Estimator - Residential Construction

Company Description

The Brittenum Group, based in Northwest Arkansas, is a development and construction organization dedicated to building quality, sustainable communities. Through its family of companies—Brittenum Construction, Brittenum Residential, and Precision SiteWork—the group delivers a seamless approach to land development, infrastructure, and homebuilding. From site preparation to final finishes, their integrated teams ensure projects are completed with efficiency, quality, and long-term value. Guided by principles of integrity, collaboration, and community focus, The Brittenum Group has a long-standing reputation for creating places people are proud to call home.

Role Description

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Estimator to join our residential construction team. The Residential Construction Estimator owns the material take-off (MTO) — the material list — for Brittenum Residential’s single-family “for-sale” homes. This role analyzes plans and specifications to produce and maintain the single authoritative material take-off (product codes and quantities) per plan and elevation, organized to MarkSystems cost codes, with appropriate waste factors, ensuring full quantity accuracy. The Estimator does not apply pricing, build the dollar-value base budget, or negotiate pricing — those duties belong to the Purchasing Agent (pricing the MTO into the base budget) and the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager (negotiation, award, and budget release). The Estimator works closely with the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Agent, Draftsman/Designer, and Field teams, and feeds material take-off variance data back into estimating templates to keep quantities consistent across budgeting, bidding, and purchasing.

Qualifications

• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for all phases of residential construction, including site work, foundation and flatwork, framing, siding and exterior trim, windows, roofing, drywall, masonry, interior trim carpentry, flooring, countertops, finishes, and trade-specific scopes.
• Build the complete material list — product codes and quantities for structural, architectural, and finish components, standardized across communities — with appropriate waste factors, and validate quantities against plans and field conditions. Quantities only, with no pricing applied; the Purchasing Agent prices the material list into the base budget.
• Review blueprints, specifications, and plan revisions for missing scope, conflicts, or constructability issues; conduct field validations to verify takeoff accuracy.
• Organize the material list by MarkSystems cost code so the Purchasing Agent can price it into the base budget and PO/variance tracking flows seamlessly. The Estimator does not request, collect, or compare bids and does not prepare the dollar-value budget; bid administration and base budget build belong to the Purchasing Agent.
• Maintain the material take-off and material-list quantities in the estimating systems (Planswift, or similar) and supply them in MarkSystems cost-code format; ensure quantities are accurate and current prior to purchasing and construction starts. The Estimator does not enter, build, or maintain the dollar-value budget — that is the Purchasing Agent (pricing) and the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager (release).
• Identify lot-specific material quantity impacts (grading, retaining, soil, utility tie-ins, driveway/drainage) and supply option/upgrade material quantities for the Purchasing Agent to price. Pricing structures, allowances, option/upgrade pricing, lot-premium and dollar adders are owned by the Purchasing Agent and Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager.
• All cost negotiations with vendors, subcontractors, and trade partners are performed by the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager. The Estimator does not negotiate pricing; pricing concerns, discrepancies, or counteroffers are forwarded to the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager for resolution.
• Supply accurate quantities by trade to support the bid packages and scopes of work. The Estimator does not author or co-develop scopes of work (authored by the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager and Area Construction Manager) and does not assemble or submit bid packages (owned by the Purchasing Agent); the Estimator supplies the underlying quantities only.
• Ensure full quantity coverage across the material list and identify quantity gaps or overlaps between trades so all materials are captured. Maintain the Materials Database so every material item itemizes accurately and transfers cleanly to the PO. Distribution of plan revisions, addenda, and specifications is owned by the Draftsman/Designer and Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager
• Surface quantity-driven material savings opportunities (waste-factor refinement, standardization) and flag them to the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager. Value-engineering decisions, pricing strategy, and sourcing are owned by the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager.
• Minimize waste and inefficiencies in material quantities and waste factors across plans and communities; flag quantity-related risks for the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager. The Estimator does not estimate labor or set trade scopes.
• Provide accurate, timely quantities so the Purchasing Agent and Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager can align total cost to the target gross margin and sales pro-forma. Market/commodity pricing analysis and budget adjustments are owned by the Purchasing Agent and Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager.
• Coordinate closely with the purchasing, construction, sales, and design teams to align estimates with selections, options, change orders, and scopes of work.
• Assist with procurement issues, pricing discrepancies, and variance reviews; support field teams with cost clarifications and trade scope questions.
• Maintain professional working relationships with vendors and trade partners for the purpose of bid clarifications and scope review; communicate regarding bid requirements, scope clarifications, plan revisions, and documentation needs. Pricing discussions and cost negotiations are directed to the Purchasing Manager.
• Own material take-off (MTO) variances in the weekly variance review; track quantity/take-off accuracy versus actual cost per plan/elevation and by trade, and refine and version-control the estimating and material-list templates. (The Area Construction Manager owns field/construction variances and the Preconstruction/Purchasing Manager owns overall budget variances.)
• Deliver estimates on schedule to support job starts, sales releases, and construction timelines; provide timely status updates to the direct manager.
• Job Duties are subject to change based on growth in the Residential Construction Estimator role.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong residential construction knowledge, including materials, scopes of work, trade sequencing, and field operations.
• Ability to review and decipher multiple scopes of work from blueprints; maintain accurate, detailed takeoffs with a high level of accuracy.
• Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including cost analysis, variance review, and value engineering.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; ability to manage multiple detail-oriented tasks and competing deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong organizational skills, follow-through, and a process-driven mindset.
• Ability to coordinate professionally with vendors and trade partners on bid clarifications, scope review, and documentation; cost negotiations are managed by the Purchasing Manager and are not the responsibility of the Estimator.
• Ability to identify cost-saving opportunities and process improvements; sound professional judgment when reviewing plans, bids, scopes, and budgets.
• Team-oriented, able to work well under pressure, and able to manage assigned projects independently with integrity, accountability, and a strong work ethic.

Experience

• Degree in Construction Management, Construction Science, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of residential construction estimating experience.
• Ability to read and interpret residential construction blueprints and specifications and produce accurate material take-offs; experience with plan takeoffs, material lists, waste factors, and MarkSystems cost coding.
• Strong knowledge of residential construction methods, materials, trades, sequencing, and field operations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook; experience with Planswift or similar estimating/takeoff tools and familiarity with ERP systems such as MarkSystems preferred.

The Brittenum Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.