FH Chase, Inc. is seeking a motivated college graduate or recent graduate to join our team as a Construction Estimator / Project Cost Analyst.
FH Chase is an interior architectural specialty contractor specializing in cleanroom and controlled-environment construction for semiconductor, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing, research, and technology facilities.
This position is designed for an individual interested in learning both the estimating and financial management sides of commercial construction. The successful candidate will assist with estimating new projects and then help track project costs and financial performance as awarded projects move through construction.
A key objective of this position will be to connect the original estimate to actual project performance, helping our project management team understand where projects are performing well and where costs are varying from the original budget.
Primary Responsibilities
Estimating & Preconstruction
- Review construction drawings, specifications, addenda, and other bid documents.
- Perform material and quantity takeoffs from architectural and construction drawings.
- Assist in developing labor, material, equipment, and other project cost estimates.
- Obtain and evaluate vendor and supplier quotations.
- Assist with preparation of project estimates, budgets, proposals, and bid documentation.
- Identify scope gaps, discrepancies, and items requiring clarification.
- Assist with maintaining historical estimating and cost information for use on future projects.
Project Cost Tracking
- Track actual project labor, material, equipment, and other costs against the original estimate and project budget.
- Work with Project Managers to identify cost variances as projects progress.
- Compare estimated labor hours to actual labor hours and monitor productivity trends.
- Assist in forecasting projected costs to complete and anticipated final project costs.
- Help identify potential cost overruns early enough for the project team to take corrective action.
- Maintain organized project cost reports that allow management to understand the financial status of active projects.
Billing & Schedule of Values
As the individual develops experience and an understanding of our projects, the position may expand to include:
- Review project progress and costs against the approved Schedule of Values.
- Assist Project Managers in developing preliminary monthly billing recommendations.
- Prepare draft billing worksheets based upon installed work, stored materials, project costs, and percentage of completion.
- Help reconcile project billing with actual job progress and costs.
- Assist with tracking change orders and their effect on contract value, project costs, and billing.
Technology & Process Improvement
FH Chase is interested in improving how we use technology throughout our estimating and project-cost-management processes.
The successful candidate will be encouraged to:
- Learn and evaluate current construction estimating, digital takeoff, project management, and cost-control software.
- Help identify opportunities to improve or automate existing estimating and cost-tracking processes.
- Assist in developing consistent estimating databases, cost codes, reports, and historical cost information.
- Explore ways to better connect estimating information with project management, accounting, cost tracking, and billing.
- Bring new ideas and technology into an established specialty construction business.
