, and other project documents. 

• Develop RFIs based on document review, consultation with the estimating team, design team, client, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders. 

• Provide pricing support for document deficiencies, unclear scope items, and gaps in the project documents. 

• Develop scope sheets for assigned trades and divisions using company templates and estimating standards. 

• Prepare scope clarifications documenting inclusions, exclusions, alternates, allowances, assumptions, and pricing conditions. 

• Participate in scope review meetings and ensure assigned scopes are complete, accurate, and aligned with project documents. 

• CSI divisions may include, but are not limited to: 

• Division 01 - General Requirements;  

• Division 02 - Existing Conditions;  

• Division 03 - Concrete; Division  

• 04 - Masonry; Division  

• 05 - Metals; Division  

• 06 - Wood, Plastics, and Composites;  

• Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection;  

• Division 08 - Openings; Division  

• 09 - Finishes. 

• Division 10 - Specialties;  

• Division 11 - Equipment;  

• Division 12 - Furnishings;  

• Division 13 - Special Construction;  

• Division 14 - Conveying Equipment. 

• Division 21 - Fire Suppression; Division  

• 22 - Plumbing;  

• Division 23 - HVAC; Division  

• 26 - Electrical; Division  

• 27 - Communications; Division  

• 28 - Electronic Safety and Security. 

• Division 31 - Earthwork; Division  

• 32 - Exterior Improvements and Site Amenities;  

• Division 33 - Utilities. 

Conceptual Estimating, Pricing, and Value Engineering 

• Prepare and support conceptual and detailed estimates at schematic design, design development, and construction document stages. 

• Develop pricing using early design information, historical cost data, subcontractor input, market conditions, labor assumptions, material cost research, and site-specific factors. 

• Determine anticipated or estimated cost of work by scope, square footage, unit cost, or other applicable pricing method. 

• Apply value engineering at conceptual and detailed levels to improve cost effectiveness while maintaining design intent and project requirements. 

• Participate in profit and fee enhancement strategies and identify opportunities to improve project financial outcomes. 

• Identify pricing risks, budget concerns, constructability issues, scope gaps, and cost-saving opportunities. 

• Communicate pricing concerns, value engineering options, and recommendations to Preconstruction leadership. 

Bid Analysis and Subcontractor Evaluation 

• Review subcontractor and vendor proposals for completeness, accuracy, exclusions, qualifications, alternates, allowances, unit pricing, scope gaps, and compliance with bid requirements. 

• Prepare bid tabs, leveling sheets, scope comparisons, pricing summaries, and recommendation notes. 

• Evaluate subcontractor pricing for competitiveness and alignment with drawings, specifications, addenda, scope sheets, internal takeoffs, and project requirements. 

• Compare bidder quantities against internal takeoffs and other bidder quantities to identify variances and potential pricing concerns. 

• Evaluate subcontractors and suppliers for their ability to perform the required scope on each project, including coordination with Operations regarding subcontractor and supplier history. 

• Follow up with subcontractors and vendors to clarify pricing, request missing information, confirm scope understanding, and resolve inconsistencies. 

• Present organized and well-supported estimates for assigned scopes to senior estimating leadership, project leadership, and clients as needed. 

• Maintain historical pricing information, subcontractor feedback, lessons learned, and market trend data to support future estimates. 

Subcontractor, Vendor, Client, and Team Coordination 

• Develop and maintain strong subcontractor and vendor relationships to support reliable bid coverage, competitive pricing, and market feedback. 

• Demonstrate working knowledge of subcontractor means, methods, timing, sequencing, and trade-specific considerations. 

• Communicate bid requirements, scope expectations, deadlines, compliance requirements, and documentation needs to subcontractors and vendors. 

• Coordinate with owners, developers, architects, engineers, consultants, subcontractors, vendors, Operations, project teams, and regional leadership during the estimating process. 

• Support client relations by preparing clear, organized, and professional estimate information and participating in estimate presentations, bid reviews, pre-bid conferences, subcontractor meetings, outreach events, and industry functions as needed. 

• Represent the company professionally in all estimating-related communications and interactions. 

• Provide guidance and review work prepared by less experienced estimating team members when assigned. 

Compliance, Funding, and Bidding Requirements 

• Understand project funding sources and how they impact bidding, procurement, documentation, subcontractor requirements, compliance obligations, and estimate structure. 

• Demonstrate working knowledge of market-rate, affordable housing, public, private, and federally funded work, including governmental agency requirements such as HUD, FEMA, GLO, and similar agencies when applicable. 

