Senior Cost Estimator-Change Management & Cost Assurance

Paco Group

$176K — $198K *
Real Estate & Construction
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Economics, Finance, or related field
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in cost engineering, estimating, project controls, or construction management
  • Proven expertise in validating estimates, cost estimating, change order evaluations, and commercial negotiations
  • Experience supporting major infrastructure construction projects
  • Preferred certifications like CCP, CEP, PMP, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

  • Review and validate contractor and consultant estimates
  • Perform independent cost estimates
  • Evaluate change order proposals and assess impacts
  • Analyze construction methods and schedule impacts
  • Support project risk assessments and cost management strategies
  • Collaborate with project teams and present findings to leadership
  • Facilitate workshops for estimate reviews and commercial discussions

Benefits

  • 401(k) with employer matching
  • Health, dental, and group life insurance
  • Paid time off and paid holidays
  • Support for professional development and training programs
Full Job Description
Employment Type:

Full time

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Experience supporting major infrastructure construction projects• Proven expertise in:o Estimate validationo Independent cost estimatingo Change order evaluationo Commercial negotiations

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Economics, Finance, or related discipline

Hourly Rate:

Senior Cost Estimator - Change Management & Cost Assurance

Location: NY, NY
Employment Type: Full-Time

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Estimator to provide independent cost estimating, estimate assurance, and commercial support for major capital infrastructure programs. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned estimating professional who thrives in large, complex transportation and infrastructure environments and enjoys working alongside project leadership to ensure cost accuracy, commercial integrity, and successful project delivery. If you have extensive experience reviewing contractor estimates, evaluating change orders, and supporting commercial negotiations on multi-million or billion-dollar infrastructure projects, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll Do

Cost Estimating & Estimate Assurance
  • Review and validate detailed contractor and consultant estimates
  • Perform independent cost estimates (ICEs)
  • Analyze quantities, labor productivity, equipment utilization, indirect costs, escalation, and contingency
  • Evaluate estimating methodologies and identify cost risks
  • Benchmark estimates against industry standards
  • Provide expert recommendations regarding estimate accuracy and completeness

Change Management & Commercial Support
  • Review contractor change order proposals and claims
  • Evaluate labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, profit, and schedule impacts
  • Develop independent pricing to support negotiations
  • Support contract administration and dispute resolution
  • Recommend fair and reasonable pricing strategies

Construction Cost Support
  • Analyze construction means and methods
  • Evaluate sequencing, phasing, access restrictions, and schedule impacts
  • Assess commercial risks during construction
  • Support forecasting, contingency management, and cost reporting
  • Provide independent commercial guidance throughout project execution

Risk & Cost Analysis
  • Support project risk assessments
  • Evaluate estimate confidence levels and uncertainty
  • Analyze market trends, labor availability, procurement risks, and material pricing
  • Assist in developing cost management strategies and recommendations


Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Partner with Project Controls, Construction Management, Commercial Management, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and Program Management teams
  • Present estimate findings and recommendations to project leadership
  • Facilitate estimate review workshops and commercial discussions
  • Build strong relationships with contractors, consultants, and stakeholders


Qualifications

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Economics, Finance, or related discipline
  • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in:
    • Cost Engineering
    • Cost Estimating
    • Project Controls
    • Commercial Management
    • Construction Management
  • Experience supporting major infrastructure construction projects
  • Proven expertise in:
    • Estimate validation
    • Independent cost estimating
    • Change order evaluation
    • Commercial negotiations

Preferred
  • Master's degree
  • Experience on projects exceeding $500 million
  • Experience working for owners, program managers, construction managers, or major infrastructure contractors

Preferred Industry Experience

Candidates should have significant estimating experience in one or more of the following:
  • Rail & Transit
  • Transportation Infrastructure
  • Heavy Civil Construction
  • Tunnels
  • Bridges & Highways
  • Utilities
  • Airports
  • Marine & Port Facilities
  • Large Public Infrastructure Programs

Candidates whose experience is primarily limited to vertical building construction may not meet the requirements for this position.

Preferred Technical Skills

Cost Estimating
  • InEight Estimate
  • HeavyBid (HCSS)
  • CostOS
  • Cleopatra Enterprise
  • Sage Estimating / Timberline
  • Success Estimator

Project Controls
  • Primavera P6
  • Oracle Primavera Cloud
  • Microsoft Project

Commercial & Change Management
  • Kahua
  • EcoSys
  • ARES PRISM
  • Procore

Data & Reporting
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel
  • Power Query
  • Pivot Tables
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • Microsoft 365

ERP Systems
  • Oracle
  • SAP
  • Deltek
  • Sage

Preferred Certifications

Highly desirable certifications include:
  • Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
  • Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
  • Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP)
  • Decision & Risk Management Professional (DRMP)
  • Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Professional Engineer (PE)
  • MRICS or FRICS
  • Certified Professional Constructor (CPC)

Candidates actively pursuing these certifications are encouraged to apply.

Compensation

Good-faith compensation rate range is around $85-$95 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, certifications, technical expertise, and client requirements.

Benefits Summary
• 401(k) and 401(k) Employer Matching.
• Health Insurance.
• Dental Insurance.
• Group Life Insurance, LTD and AD&D.
• Paid Time Off.
• Paid Holidays.
• Professional Development Assistance.

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