Project Estimator (Dallas, TX or Tulsa, OK areas)

ONEOK•Tulsa, OK

5d•$99,000 - $149,000

About The Position

The Project Estimator develops, maintains, and optimizes estimates, cost models, and scope-based forecasting tools to support business processes, service quality, and continuous improvement across the oil and gas value chain. The role manages moderately complex estimating activities from initial concept through execution support, translating business, operational, and project requirements into accurate, scalable estimating solutions that improve planning quality, cost visibility, and decision-making. The Project Estimator partners with Operations, Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Finance, and other stakeholders to define estimating assumptions, evaluate alternatives, and produce cost and resource estimates aligned with safety, regulatory, operational, and service expectations. The position applies estimating discipline, process knowledge, and data-driven insights to strengthen project controls, improve estimate quality, and support consistent execution across assets, facilities, and business initiatives. Candidates should be based in or willing to relocate to the Dallas, Texas, or Tulsa, Oklahoma areas. Travel to field sites or project locations may be needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Business, Project Controls, or a related field is typically required.
At least 6 years of related experience in project estimating, project controls, cost analysis, planning, or similar work is typically required.
Knowledge of project estimating principles, cost modeling techniques, and project controls practices.
Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and cost reporting processes.
Knowledge of business process improvement and quality-oriented work practices.
Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including the ability to interpret complex cost and scope information.
Strong attention to detail and ability to build accurate, well-supported estimates.
Effective communication and collaboration skills with technical, operational, and business stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple estimates, priorities, and deadlines.
Proficiency in spreadsheets, cost models, databases, and project reporting tools.
Ability to work independently with minimal guidance on moderately complex estimating assignments.
Ability to solve complex problems and apply sound judgment to estimate development and analysis.
Ability to assess risk, challenge assumptions, and recommend practical solutions.
Ability to travel to field sites or project locations as needed.
If assigned a company vehicle based on job tasks, an applicable driver’s license is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting capital, operational, process improvement, or service-related initiatives.
Experience in oil and gas, energy, industrial, manufacturing, or other asset-intensive environments.
Experience developing moderately complex estimates and working with cross-functional project stakeholders.
Experience with estimating systems, spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools.
Understanding of oil and gas operations, facilities, project environments, and cost drivers.
Familiarity with estimate classification, scope development, and change impact evaluation.
Professional certifications in estimating, project controls, cost engineering, or project management.

Responsibilities

Develop and prepare moderately complex project estimates, cost models, and resource forecasts for business process, service quality, operational improvement, and related project initiatives.
Define estimate bases, assumptions, exclusions, and methodologies appropriate to scope, maturity, and project complexity.
Translate technical, operational, and business requirements into structured estimates for planning, prioritization, and execution decisions.
Evaluate estimate quality and recommend adjustments based on scope changes, market inputs, historical performance, and execution risks.
Support estimate package development and documentation for consistent application across projects and initiatives.
Analyze labor, materials, equipment, contractor, and indirect cost inputs to develop cost projections.
Monitor estimate-to-actual performance and identify trends, variances, and forecasting improvement opportunities.
Maintain cost benchmarks, historical databases, unit rates, and estimating reference information.
Support scenario analysis, what-if modeling, and alternative evaluations.
Collaborate with project controls and Finance to align estimates with budgets, forecasts, and reporting requirements.
Improve estimating processes, templates, workflows, and data quality to increase consistency, efficiency, and usability.
Standardize estimating practices and documentation to support repeatable execution and quality control.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance planning quality, resource visibility, and service reliability.
Support implementation of process changes, system enhancements, or digital tools that improve estimating capability and reporting quality.
Promote disciplined estimating practices aligned with operational needs and quality expectations in an oil and gas environment.
Gather scope information and validate estimate inputs with Operations, Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Finance, and other stakeholders.
Facilitate alignment on assumptions, risks, schedule drivers, and resource needs.
Communicate estimate development approaches, key drivers, risks, and recommended actions to stakeholders and leadership.
Serve as a resource for estimating methodologies, cost modeling, and estimate quality practices.
Provide timely, decision-ready estimating information for cross-functional planning and prioritization.
Identify estimate risks, uncertainties, and key cost drivers and document them in estimating assumptions.
Maintain records of methodologies, revisions, approvals, and supporting data to improve auditability and traceability.
Ensure estimating outputs align with internal controls, project governance expectations, and company standards.
Support estimate quality, process compliance, and documentation completeness reviews.
Help develop scalable estimating practices that reduce rework and support consistent decision-making.
Prepare estimate summaries, dashboards, and reporting materials for business planning and project reviews.
Analyze estimating data to identify patterns, lessons learned, and opportunities to improve quality and predictability.
Provide insights to help stakeholders evaluate alternatives, prioritize investments, and manage execution risk.
Support leadership decisions through analysis of estimate changes, assumptions, and cost impacts.
Lead portions of projects or estimating workstreams within broader initiatives and support consistent estimating practices across the team.