Construction Estimator Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

Construction Estimator Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides complete information on the job description of a construction estimator, to help increase your knowledge of what the role does.

It highlights the key tasks, duties, and responsibilities that usually make up the construction estimator work description.

This article also provides the major requirements that recruiters for the construction estimator role typically expect applicants to fulfill to be considered for the job.

Please, read on to learn more about the construction estimator career:

What Does a Construction Estimator Do?

A construction estimator is responsible for analyzing costs and preparing estimates on construction projects.

A construction estimator specializes in estimating costs for civil engineering, agricultural, structural, electrical, and mechanical construction projects.

In other words, a construction estimator can be referred to as one who prepares estimates of probable costs of materials, labor, and equipment, and subcontracts for construction projects based on contract bids, quotations, schematic drawings, and specifications.

He/she is mostly employed by residential, commercial, and industrial construction organizations.

In some cases, he/she may be self-employed, and in smaller organizations, he or she may be required to perform other various tasks.

In essence, a construction estimator is saddled with the responsibility of collecting and analyzing data by gathering proposals, blueprints, specifications, and other related documents in order to calculate the time, money, materials, and labor needed to construct a building.

The construction estimator work description also entails estimating labor, material, and time requirements in order to be able to analyze and compute the overall cost of the project.

It also involves preparing estimates for the construction of buildings, roads, and other construction projects.

He/she may calculate the total cost of building a bridge or commercial shopping center, or may just calculate the cost of just one component, such as the foundation.

He/she also identifies costs of elements such as raw materials and labor, and may set a timeline for how long the project is expected to take place.

In building construction, the estimator uses software to simulate the construction process and evaluate the costs of design choices.

He/she often consults databases and records in order to compare the costs of similar projects.

Becoming a construction estimator requires interested candidates or individuals to possess, acquire, or demonstrate some particular set of skills or qualifications.

A good construction estimator is required to have in-depth knowledge of project management, good understanding of data analysis methods, and familiarity with computer programs.

He/she is also expected to create and submit reports to upper management, and also build and maintain long-term relationships with key vendors.

In terms of academic qualifications, a construction estimator is required to possess a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as civil engineering, construction science, or any other relevant field, with several years of professional experience.

Construction Estimator Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Construction estimators perform various functions in ensuring accurate analysis of costs, and preparation of estimates on construction projects.

Shown below are major tasks, duties, and responsibilities that typically make up the construction estimator job description:

• Preparing cost estimates at various stages of design from schematic and budget to detailed take-off and pricing
• Participating in project meetings, reviewing schedules, and preparing reports
• Exploring documentations in order to gain a deep understanding of project requirements
• Building and maintaining healthy and long-term relationships with vendors, clients, and other project managers
• Creating and presenting reports to upper management
• Performing complex analysis of collected data and metrics
• Visiting sites, warehouses, and other venues necessary in order to do estimates
• Collecting and analyzing data by gathering proposals, blueprints, specifications, and other related documents
• Training and leading other construction department’s administrative staff
• Managing incoming and outgoing blueprint drawings, and creating and maintaining appropriate logs for all construction projects
• Negotiating construction prices with subcontractors for competitive bidding
• Communicating with architects, engineers, clients, contractors, and subcontractors efficiently; and preparing economic feasibility studies on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.

Construction Estimator Job Description for Resume

If you have some work experience as a construction estimator and are making a resume for a new job, you will need to add the professional or job experience section to your resume to effectively inform the recruiter that you have the required work experience.

You can apply the job description sample presented above in writing the duties and responsibilities that you have performed or are presently carrying out working as a construction estimator in the professional experience section of your resume.

Construction Estimator Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge for Career Success

If you are seeking to work as a construction estimator, recruiters will want you to meet certain requirements to be qualified for an interview.

This is important to recruiters to help them find the best candidates for the position who can effectively perform the obligations, objectives, and purpose of the construction estimator role.

Shown below are major construction estimator requirements recruiters may ask you to fulfill if you are applying for the position:

• High analytical skills which enable a construction estimator to consider and evaluate different construction methods and options in order to determine the most cost-effective solutions or recommendations that meet the required specifications
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, as a construction estimator is required to liaise with vendors and clients, and write and present comprehensive reports
• Attention to detail, as a construction estimator is required to be detail-oriented because minor changes can greatly affect the overall cost of a project
• Time management skills to work on fixed deadlines, so a construction estimator must plan in advance and work efficiently
• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, construction science, or any other related field.

Conclusion

If you are a recruiter or HR manager needing to hire the best person for the construction estimator position in your company, you will need to make a detailed description of the job for prospective candidates to know the duties associated with the role and to decide if they will be able to perform them successfully.

The sample job description provided in this post will be helpful to you in making the perfect description of the construction estimator position in your organization.

Individuals interested in the construction estimator career and who desire to learn about the duties and responsibilities of the role will also find this post useful.

Did this article increase your knowledge of what construction estimators do? Please, make a comment in the box below. You may also share your job description if you work as a construction estimator.