Senior Development Estimator

Full job descriptionTarget Base Pay: $125,000 - $165,000, commensurate with experience and preconstruction leadership responsibilityPosition SummaryThe Senior Development Estimator is a senior preconstruction and budget strategy leader for the VIA / 7B Development Team. This role owns budget accuracy, scope completeness, value engineering, cost risk management, CCB discipline, and client-facing budget credibility across active development, estimating, and preconstruction items. The Sr. Development Estimator must be fully independent, able to translate incomplete early project information into reliable cost guidance, support PM/APM decision-making, coach estimator and PM staff, and help the team scale repeatable preconstruction systems as VIA / 7B enters its next stage of growth.Role Level and Workload ExpectationsManage approximately 15-25 active estimating/preconstruction items, adjusted for phase, project size, client intensity, scope complexity, due date pressure, and escalation demands.Own budget strategy and CCB accuracy for assigned projects, from early feasibility assumptions through development budgeting, design updates, client budgets, and construction handoff.Serve as a fully independent senior leader who identifies cost risk early, brings options and recommendations forward, and communicates budget impacts clearly to leadership and clients.Support portfolio improvement by strengthening estimating templates, scope checklists, value-engineering logs, cost history, escalation triggers, and PM/APM budget discipline.Mentor estimator and PM/APM staff on scope completeness, budget assumptions, cost risk, value-engineering judgment, and preconstruction process.Key ResponsibilitiesBudget Strategy, Estimating, and Preconstruction OwnershipLead estimating and preconstruction efforts for assigned development projects from feasibility, due diligence, design progression, entitlement/permitting updates, client budget approval, construction handoff, and buyout support.Prepare, review, and maintain conceptual budgets, due diligence budgets, ROM estimates, cost models, CCBs, budget narratives, estimate qualifications, allowances, alternates, exclusions, and cost-to-complete updates.Translate drawings, reports, due diligence findings, AHJ requirements, civil comments, utility issues, geotechnical/environmental conditions, and client scope changes into accurate cost impacts.Maintain budget control systems, including estimate logs, version history, scope gap tracking, value-engineering items, contingency assumptions, escalation assumptions, and open pricing issues.Drive consistent budget accuracy, scope completeness, and cost credibility across the Development portfolio.CCB Accuracy, Scope Completeness, and Cost ControlsOwn the accuracy and completeness of client-facing CCBs and internal development budgets before executive, client, or stakeholder submission.Identify missing scope, undefined assumptions, scope gaps, design conflicts, entitlement requirements, utility obligations, site-specific conditions, and client-driven changes that may affect budget reliability.Coordinate with PMs/APMs, design consultants, construction managers, pre-construction, estimating, accounting, and leadership to confirm budget assumptions and assignment of cost responsibility.Review consultant proposals, civil/site assumptions, construction allowances, owner/vendor scope, signage, equipment, PEMB/structural items, utility scope, and closeout-related costs for consistency and completeness.Track budget changes clearly so leadership can see what changed, why it changed, who owns the decision, and what action is required.Value Engineering and Cost Risk MitigationLead value-engineering strategy in a way that protects client requirements, operational needs, design intent, schedule, jurisdictional requirements, and long-term project quality.Present value-engineering options with cost impact, schedule impact, risk tradeoffs, implementation requirements, and a clear recommendation.Identify cost overruns, scope creep, bid volatility, escalation exposure, design gaps, and constructability issues early enough for the team to act.Maintain a cost-risk mindset across feasibility, due diligence, design, permitting, buyout, construction handoff, and closeout.Help PMs/APMs understand which budget risks require client notice, leadership escalation, additional consultant input, or construction manager review.Development Playbook and Preconstruction Process DisciplineEnsure estimating and preconstruction work is executed in accordance with the Development Team Playbook, applicable SOPs, budget standards, first-look checklists, design milestones, and client reporting expectations.Build and improve repeatable templates, cost databases, budget summaries, value-engineering logs, CCB formats, estimate review checklists, scope responsibility