Senior Cost Estimator Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

INTRODUCTION

Cordoba Corporation is a leading engineering and design firm based in California. We are seeking a Lead Project Cost Estimator to join our Facilities Sector. The Lead Project Cost Estimator oversees and guides a team of estimators, assigning daily tasks and ensuring high‑quality, accurate cost development across all projects. This role is responsible for planning and preparing detailed construction cost estimates for buildings and related structures using drawings, specifications, and project documentation. The Lead Estimator reviews and validates cost estimates submitted for state and federal funding applications and represents the District in matters related to securing such funds.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Leads and supervises a team of Estimators, including designating daily assignments
- Plans and participates in the preparation of construction cost estimates of buildings or other structures from drawings, outlines, and specifications
- Prepares and reviews cost estimates and forms and other materials submitted to secure State and/or federal grants and loans from school aid programs and represents the district on matters pertinent to securing such funds
- Checks construction cost estimates submitted by commissioned architects and engineers for accuracy and completeness and compares them with District estimates
- Confers with commissioned architects and engineers to resolve differences in their cost estimates and District estimates for each project and negotiates agreements on preliminary estimates of construction costs
- Conducts studies and prepares reports when contractors' bids vary widely from the agreed construction cost estimate
- Checks segregations of contract costs as estimated by building contractors and recommends acceptance or rejection as a basis for progress payments
- Analyzes change orders on construction work under contract and approves or rejects extras or credits submitted
- Prepares or reviews cost estimates for projects
- Establishes and maintains procedures for approval of plans and specifications for building projects and submission of approved projects to public bidding
- Develops methods for maintaining data used in records, charts, and graphs reflecting estimated construction costs compared with actual costs
- Conducts and participates in seminars and workshops with staff and minority contractors relative to school construction bidding procedures, contracts, and cost estimating
- Estimates costs of damages to District property caused by fire, natural disaster, and major acts of vandalism
- Establishes budgets for school building projects
- Assists other branches with related functions
- Prepares preliminary and final independent cost estimates of projects for comparison with designer or contractor for PM/CM to establish negotiating position
- Prepares change order estimates for Owner Authorized Representatives to establish negotiating position
- Provides support in price negotiations
- Prepares claim analysis and estimates
- Reviews contractor’s claims and proposals for merit and accountability
- Performs related duties as assigned

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates who meet one of the two sets of combined qualifications below will be considered for this position:
- Fourteen (14) years of experience in the preparation of complete cost estimates for major/complex type I, II, or III, and V building construction as defined by the State building codes AND
- Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering or construction management AND
- Three (3) years of full-time paid experience in supervising estimators AND
- Must have worked for a construction cost consulting firm for at least five (5) years

OR
- Twenty (20) or more years solid professional experience in the preparation of complete cost estimates for major/complex type I, II, or III, and V building construction as defined by the State building codes AND
- Degree not required AND
- Five (5) years of experience in supervising estimators AND
- Must have worked for a construction cost consulting firm for at least five (5) years

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
- Extensive knowledge and experience in developing conceptual and pre-construction cost estimates for complex school building projects
- Ability to prepare cost estimates quickly in a fast-paced working environment
- Knowledge of current local construction labor and material costs
- Extensive experience in developing and estimating the scope of work for change orders
- Ability to compare the independent cost estimate with contractor proposal to quickly identify differences
- Ability to develop scope of work based on RFI/RFC answers and estimate the detailed costs of those scopes of work independent of the contractor proposal

COMPENSATION

- Salary Range: $200,000 to $235,000 yearly

LOCATION

Location: Los Angeles, CA

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work Environment: Onsite