Cost Estimator

RTD • Plaza, ND

7d • $92,003 - $129,955 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Cost Estimator provides technical leadership, oversight, and quality assurance for capital cost estimating activities supporting multidisciplinary infrastructure investments within RTD’s Infrastructure and Planning Services (IPS). This position supports project managers, engineering staff, planners, and technical stakeholders in developing, reviewing, and validating conceptual, preliminary, and detailed cost estimates throughout project development and delivery. The role promotes consistent estimating practices, validates estimate assumptions, identifies scope gaps and project risks, supports budget development and reconciliation, and drives continuous improvement in estimating methodologies and cost analysis practices across infrastructure and planning projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering required, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in construction estimating or a similar role in an infrastructure, commercial or industrial environment, including experience with project scheduling, project bidding, cost management, and/or cost analysis.
• Possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver’s license and a motor vehicle record that meets RTD driving standards.
• Experience developing or reviewing conceptual estimates with incomplete or evolving scope definition.
• Experience reviewing, validating, or auditing estimates prepared by multidisciplinary teams, consultants, or contractors.
• Strong knowledge of project scheduling, construction methods, materials, job assembly, construction equipment and estimating best practices.
• Strong understanding of conceptual estimating methodologies and risk-based estimating principles.
• Ability to read and synthesize complex information presented in scopes of work, drawings, specifications, and related project materials with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to identify scope gaps, estimate assumptions, and potential cost exposure during early project development phases.
• Strong analytical, organizational, research, mathematical, and strategic thinking skills in complex infrastructure delivery environments.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and make informed decisions.
• Knowledge of construction scheduling and sequencing, and the ability to anticipate and mitigate potential delays.
• Knowledge of applicable design and construction permitting requirements and processes.
• Ability to perform quantity take-offs from plans.
• Ability to work with estimating-related systems, databases, project scheduling and document control systems, and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong facilitation, collaboration, and mentoring skills across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information effectively to diverse audiences.
• Strong time and workload management skills, including planning, organizing, and prioritizing assignments, manage competing deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) or Certified Estimating Professional (CEP).
• Experience working in a public agency, transit, or highly regulated environment.
• Experience supporting transportation, public infrastructure, utility, facilities, or capital improvement programs.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Serves as technical subject matter expert for cost estimating, providing guidance and mentorship to IPS staff during project scoping, development, and budgeting activities; leads the development and continuous improvement of IPS cost estimating practices.
• Develops and maintains standardized cost estimating methodologies and templates for RTD infrastructure and planning projects.
• Develops conceptual, preliminary, and detailed cost estimates for infrastructure and planning projects of varying sizes and complexities, including rail infrastructure, stations, operating facilities, parking structures and lots, roadway and sidewalk improvements, bridges, and wall projects.
• Supports conceptual estimating for planning-level and early-stage development projects with evolving or incomplete scope definition.
• Reviews and validates cost estimates prepared by consultants, contractors, and internal staff to ensure consistency with RTD standards, project objectives, and industry best practices.
• Analyzes scopes of work, drawings, specifications, manufacturer information, site conditions, access, schedules, and related project documentation to identify inconsistencies, constructability concerns, and potential cost impacts.
• Conducts estimate reviews and cost analyses during procurement activities, design progression, project changes, and budget reconciliations.
• Prepares cost “check” estimates for change orders and contract amendment negotiations.
• Identifies scope gaps, constructability concerns, escalation considerations, contingency requirements, and estimate risks impacting project budgets and delivery assumptions.
• Collaborates with Program Management, Asset Management, project delivery teams, and other stakeholders to improve estimate quality and budget alignment.
• Participates in contractor negotiations related to project scope, pricing, and change orders.
• Gathers publicly available data to validate proposed budgets, bid trends, including vendor pricing, construction costs, market trends, and price fluctuations.
• Monitors and analyzes regional construction market trends, labor availability, commodity escalation, and procurement conditions affecting infrastructure and planning projects.
• Develops and maintains relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors to obtain pricing, product, and market information supporting cost estimating and budgets.
• Supports development of long-range planning assumptions and estimate-to-complete forecasting for infrastructure and planning projects.
• Supports project cost risk assessments and development of risk-informed estimating methodologies for infrastructure and planning projects.
• Evaluates cost data and market conditions to provide recommendations regarding contingency levels, escalation assumptions, and budget risk mitigation strategies impacting project budgets and delivery assumptions.
• Reviews and evaluates cost estimates for accuracy and completeness and conducts estimate audits and peer reviews at key project development milestones.
• Presents estimates and conducts cost-benefit analyses for stakeholders.
• Monitors project budgets and costs, updating estimates throughout project development and delivery phases.
• Maintains estimating records and supporting documentation within RTD document control systems and IPS project management practices.
• All other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits (RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level