• Explain project-specific compliance requirements to subcontractors, including requirements related to affordable housing, MWSBE, Section 3, Davis-Bacon, HUD, CDBG, LIHTC, wage scales, bonding, insurance, and similar requirements. 

• Collect and organize compliance-related subcontractor documentation during the bidding process. 

• Understand the differences between private and public work, as well as sole negotiated and competitive bid work. 

• Develop working knowledge of Block’s front sheet and HUD Form 2328, when applicable. 

• Maintain working knowledge of contractual solicitation requirements and bidding procedures. 

Project Site Review, Phasing, Workflow, and Handoff 

• Visit project sites as needed to gather information related to existing conditions, logistics, access, site constraints, and other factors that may affect pricing or execution. 

• Understand project phasing, sequencing, site logistics, procurement timing, and workflow from early pursuit through turnover to Operations. 

• Prepare estimates that consider phasing, trade sequencing, site constraints, schedule requirements, long-lead items, green building requirements, and project execution needs. 

• Identify phasing or workflow concerns that may impact pricing, constructability, subcontractor scope, or project delivery. 

• Support a clear handoff from Preconstruction to Operations by documenting scope assumptions, pricing basis, exclusions, risks, alternates, allowances, and commitments made during the estimating process. 

Technology and Process Standards 

• Use Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, BuildingConnected, Procore, Microsoft Office, and related estimating tools accurately and efficiently. 

• Maintain organized digital files and estimating records in accordance with company standards, including scope assignment folders and bid trackers. 

• Support consistency in bid documentation, takeoff files, scope sheets, subcontractor information, estimate summaries, front sheets, and pricing records. 

• Use historical cost data, subcontractor feedback, and lessons learned to improve the quality of future estimates. 

• Follow company estimating procedures and contribute to improved consistency, accuracy, and organization within the Preconstruction department. 

Required Skills and Competencies 

• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, addenda, SDs, DDs, CDs, conceptual design information, bid documents, and contract documents. 

• Ability to perform accurate quantity takeoffs across assigned CSI divisions. 

• Strong knowledge of construction pricing, cost estimating, budgeting, bid document pricing, and scope development. 

• Working knowledge of conceptual and detailed estimating, value engineering, and constructability review. 

• Ability to identify drawing deficiencies, scope gaps, conflicts, omissions, pricing risks, and document inconsistencies. 

• Proficiency in developing scope sheets, scope clarifications, bid tabs, leveling sheets, and pricing summaries. 

• Ability to evaluate subcontractor and vendor proposals and assess subcontractor ability to perform required scopes. 

• Working knowledge of subcontractor means, methods, timing, sequencing, and trade-specific considerations. 

• Strong subcontractor, vendor, client, and internal team relationship skills. 

• Ability to explain compliance requirements to subcontractors and organize related documentation. 

• Knowledge of market-rate and affordable housing project funding, including public, private, negotiated, and competitive bid work. 

• Basic understanding of Block’s front sheet and HUD Form 2328 when applicable. 

• Strong understanding of project phasing, site logistics, workflow, and handoff to Operations. 

• Working knowledge of multifamily construction types, including wrap, podium, garden-style, and wood-framed construction. 

• Working knowledge of green building techniques and construction systems. 

• Proficiency in Bluebeam, Excel, BuildingConnected, Procore, Microsoft Office, and related estimating tools; familiarity with scheduling software such as MS Project, Primavera, or similar programs is preferred. 

• Strong organization, communication, follow-up, problem-solving, and documentation skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and shifting priorities with accuracy and professionalism. 

• Professional judgment, strong work ethic, can-do attitude, and ability to escalate risks or concerns appropriately. 

• Ability to support, motivate, and provide leadership to other team members as needed. 

Education and Experience Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered. 

• 3 years of multifamily, commercial, general contracting, or construction estimating experience preferred. 

• Experience with multifamily product types, including wrap, podium, garden-style, and wood-framed construction, is preferred. 

• Experience with estimating, bid preparation, pre-bid conferences, scope review, subcontractor evaluation, and buyout preferred. 

• Prior experience with governmental agency requirements, such as HUD, FEMA, GLO, or similar agencies, is preferred. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required; experience with Bluebeam and BuildingConnected preferred. 

Physical and Work Environment Requirements 

• Primarily office-based role with occasional attendance at project meetings, site visits, bid walks, pre-bid conferences, subcontractor meetings, outreach events, or industry functions. 

• Ability to review drawings, specifications, and computer-based documents for extended periods. 

• Ability to communicate by phone, email, video conference, and in-person meetings. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced preconstruction environment. 

• Ability to travel as needed.