Cost Estimator

Cost Estimator (Education & Public Sector) – Philadelphia, PA

Our client, a renowned consultancy and ENR Top 100 CM/PM firm with a 25-year legacy of excellence, is seeking a high-caliber Cost Estimator to join their team in Philadelphia. This is a pivotal onsite role, driving financial precision for high-impact K-12 and higher education projects that shape the future of the built environment.

The Opportunity

You will serve as a strategic financial authority, developing accurate estimates at critical design milestones and managing complex change order pricing. Working at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and procurement, you will be responsible for maintaining total cost control and facilitating informed decision-making for high-profile public-sector clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Detailed Estimation: Develop comprehensive cost breakdowns, quantity takeoffs, and unit pricing for all major building systems across various design stages.
• Proposal Analysis: Rigorously review contractor bids, proposals, and change order requests for accuracy, scope alignment, and cost reasonableness.
• Financial Modeling: Prepare conceptual estimates and cost models to support early-stage planning and funding decisions.
• Value Engineering: Identify and evaluate cost-saving alternatives and participate in negotiations to achieve fair and equitable pricing.
• Stakeholder Management: Present cost findings and variance analyses to district leadership, design teams, and community stakeholders.
• Data Management: Maintain historical cost benchmarking data to ensure accurate forecasting and track budget risks during the construction lifecycle.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of construction estimating experience, with a heavy preference for K-12, higher education, or public-sector building projects.
• Technical Proficiency: Expert level in quantity takeoff software, estimating databases, and construction cost modeling tools.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Certifications: Professional designations such as CEP (Certified Estimating Professional) or CPE (Certified Professional Estimator) are highly preferred.
• Presence: Ability to be onsite 5 days per week at the client’s Philadelphia offices.
• Attributes: Strong negotiation skills, analytical precision, and the ability to interpret complex A/E drawings at all stages of completion.

Contacts

For more information on this role and others, please call 1 786 863 8225 and speak to Daniel Crowley at Heatherdaniel international.

HeatherDaniel International is a construction recruitment agency. Our deep-rooted knowledge of the industry means we have insight into which companies will enable you to achieve your career ambitions. We recruit for a number of developers, contractors & consultancies. If you are looking for a Quantity Surveyor JOB based in Washington DC. Or another position as a Quantity Surveyor, Project Quantity Surveyor, Cost Engineer, Commercial Manager or Associate Director please contact our experienced consultants to discuss your career aspirations on 1 786 863 8225. You can visit our website at heather-daniel.com