Chief / Senior Estimator

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in cost estimating, cost engineering, or project controls.
• Demonstrated experience leading estimating efforts on infrastructure, transportation, aviation, transit, energy, water, or capital improvement programs valued at $10 billion or greater (vertical construction)
• Proven experience managing and developing a team of five (5) or more estimators.
• Extensive experience preparing and reviewing: o Conceptual Estimates o Engineer's Estimates o Independent Cost Estimates (ICE) o Program-Level Estimates o Life-Cycle Cost Analyses o Risk-Based Estimates
• Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, procurement strategies, and project delivery models.
• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and industry-standard estimating software, such as Sage Estimating or HCSS HeavyBid.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate with executive leadership, clients, and technical teams.

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting major public-sector agencies such as MTA, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NYSDOT, NJ Transit, Amtrak, FAA, or other large transportation authorities.
• Experience on large-scale transit, rail, aviation, tunnel, bridge, highway, or vertical construction programs.
• Ability to guide or assist with modern estimating technologies and collaborate with digital solutions teams to enhance data-driven estimating practices.
• ASPE Certified Professional Estimator (CPE), AACE International Certified Cost Professional (CCP), or equivalent certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Familiarity with Primavera P6, Power BI, CostX, RSMeans, Kahua, eBuilder, Oracle Primavera Cloud, and other project controls platforms.
• Experience supporting Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CM/GC, and Public-Private Partnership (P3) delivery models.
• MBA or advanced technical degree.

Job Description

An engineering client is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Estimating Manager to join our Project Controls Department in our New York City office. This senior leadership position will be responsible for directing estimating strategy, governance, and execution across some of the nation's largest and most complex and ambitious transportation programs in the country.

The ideal candidate will possess more than 20 years of progressive cost estimating and project controls experience, including leadership responsibility on mega-programs valued at $10 billion or greater. This individual will oversee a team of estimators, establish estimating standards and methodologies, provide executive-level cost advisory services, and serve as a trusted partner to clients, project leadership, and executive stakeholders.

The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of capital program delivery, cost engineering, risk-based estimating, change management, forecasting, and financial controls while helping drive continued growth of STV's Project Controls practice throughout the Northeast and nationally.

What You Will Do Strategic Estimating Leadership

• Establish and lead estimating strategies, methodologies, standards, and governance processes across major programs and portfolios.
• Direct development of conceptual, planning, design, procurement, and construction phase estimates.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for estimating practices and cost management initiatives.
• Develop and maintain enterprise estimating procedures, benchmarking standards, and cost databases.
• Provide executive leadership regarding project cost performance, budget development, and financial risk exposure.
• Support strategic business planning and major pursuit efforts through development of program-level cost strategies.
• Conduct independent estimate review for high-risk or high-value projects.

Team Leadership & Practice Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of five or more estimators, cost engineers, and project controls professionals.
• Establish performance expectations, quality standards, and professional development plans for estimating staff.
• Support workforce planning, recruiting, succession planning, and technical training initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Promote adoption of advanced estimating technologies, digital project delivery tools, and data analytics solutions.

Cost Estimating & Cost Engineering

• Direct preparation and validation of estimates across all project phases, including: o Conceptual Planning o Feasibility Studies o Preliminary Engineering o Design Development o Final Design o Procurement o Construction
• Oversee quantity take-offs, pricing strategies, market evaluations, productivity assessments, and cost modeling activities.
• Evaluate escalation, contingencies, allowances, and risk adjustments associated with major capital programs.
• Develop independent cost estimates and provide estimate reconciliation for large infrastructure initiatives.
• Guide historical cost databases and benchmarks to improve estimate accuracy and consistency.

Mega-Program Cost Management

• Provide estimating leadership for complex infrastructure programs exceeding $10 billion in total program value.
• Support program budgeting, forecasting, and long-range capital planning initiatives.
• Analyze trends, market conditions, labor impacts, escalation factors, and procurement risks affecting project costs.
• Collaborate with executive program leadership to identify opportunities for cost optimization and risk reduction.
• Support program-level financial reporting and executive decision-making.

Risk & Change Management

• Lead risk-based estimating and quantitative cost risk analysis efforts.
• Evaluate change orders, contractor claims, and scope modifications impacting project budgets.
• Develop independent opinions of probable cost and support dispute resolution activities.
• Participate in value engineering initiatives and cost optimization workshops.
• Assist in development of contingency strategies and program risk mitigation plans. Client & Executive Stakeholder Engagement
• Serve as the primary estimating representative to owners, public agencies, executive leadership teams, and program stakeholders.
• Lead executive estimate presentations, budget reviews, and cost validation workshops.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships while identifying opportunities for expanded project controls services.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering, construction management, and project controls teams. Project Controls Integration
• Ensure alignment between cost estimates, project schedules, risk registers, forecasts, and reporting systems.
• Collaborate with project controls managers, schedulers, cost engineers, and PMIS teams.
• Support implementation of integrated project controls processes, dashboards, and performance reporting solutions.