matrices, and preconstruction workflows.Act as an escalation point when budgets deviate from approved assumptions, when scope is unclear, or when PMs/APMs need senior cost strategy support.Identify process breakdowns and recommend corrective actions, training needs, or workflow improvements to the President of Development.Support stage-gate discipline so cost decisions, budget submissions, and client communications are tied to the correct level of design completeness and approval.Team Leadership, Coaching, and AccountabilityMentor and coach estimator, PM, and APM staff in cost planning, budget narratives, assumption writing, value-engineering judgment, risk identification, consultant coordination, and client communication.Review PM/APM and estimator work product, including budgets, cost comparisons, CCBs, value-engineering logs, ROM estimates, proposal reviews, and change summaries, for consistency and quality.Support onboarding and training for team members who touch budgets, cost tracking, or preconstruction coordination.Model ownership, accountability, urgency, calm escalation, and a no-surprises standard around budget risk and client communication.Help identify performance gaps, unclear responsibilities, training needs, and process weaknesses that affect budget accuracy or preconstruction execution.Client, Consultant, and Internal CommunicationServe as a senior cost-facing resource for clients, ownership, consultants, AHJs, utilities, design teams, construction teams, and internal stakeholders on assigned projects or escalated matters.Explain cost risk, budget movement, value-engineering opportunities, scope gaps, and pricing assumptions clearly to leadership and clients.Lead or support budget review meetings with clear agendas, action items, owners, due dates, and follow-up expectations.Prepare and present budget summaries, CCBs, estimate comparisons, value-engineering recommendations, cost-risk summaries, and executive-level decision support.Maintain strong client-facing budget credibility by communicating early, clearly, professionally, and with recommended solutions when cost issues arise.Construction Interface and Buyout SupportCoordinate with construction and preconstruction leadership to ensure smooth handoff from development budgeting to construction pricing, buyout, and field execution.Support constructability and scope reviews with construction manager input, especially for sitework, utilities, PEMB/structural, signage, equipment, owner/vendor scope, and client-specific requirements.Compare development budgets against buyout results and identify variance drivers, scope misses, market changes, and lessons learned.Support change order and budget-impact review where development decisions, design changes, entitlement requirements, client direction, or consultant scope affect construction cost.Capture cost history and lessons learned so future budgets become more accurate and the Development Playbook improves over time.Required Qualifications7+ years of estimating, preconstruction, commercial construction, land development, civil/sitework, owner/developer budgeting, or related experience.Successful history producing accurate budgets for complex, multi-million-dollar commercial projects with civil/site, building, utility, consultant, entitlement, and client-facing scope responsibility.Strong understanding of commercial land development, civil/sitework, vertical construction, design coordination, permitting, budget assumptions, value engineering, buyout, and closeout.Ability to read and interpret civil, architectural, structural, MEP, geotechnical/environmental reports, surveys, entitlement comments, and consultant proposals.Demonstrated ability to manage 15-25 active estimating/preconstruction items while supporting PM/APM budgets, escalations, and client communication.Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain cost risk clearly to executives, clients, consultants, and internal teams.High proficiency with estimating, project management, and reporting tools such as Smartsheet, Procore, Bluebeam, Excel, Microsoft Office, estimating software, or equivalent systems.Preferred QualificationsBachelor degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, Real Estate, or a related field.Experience with national retail, multi-site programs, ground-up commercial development, owner/developer representation, or design-build/general contracting environments.Experience building cost databases, budget templates, stage-gate estimate reviews, dashboards, SOPs, or preconstruction training programs.Experience coordinating with civil, architectural, MEP, structural, geotechnical, environmental, utilities, signage, equipment, and construction teams.Professional certification such as CEP, CPE, PMP, CAPM, CCM, LEED, or similar credential.Pay: $125,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year