Cost Estimator

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the nation’s oldest and largest public housing authority with more than 177,000 apartments, and responsibility for administering a citywide Section 8 leased housing program that serves over 150,000 additional tenants. NYCHA’s mission is to provide quality housing for New Yorkers that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe, while fostering opportunities for economic mobility.

NYCHA’s Asset & Capital Management (A&CM) Division leads the Authority’s capital, sustainability and resiliency programs that comprise a $6 billion capital projects portfolio – one of the largest in NY State – as well as range of activities related to property modernization and strategic asset management. A&CM aims to preserve and modernize NYCHA buildings and apartments through strategic portfolio planning, comprehensive design standards, innovative financing and project delivery models, strong partnership with NYCHA residents and other stakeholders, and effective program and project management of capital investments. The Division also positions NYCHA’s housing portfolio for the future by piloting and scaling-up sustainable and resilient technologies and practices, improving residents’ quality of life while enhancing building performance. The work culture of the Division is strongly customer service oriented, collaborative and delivery-focused. More information can be found on our website at: Modernizing NYCHA Properties.

Strategic Services comprises five diverse teams who provide key business services and drive operational excellence across A&CM. Core functions of Strategic Services include: leading capital planning and financial administration including cost estimating for capital projects; supporting business departments to apply best-practice project management and project controls frameworks; enabling strategic vendor and contract management services; providing business intelligence services across the division to ensure data-driven management and decision-making; and, supporting business operations through supporting human resources management and logistics administration.

The Capital Planning and Administration Department of Strategy Services creates and maintains a portfolio capital investment strategy to preserve NYCHA’s aging housing stock; ensures the development of a capital investment strategy that identifies opportunities for additional capital funding; serves as NYCHA’s lead in the development and implementation of the Authority's Five-Year multi-billion Capital Plan; oversees the administration of the Physical Needs Assessment Contract and manages a team of cost estimators.

Reporting to the Cost Estimating Manager within the Capital Planning Department, with latitude for independent initiative and judgement, the Estimator (General Construction) will perform the following duties:

1. Ensure estimates are developed and managed in the most efficient and effective manner.
2. Review design scope criteria, perform quantity take-offs, formulate undefined scope assumptions, and develop cost estimates. Prepare estimate basis and assumption documentation.
3. Supervise and/or prepare cost studies, complex research, trend estimates, life cycle cost estimates for capital project general construction and specialized areas or discipline.
4. Supervise and/or prepare scope, design development, bid and change order phase cost estimates necessary for the planning, construction, repair of structures, or installations for general construction work and other trade disciplines as required.
5. Supervise and/or prepare quantity surveys and cost evaluations for contract drawings, specifications or contract changes.
6. Ensure unit costs and quantities of materials are accurate.
7. Establish format, content summaries and reconciliations, including segregation of cost according to confidence level.
8. Prepare basic software generated estimates for completion and technical accuracy ensuring quality and integrity.
9. Prepare contingency and escalation through manual calculations.
10. May attend bid openings.
11. Supervise and/or prepare estimates for Change Order negotiation by analyzing awarded construction contract breakdown, along with verifying itemized costs against the scopes of work and construction document packages. Review change order proposals for quantities and fair price; ensure that the costs of project stay within budget.
12. Review and analyze contract cost estimates/delay claims prepared by external consultants for accuracy and reasonableness; perform reconciliation and make recommendations.
13. Recommend, coordinate, and update current cost variations for the project cost trend program, price library, NYCHA historical database, and other reference material.

Key Competencies

- Quantity Takeoff – Accurately measures materials, labor, and equipment based on plans and specifications.
- Cost Analysis – Develops and analyzes unit prices, bid breakdowns, and historical data to produce detailed cost models.
- Construction Sequencing Awareness – Understands project phasing and critical path to align cost estimates with schedule and logistics constraints.
- Technical Interpretation – Interprets construction documents and specifications to identify scope and estimating requirements.

NOTE: IF THIS APPOINTMENT IS MADE ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS PURSUANT TO 65 OF THE NYS CIVIL SERVICE LAW, NO TENURE OR PERMANENCE ACCRUES TO AN INCUMBENT IN THIS POSITION BY VIRTUE OF SUCH APPOINTMENT.

NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program. For detailed information regarding the 55-a Program, please visit the link below:

https://bit.ly/55aProgram

Additional Information

1. Candidates with permanent civil service status in the title of Construction Project Manager L2 will also be considered.
2. Candidates may be given a skills assessment as part of the interview process.
3. NYCHA employees applying for transfer, promotional, title or level change opportunities must have served a period of one year at current location and in current title and level (if applicable).
4. NYCHA residents are encouraged to apply.
5. NYCHA provides benefits that include a choice of medical coverage plans, deferred compensation plans and a defined pension benefit plan as a member of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS).

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

ESTIMATOR (GENERAL CONSTRUCTIO - 20122

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and seven years of full-time satisfactory experience in general construction estimating; or

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. Undergraduate college credit can be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 credits leading to a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in civil engineering, civil engineering technology, architecture or architecture technology for one year of experience, up to a maximum of four years of acceptable experience. Full-time satisfactory experience in civil engineering or architecture will be credited on a year for year basis up to maximum of five years of acceptable experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and two years of full-time satisfactory experience in general construction estimating.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.