Program Controls Estimating Manager

AECOM•Baltimore, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

AECOM is seeking a Program Controls Estimating Manager to lead the estimating team on the B&P Tunnel Replacement (BPTR) Program and other project opportunities. AECOM is the delivery partner for Amtrak on the BPTR Program, which involves upgrading a ten-mile section of the Northeast Corridor. The delivery partner team oversees program management, design oversight, construction oversight, commissioning oversight, program controls, and commercial and capacity building. The Program includes new bridges, rail systems, track, and a new ADA-accessible West Baltimore MARC station. The Estimating Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all estimating and cost validation activities for large, complex capital infrastructure and construction programs. This role supports the development, review, validation, negotiation, and reporting of project and program-level cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle. The Estimating Manager interfaces with owners, contractors, program management teams, schedulers, commercial managers, and independent cost estimators (ICEs) to ensure estimates are accurate, defensible, risk-informed, and aligned with program objectives. The position plays a key role in supporting cost governance, change management, forecasting, and executive decision-making.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Finance, or related field
Ten years of estimating, cost engineering, project controls, or commercial management experience on large capital construction or infrastructure programs, or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education, including 2 years of leadership.
Experience reviewing contractor estimates, change orders, and schedules of values.
Experience interfacing with independent cost estimators (ICE) and supporting estimate reconciliation processes.
Experience and understanding of construction means and methods, labor productivity, material pricing, and cost forecasting.
Experience with project controls principles, including scheduling, earned value, forecasting, contingency management, and change management.
Experience in analytical, negotiation, communication, and report-writing skills.
Experience with Microsoft Excel and standard estimating/project controls software platforms.
Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment.

Nice To Haves

Professional certifications such as CCP, CEP, PMP, PSP, or equivalent.
Experience supporting Amtrak or other large public-sector transportation agencies.
Experience with design-build, CMAR, P3, or alternative delivery programs.
Experience with Primavera P6, InEight, Procore, EcoSys, Oracle, or similar PMIS/project controls platforms.
Experience developing risk-adjusted estimates and participating in Monte Carlo or quantitative risk analyses.
Knowledge of Federal Transit Administration (FTA), FRA, or other federal funding and compliance requirements.
Experience supporting commercial negotiations, claims analysis, and dispute resolution.
Experience managing estimating teams or leading program-level estimating functions.
Demonstrated experience with strong attention to detail and commercial awareness
Demonstrated experience analyzing large and complex datasets and developing executive-level summaries.
Demonstrated experience with strong organizational and documentation skills.
Proven experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
Demonstrated experience communicating effectively with executive leadership, contractors, consultants, and client stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Interface with Amtrak’s Independent Cost Estimator (ICE) and provide oversight for the preparation, review, reconciliation, and validation of independent cost estimates.
Review and evaluate contractor-submitted cost estimates, schedules of values (SOVs), change proposals, and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, and contractual compliance.
Lead estimate reconciliation efforts between the owner, contractor, designer, and ICE estimates.
Support commercial negotiations with contractors related to pricing, scope validation, changes, claims, and cost impacts.
Prepare and maintain program-level cost reports, estimate summaries, contingency analyses, forecasting updates, and executive briefings.
Coordinate with project controls, scheduling, commercial, engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure alignment between scope, schedule, risk, and cost.
Support the development and maintenance of cost breakdown structures (CBS), estimate basis documents, pricing assumptions, and estimate governance procedures.
Evaluate labor productivity, unit pricing, escalation, indirect costs, and market conditions to validate estimate assumptions.
Assist in the development of estimate validation processes, benchmarking methodologies, and historical cost databases.
Participate in risk workshops and integrate risk and uncertainty considerations into estimates and forecasting.
Support change management processes by evaluating cost impacts, pricing proposals, and estimate-at-completion (EAC) updates.
Review contractor invoices, progress valuations, and earned value-related cost data as needed.
Ensure estimating practices align with program controls standards, governance requirements, and industry best practices.
Provide support for audits, executive reviews, procurement activities, and stakeholder reporting.
Mentor junior estimators and support continuous improvement initiatives within the estimating function.