Residential Construction Estimator
About The Position
Alvarez Construction is hiring a Residential Construction Estimator to own estimates for the plans and lots it builds. The role performs quantity takeoffs from architectural and structural plans and builds and maintains plan and lot budgets in Newstar. It keeps vendor pricing and bids current, prices structural and design options, and reviews variance purchase orders to identify and address cost changes. The estimator works closely with construction project managers and Purchasing to ensure budgets reflect actual costs. This is the first hire in a restructured purchasing and estimating group. The estimator is expected to take ownership quickly, scrutinize costs, and help establish a more disciplined process as the company expands. The position supports new communities and expansion into Youngsville and Lafayette, including market-specific pricing and vendor development. The role also supports monthly job scrubs by reviewing estimated cost to complete for open jobs, researching over-budget jobs and subdivisions, recommending justified budget revisions, and preparing revisions for upload into Newstar. It collaborates with Accounting on month-end cost reporting when needed. The position is based in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, with regular visits to local communities and occasional travel to Youngsville/Lafayette.
Requirements
- At least 3 years of estimating experience with a residential or production homebuilder.
- Ability to perform accurate residential plan takeoffs using takeoff software such as AutoCAD, Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Screen Takeoff, or similar.
- Strong Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, and creating clear, verifiable workbooks.
- Working knowledge of residential construction sequence, trades, materials, and how a house is built.
- Willingness to visit the field to understand how trades use materials and to address issues at their root.
- Accuracy and ability to check work and recognize questionable numbers.
- Ownership and ability to follow issues through to resolution.
- Analytical judgment and ability to identify patterns in variances and explain them clearly.
- Clear communication with field staff, vendors, and leadership.
- Organization and ability to manage multiple communities, plans, and deadlines.
- Curiosity about costs and interest in improving building and purchasing practices.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with a homebuilder ERP such as Newstar, BuildPro, or Hyphen.
- Experience with variance POs, purchasing, or job cost reporting.
- Degree in construction management, engineering, finance, or a related field; equivalent experience is also accepted.
Responsibilities
- Perform quantity takeoffs from architectural and structural plans for new plans, revisions, and new communities, and enter them into Newstar.
- Build and maintain accurate, complete plan and lot budgets in Newstar.
- Update budgets when plans, specifications, elevations, or vendor pricing change, and document what changed and why.
- Set up budgets for new communities and the Youngsville/Lafayette expansion, including market-specific pricing.
- Maintain current vendor and trade pricing in Newstar, including price increases, new agreements, and effective dates.
- Prepare bid packages, request bids, and compare bids line by line against scope, plans, and quantities.
- Source, vet, and onboard trade partners and suppliers, including verifying insurance and W-9 information; develop vendor depth and backup coverage for trades; establish Master Service Agreements and payment terms.
- Identify exclusions, scope gaps, and mismatched pricing before they are incorporated into budgets or purchase orders.
- Support Purchasing in vendor negotiations with cost data and pricing history.
- Price structural and design options using takeoffs and current vendor costs, and maintain consistent, profitable option pricing across communities with Sales and Purchasing.
- Review variance POs daily, identify root causes, correct budgets or processes, and challenge unjustified variances.
- Track cost variance patterns by community, plan, vendor, and cost code, and recommend ways to prevent repeat variances.
- Support monthly job scrubs by reviewing estimated cost to complete for open jobs against budgets, POs, and actual costs.
- Research over-budget jobs and subdivisions and recommend budget revisions when warranted.
- Prepare lot budget revisions for upload into Newstar and confirm they posted correctly.
- Work with construction project managers on scope, field conditions, plan changes, and cost questions.
- Partner with Purchasing on pricing, POs, and vendor issues; work with Accounting on month-end cost reporting when needed.
- Communicate clearly and early when numbers do not align.
- Visit construction sites to understand trade practices, material use, and the root causes of issues.
Benefits
- Medical insurance after 90 days of employment.
- Dental insurance after 90 days of employment.
- Vision insurance after 90 days of employment.
- 10 days of prorated vacation after 90 days.
- Other paid time off per the Alvarez Employee Manual.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
