Project Estimator

Design Line Construction•San Francisco, CA

9h•$140,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

Design Line builds complex architectural homes with high design standards, exacting detail, and challenging site conditions across the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County, Sonoma Wine Country, and beyond. Our work requires disciplined execution, strong collaboration with architects, owner’s representatives, and consultants, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Every member of our team—both in the field and in the office—plays a role in delivering homes that reflect the design vision, provide an uncompromising client experience, and uphold the high standards we are known for. Through Concierge by Design Line, we also provide ongoing care and stewardship for sophisticated residences, estates, and family properties with tailored, high-touch service. Our culture is grounded in competence, ethical decision-making, respect, a supportive team environment, and authentic communication. The Project Estimator plays a vital role in the preconstruction phase. Core responsibilities include reviewing and executing RFP requests, preparing and/or coordinating budget estimates during Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Document, and Value Engineering exercises during the preconstruction planning phase. The Estimator must be proficient in estimating high-end residential projects, negotiating with contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, budgeting the projects, establishing relationships, and working closely with project managers and owners and their consultants and representatives. The Estimator will perform duties to support business development, marketing, and preparation of construction project cost estimates for both competitive hard bid and negotiated construction projects. The Estimator will be responsible for performing quantity take-offs, solicit supplier/subcontractor bids, proposal preparation, and post-bid documentation. This role requires a combination of technical expertise and collaboration to ensure projects are estimated with precision, professionalism, and care.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in construction management or equivalent experience
Minimum 5 years of experience in construction projects
Proficiency with MS Office with an emphasis in using Excel spreadsheets
Proficiency in Bluebeam and/or Plangrid; as well as Procore
Ability to build an accurate project estimate, budget and schedule, and communicate to the team and the client’s team clearly and concisely
Complete and thorough technical knowledge of the preconstruction phase and active project phase for residential high-end construction
Ability to anticipate challenges and bring solutions
Communicates directly, professionally and with integrity
Exceptional client and stakeholder management and follow through
Prioritizes team success and actively supports others
Strong focus on quality and accuracy
Willingness to travel to construction sites

Responsibilities

Reviews and evaluates requests for estimates and communicates with Design Line leadership on feasibility of the request and validity of a DLC budget effort
Prepares an RFP list of potential vendors and subcontractors for review and distribution
Prepares and manages a bid calendar to ensure timely completion and delivery of estimates
Reviews estimates with the Design Line project team, and edits the budget for completeness and accuracy
Reviews construction documents and understands scope of work to bid
Executes internal take-offs of construction documents using Plangrid or similar software
Inputs take-offs into Design Line’s proprietary budget spread sheet
Obtains pricing for materials; obtains bids from subcontractors and vendors
Prepares cost analysis by calculating material, labor, equipment, subcontractor proposals, vendor input and ongoing input from the DLC project team
Makes an estimate where predetermined standards are not available
Informs the project team of any observed inaccuracies or omissions in the project documents
Evaluates subcontractor proposals and asks qualifying questions and levels multiple proposals for same scopes of work to determine best outcome
Develops and maintains resource information on products, vendors, subcontractors, government requirements, etc.
Attends project team meetings and sales meetings as required
Photocopies documents and plans
Active support for on-going projects
On-going budget tracking and control
Reviews newly issued documents for change in cost
Develops pricing for additional work and subcontractor changes
Works with Project Engineer to document cost changes
Distributes change orders to PM for review and issuance to owner team
Submit Requests for Information (RFIs) to the architect, vendor and/or client for bid document clarification
Participate in start-up and close-out meetings with project personnel to convey the scope of work, complete the budget conversion and gather subcontractor and budgetary feedback
Perform strategic and peer reviews of estimating efforts generated by others
Review subcontractor qualifications and develop and promote new subcontractor relationships
Prepare Conceptual Estimates
Generate Preliminary Estimates based on in-house take-offs
Develop Detailed Estimates/Bids to include subcontractor/vendor quotes, in-house labor/material take-offs, and unit costs
Develop subcontractor/vendor bidders lists pursuing multiple competitive bids per trade
Direct site visits to evaluate specific features/constraints to incorporate criteria into estimates
Analyze and qualify subcontractor bids, evaluate alternative materials or work processes, and refine installation and material rates by assemblies
Develop line item contingencies based on risks imposed by incomplete, inaccurate or non-comprehensive bid documents
Author clear, concise, and accurate estimate/contract notes to delineate Assumptions, Exclusions, Clarifications and Allowances
Perform value engineering and construction detail review to help client and architect refine design and budget