Project Estimator Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

Project Estimator Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides complete information on the job description of a project estimator to help increase your knowledge of what they do.

It highlights key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that commonly make up the project estimator work description in most organizations.

This article also provides information on the major requirements recruiters normally set for applicants for the project estimator job to meet to be qualified to access the role.

Please, keep reading to learn more about the project estimator career:

What Does a Project Estimator Do?

A project estimator is responsible for gathering information and analyzing metrics in order to prepare correct and accurate estimates for proposed projects.

In other words, a project estimator can be described as an individual who is responsible for accurately calculating the total costs associated with the construction of a new project, or the development of a new product.

A project estimator may also be called the cost estimator, and he/she serves a vital function in the growth of a construction or manufacturing company.

The project estimator job description may also involve reviewing bids offered by subcontractors in order to settle for the most cost-effective option.

It may also entail completing tasks such as identifying and understanding project requirements, determining key variables, conducting research, looking up or checking up on offers from vendors and subcontractors, maintaining relationships with key vendors, and estimating manpower needs.

The project estimator is expected to plan and monitor projects efficiently within the department, liaising and analyzing with the team members the conditions and processes that are necessary to reach the project objectives.

The main responsibility of a project estimator revolves around managing the operation of projects right from conception, to planning and execution, ensuring that clear areas of duties are defined and areas of dependency are monitored and delivered upon.

A project estimator also helps to manage and maintain external stakeholder relationships in order to ensure healthy and appropriate communication and smooth workflows to and from such stakeholders.

Furthermore, in the process of performing his/her major duties and responsibilities, a project estimator is expected to understand the project and its requirements, determine key variables for cost and other estimates, and gather accurate first-hand information from sites, warehouses, or other venues.

Other tasks that commonly make up the project estimator work description include obtaining and critically reviewing offers and quotes by vendors or subcontractors; performing a risk analysis; implementing the use of relevant software for data analysis; forecasting and budgeting; and preparing general reports and recommendations to clients.

In addition, working in the position of a project estimator requires interested individuals to have a strong background in mathematics and comfortable working in a deadline driven environment.

He/she must also possess the ability to effectively manage projects, think analytically, and demonstrate sound negotiation, organization, and problem-solving skills.

In terms of academic qualifications, individuals interested in the project estimator career are required to possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Science, or in any other relevant discipline, with adequate professional experience.

Project Estimator Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Project estimators perform various functions in their quest to produce correct and accurate estimates for proposed projects.

The kind of duties, tasks, and responsibilities project estimators typically perform are shown in the job description example below:

Setting priorities by preparing works to be accomplished by gathering information and requirements
Preparing social reports by gathering, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends
Building and maintaining healthy relationships with key vendors, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, clients, team members, etc.
Creating and submitting accurate estimate reports or bids to the appropriate individuals, such as the upper management, project managers, clients, bidding competitions, etc.
Examining and determining key variables for cost and other estimates
Efficiently monitoring and overseeing projects in order to ensure that developments meet objectives, agreed on deadlines and budgetary requirements
Creating projects for clients so as to enable them to get a broad scope of the project
Creating and maintaining open lines of communication between internal departments such as project manager and drafting
Providing adequate customer support as at when needed
Recording data and estimating the number of materials needed, and also making use of complex mathematical formulas to determine the final cost of development.

Project Estimator Job Description for Resume

If you have worked before as a project estimator or are presently working in that role and are making a new resume for another job, you will need to describe your project estimator job experience in the resume.

That means, you will need to add the professional or job experience section to your resume where you can effectively show the recruiter the kind of duties and responsibilities you have performed working as a project estimator.

To enable you to effectively complete the professional experience part of your resume, the sample project estimator job description above provides the duties and responsibilities of the role that you can use.

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

If you are seeking to find a job as a project estimator and succeed in your career, you will need to have certain qualities, including skills, relevant knowledge, abilities, and experience.

Shown below are major requirements that recruiters would want applicants for the project estimator position to fulfill to be hired for the role in most organizations:

Proven experience as an estimator or in a similar position
Outstanding oral and written communication and negotiation abilities, as a project estimator is required to liaise with colleagues, subcontractors, and clients, and also negotiate with vendors in order to come up with a cost-effective decision
Excellent self-management and organizational skills, which enable a project estimator to manage projects efficiently and also maintain calmness and composure when under pressure
Sound mathematical skills with high analytical and computer literacy ability, which is required to identify and tackle issues tactically with the use of relevant computer tool or software
A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Science, or in any other related discipline.

Conclusion

If you are a recruiter or HR manager needing to hire for the project estimator position in your organization, you will need to make a description of the role available to prospective candidates for them to learn about the available position and decide if they qualify or not.

The job description sample shown above can assist you in writing a detailed description of the project estimator position in your company.

Also, individuals who are interested in the project estimator career will find this page helpful in learning about what the role entails.

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