Senior Architect Cost Estimator - Structural, Airports & Infrastructure

Connico • Cincinnati, OH

4d • $140,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Would you enjoy being involved in executing large-scale, complex airport construction projects?

Connico, founded in 1990, is a leading national construction consultancy known for its extraordinary team and commitment to superior client service. We provide highly specialized consulting services unique to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. As experts in aviation and transportation, we partner with owners, architects, engineers, and planners to deliver excellence in cost estimating, scheduling, planning, and project management.

Position Summary
As a Senior Architectural Cost Estimator, you play a crucial role in leading estimation efforts for architectural and structural systems on large-scale infrastructure projects, including airports. You will oversee critical estimating efforts and support the technical development of your team through mentorship, training, and best-practice development.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, sees the big picture, and enjoys developing others while producing high-quality estimates.

Requirements

• 10+ years of full-time architectural and/or structural estimating experience. Strong structural steel and concrete estimating experience is highly preferred.
• BS in architecture, construction management, engineering, quantity surveying, estimating, or a related field, or equivalent knowledge is required.
• CCP, CPE, RICS, CEP, or equivalent advanced certification.
• Proven ability to independently produce high-quality and precise construction estimates, Levels 1–5, for projects of any size is required.
• Must be able to confidently develop your own cost/pricing estimates from scratch. Must be able to build and maintain cost assemblies, as needed, to ensure accuracy with current pricing.
• Proven ability to manage and lead projects, ensuring timely delivery of accurate estimates, budget adherence, and integration of estimate elements from multiple disciplines required.
• Expertise in estimating software such as On-Screen Takeoff, MII, Success, Timberline, and formats such as MasterFormat and UniFormat is required.
• Ability to interpret architectural, civil, and engineering drawings and specifications at all design levels, including ROM, is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, Excel, Outlook, Word) is required.
• Minimal travel required, including conferences, industry events, site visits, and occasional office visits.

Nice To Haves

• Aviation estimating experience is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Think beyond the plans and specifications to conceptualize project scope, anticipate challenges, and develop accurate cost estimates even with incomplete information. Apply expertise to identify potential gaps and provide strategic solutions.
• Take a big-picture approach to workload management, balancing current project demands while proactively planning for future estimates. Ensure alignment with company objectives, resource availability, and client priorities.
• Effectively manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks, allocating time strategically, and maintaining high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines.
• Guide specialists in analyzing complex interdisciplinary plans and specifications, teaching them how to identify conflicts, missing information, and inconsistencies. Ensure they can effectively communicate discrepancies to stakeholders and provide well-supported recommendations.
• Train specialists in conceptual estimating techniques, estimate reconciliations, and standardized reporting, ensuring they can develop preliminary cost estimates with limited information, validate estimates against benchmarks, and accurately use Connico’s estimate and report templates.
• Train specialists on Connico best practices for performing Quantity Takeoff (QTO), ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and alignment with project requirements through hands-on guidance and mentorship.
• Train specialists on conducting technical reviews of takeoffs, pricing, and cost buildups, ensuring they can assess accuracy, consistency, and adherence to Connico best practices.
• Develop Connico best practices guidelines, educational content and training materials to enhance the skills of the team, ensuring continuous learning and professional growth.
• Perform in-depth quality control reviews on Connico deliverables to ensure accuracy and adherence to Connico best practices.
• Assign workload and manage the distribution of estimating tasks across the team if instructed by the Director of Estimating or Group Lead.
• Develop detailed and timely material and labor cost turnkey estimates for architectural and structural systems. Architectural and structural systems include foundations, special foundations, slab on grade, structure, skin, interior construction, finishes, equipment, furnishings & demolition.
• Provide value engineering assessments of projects based on personal project experience.
• Develop life-cycle cost analysis and benefit-cost analysis.
• Provide technical reports of projects, details, and assumptions utilized to create estimates.
• Analyze contractor bid tabulations and provide an assessment of results.
• Lead estimate cost reconciliations with contractors or third-party estimators as an owner or designer’s representative. Discuss detailed cost information and assumptions relevant to project material.
• Coordinate with other disciplines to avoid scope overlap and ensure a comprehensive project approach.
• Provide high-level cost assessments at a ROM level even when full detail and documentation are unavailable.
• Research and develop unit prices, maintaining clear and concise cost estimates tailored to client needs.
• Complete fee estimates for new proposals and project pursuits.
• Determine costs by building and maintaining cost assemblies, as needed, to ensure accuracy with current pricing. Take ownership of cost and assembly databases by ensuring consistency, keeping data up to date, and making it easily accessible to staff across the company.
• Maintain and manage Connico’s report templates, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and proper version control. Oversee their organization, storage, and accessibility for staff across the company.
• Lead project teams to meet goals, including on-time deliverables and high-quality reports that align with Connico’s core values.
• Assist in developing Connico estimating best practices that can be tracked and organized to create repeatable results.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships by proactively engaging with clients, understanding their needs, and ensuring Connico’s estimating services meet or exceed expectations.
• Act as a trusted advisor, fostering long-term partnerships through clear communication, reliability, and expert guidance.
• Participate in client meetings, site visits, and industry conferences as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive salary starting at $140,000+ with bonus opportunities.
• Continuous professional growth and leadership opportunities.
• Collaborative, mission-driven culture with national impact on airport and infrastructure projects
• Flexibility: hybrid or fully remote for the right candidate.
• Chance to work on high-profile, complex projects that shape the future of aviation and transportation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior