Residential Construction Estimator en Manuel Builders

Job Title:  Residential Construction Estimator

Department:  Corporate 

Divisions:  Custom Division

Markets:  All

Reports to:  Operations Manager

General Summary:  Understand the Manuel Builders product, scope, and margin strategy per market. Utilize the knowledge and tools available to estimate hard bids conceptually prior to sale and generate timely and accurate purchase orders to release into production. Bridge the information gap between sales, design and production departments per project.  

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators):  

1. Conceptual Accuracy – Complete bids and change orders in a timely manner and within 2% of cost to control GPM
2. PO Accuracy – Create and release purchase orders in a timeline manner with an average variance of < .5%
3. Gross Margin – Estimate jobs and options to yield GPM Goals +/- 1% of the target
4. System utilization – Contribute to the build-out and implementation of software and systems that result in accurate costs and purchase orders, including integration of base plans and options into a scalable system
5. Feedback loop – Implement real time feedback into the conceptual documents based on our understanding of costs at the time of production release.

Typical Job Responsibilities

Purchase Orders

• Administer accurate Purchase Orders to vendors and suppliers utilizing the systems available to deliver them within the specified timeframe
• Refine takeoff processes through ongoing communication with field personnel to keep cost slippage to a minimum
• Proactively review variances for the department to draw conclusions on where timely and strategic takeoff improvements can be made
• Understand the overall process for completing purchase orders and budgets
• Identify gaps within the department where additional skills training are needed
• Continually give feedback to close the loop on GPM slippage from sale to handoff due to either rising costs or misunderstood costs

Conceptual Estimating

• Price out bids for day to day residential client work on budgeted deadlines
• Understand the overall building process, terms, techniques and procedures to produce accurate bids per project
• Input, estimate and update present bidding documents for future bids
• Review bid requirements thoroughly and ask follow-up questions on every bid
• Communicate effectively between sales, design, interior design and production departments
• Remain flexible to bid out “on demand” items for customers who are ready to purchase with immediate adjustments (communicated from sales team while in meetings)
• Review GPM of all jobs at time of handoff to verify desired target is achieved
• Suggest changes to either understanding of cost or margin strategy improve GPM of the company within the target range
• Other duties as assigned by management

Basic Qualifications

• High school education or equivalent
• 3-5 years construction or residential building experience, preferably new home construction, AND/OR 3-5 years of estimating experience
• MUST know Microsoft Excel and Outlook proficiently 

Physical demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 lbs.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Technical knowledge and skills  

• Residential construction methods and means
• Understand assemblies and product information as it relates to estimating costs
• Estimating

General assessment skills  

• Must have excellent critical thinking skills
• High attention to detail
• Must be proficient in mathematics
• Ability to read and understand architectural drawings
• Must be a great listener
• Must have excellent interpretation skills
• Self-starter and self-organizer
• Able to take tasks to completion with expected timelines with minimal supervision
• Able to work on multiple tasks with accuracy
• High levels of consistency
• Always looking for a better way
• Exudes honesty and integrity within a professional image
• Demeanor is steady and consistent
• Presents Manuel Builders in best possible light
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Work environment and schedule:

• Normal business hours:  Monday - Thursday (7 am – 5 pm); Friday (7 am – 12 pm)
• Periodic night and weekend work may be necessary