ESTIMATING ASSISTANT

DICKINSON CAMERON CONSTRUCTION•New York, NY

1d•$24 - $28•Onsite

About The Position

This role supports the estimating team by coordinating the bid process, managing documents, and performing technical tasks related to project scope and bidding. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication, particularly via phone. The assistant will handle tasks ranging from initial document control and subcontractor outreach to detailed plan reading, quantity takeoffs, scope writing, and bid form preparation. Additionally, the role involves project administrative support, including coordinating logistics and assisting with closeout procedures.

Requirements

A BS or BA in construction, engineering, architecture, or a related field OR at least (1) year working in the field, shop, or office of a general contractor, subcontractor, or design firm (architect / engineer).
Proficient on a computer.
Typing speed >= 40 WPM.
Ability to type with both hands on the keyboard (no hunt and peck).
Proficient in BlueBeam Revu, Adobe Acrobat, or similar.
Familiarity with MS Office: Excel, Outlook, Word.
Highly organized, meticulous, & ability to prioritize multiple tasks at once through to completion.
Effective communication skills and interpersonal faculties.
Ability to read the room, understand subtlety and nuance.
Strong interest in construction management / contracting / building spaces.

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge with reading construction plans.

Responsibilities

Coordinate bid process from receipt of RFP to submission of bid deliverable.
Secure Landlord rules & regulations and create SharePoint bid sites.
Download bid documents and construction drawings, combine them into unified bid sets, and upload to SharePoint.
Generate subcontractor bid lists in BidMail and upload bid documents to the plan room.
Send bulk ITB to selected contacts and call subcontractors nationwide to ensure receipt of ITB.
Solicit interest, secure commitments to bid, and lock down qualified proposals from subcontractors.
Make an average of forty calls or more per day during busy season.
Leave detailed notes in BidMail and update subcontractor contact information and bid-specific information.
File received subcontractor bids by DCC code & trade, track revision history, and ensure only the most recent bids are included.
Use effective soft skills to build subcontractor trust and rapport through phone and email communication.
Collect RFI questions from subcontractors, route to the main RFI document, and distribute RFI responses.
Perform initial page-turn to identify relevant trades and fill out Pre-Launch form.
Perform deep drawing review to internalize project scope.
Use StackCT takeoff software to measure project scope by DCC code and relevant tags.
Organize scopes of work and associated takeoffs into organized trade leveling sheets using DCC bid book template.
Write clear, concise scopes of work in action-oriented syntax, linking scope to relevant references.
Write clear, effective RFIs that draw out useful information, including marked-up plan snippets.
Compare sub/supplier proposals to DCC trade scope to identify scope gaps and determine the source of disagreement.
Insert budget plugs where a sub is non-responsive.
Evaluate non-scope suitability on a per-sub basis.
Import client Excel bid form into DCC bid book and install formulas to connect bid form to scope pages.
Use C-Code system within DCC bid book to route all scope items/costs to the correct client bid form cost item.
Ensure zero delta between DCC bid amount and client bid form total.
Coordinate superintendent transportation and housing setup within budget.
Work with project coordinators during the closeout process, completing and organizing closeout tasks.
Perform other clerical duties as assigned.
Take direction, notes, and take purposeful action without frequent follow-up.
Navigate unfamiliar construction markets and convert emails and phone calls.
Communicate succinctly, clearly, and effectively.
Be deadline aware and process driven.
Strive to consistently meet or exceed stated department goals.