Estimator - Long Island Rail Road

PACO Group, Inc. (PACO) is seeking an experienced Staff Specialist (Estimator) to support the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Business Unit. This position will play a critical role in providing estimation services for multiple projects, ensuring accurate and timely project cost analysis and budgeting. The selected candidate will be responsible for preparing, reviewing, and maintaining estimates throughout all stages of the project lifecycle. This consultant position requires strong analytical skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with various project teams to support decision-making processes.

Position Overview
The Staff Specialist (Estimator) will be responsible for preparing and maintaining project-level estimates, developing conceptual and definitive estimates, conducting quantity take-offs, and reviewing contractor progress payments. Additionally, the role involves supporting negotiations, developing change order estimates, and performing site investigations. This position will be based at Jamaica Central Control in Jamaica, NY.

Key Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Project Manager and Procurement Team, the selected candidate will:

• Prepare and maintain project-level estimates throughout the various stages of projects.
• Develop order of magnitude conceptual estimates and define preliminary budgets.
• Perform quantity take-offs and determine labor/equipment crew requirements for task activities.
• Obtain material pricing from vendors to substantiate project estimates.
• Estimate productivity for tasks based on historical LIRR timelines and schedules.
• Develop and review estimates for comparison to bids received on multiple projects.
• Review contractor progress payment breakdowns by project.
• Develop change order estimates and support MTA personnel during procurement negotiations.
• Conduct site investigations and develop change request scopes with project teams.
• Compare change order requests to third-party contractor proposals and negotiate changes.
• Develop force account estimates to support in-house construction efforts.
• Attend required project and staff meetings.
• Provide estimates for construction support and value engineering change proposals.

Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate must possess:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prepare accurate estimates at various stages of the project lifecycle.
• Excellent communication abilities, both oral and written, for stakeholder engagement and reporting.
• Strong understanding of estimation practices and techniques used in large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with project teams, vendors, and contractors.
• Familiarity with construction support, value engineering, and change order processes.

Software Requirements

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Procore, Primavera) preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in project estimation for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of the estimation process and change order management.

Benefits

401(k) and 401(k) Employer Matching
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Group Life Insurance, LTD and AD&D
Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Professional Development Assistance

PACO Group, Inc. is committed to furthering opportunities for everyone in the national construction market. The firm periodically reaffirms this commitment through an active affirmative action plan. It provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees without unlawful discrimination regarding race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, religion, military status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or citizenship status. As an equal opportunity employer, we have recruited, hired, promoted, and retained an ethnically and socially diverse professional staff. Our efforts to date have produced a multidisciplinary workforce - a record of diversity that extends to the highest levels of the firm's management.