Job Description

JOB-38321

Position Title: Lead Project Cost Estimator
Location: Los Angeles, California
Work Type: Full-time, 100% On-Site
Compensation: $230,000 – $240,000 per year + Comprehensive Benefits

Submission Deadline: June 25, 2026

About the Opportunity:

Our client is a construction management firm supporting a large public-sector educational facilities program in Los Angeles. They are seeking a Lead Project Cost Estimator to lead cost estimating, cost analysis, change order evaluation, and construction cost management activities across complex capital improvement and modernization projects.

This role is responsible for overseeing a team of estimators, preparing and reviewing independent cost estimates, evaluating contractor proposals, supporting change order negotiations, conducting claim analysis, and providing strategic cost guidance throughout project planning, design, procurement, and construction phases.

The position works closely with project managers, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and stakeholders to ensure accurate cost forecasting, budget development, estimating consistency, and effective cost control across a large portfolio of educational construction projects.

This role supports educational facility modernization and capital improvement projects within a large public-sector program environment.

This is a full-time, on-site role based in Los Angeles.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise a team of estimators, including assigning work and reviewing deliverables.
• Prepare, review, and validate conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction cost estimates.
• Develop independent cost estimates for comparison against contractor and consultant proposals.
• Review construction cost estimates prepared by architects, engineers, consultants, and contractors.
• Analyze discrepancies between independent estimates and contractor proposals and support negotiation strategies.
• Review contractor bids and prepare analyses when bids vary significantly from project estimates.
• Evaluate change orders, credits, claims, and contractor proposals for accuracy, merit, and cost reasonableness.
• Prepare change order estimates and support Owner’s Representatives during negotiations.
• Develop project budgets and cost forecasts for capital improvement projects.
• Review cost segregations and support recommendations related to progress payments.
• Support grant, funding, and public bidding documentation as required.
• Develop and maintain estimating databases, historical cost information, and cost benchmarking tools.
• Prepare reports, cost studies, presentations, and executive-level cost analyses.
• Conduct seminars, workshops, and training sessions related to cost estimating and construction procurement practices.
• Support claim analysis, dispute resolution, and project cost recovery efforts.

Mandatory Requirements:

(Candidates must meet all requirements)

Option 1

• Minimum 14 years of full-time professional experience preparing complete cost estimates for major and complex building construction projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience supervising estimators.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working for a construction cost consulting firm.

OR

Option 2

• Minimum 20 years of full-time professional experience preparing complete cost estimates for major and complex building construction projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supervising estimators.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working for a construction cost consulting firm.
• Degree not required.

Additional Requirements

• Extensive experience developing conceptual, schematic, and preconstruction cost estimates.
• Strong knowledge of construction labor, material pricing, and current market conditions.
• Extensive experience preparing and evaluating change order estimates.
• Experience reviewing contractor proposals and identifying scope and pricing discrepancies.
• Ability to develop independent scopes of work and detailed cost estimates from RFIs, RFCs, and design documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and construction estimating software.
• Ability to work full-time on-site in Los Angeles.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting K-12 educational facility projects.
• Experience supporting large public-sector capital improvement programs.
• Experience preparing independent cost estimates for owner-side project teams.
• Experience supporting claim analysis, dispute resolution, and construction negotiations.
• Experience reviewing contractor bids, proposals, and construction cost forecasts.
• Experience supporting DSA-regulated projects.
• Professional certifications such as CCP, CPE, CCM, PMP, PE, RA, LEED, or similar credentials.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent educational construction projects.

Note:

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

AI may be used to support certain administrative aspects of our recruitment process. However, all applications and resumes are reviewed by qualified human reviewers, and all screening and hiring decisions are made solely by the hiring team.

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