Senior HVAC Plumbing Estimator

About Suffolk  

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds. 

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $8 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. 

At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially. 

Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more.  For more information, click here. 

The Role

Suffolk is seeking people who are bold. Curious. Innovative. Caring. Looking for the career opportunity of a lifetime. We’ll challenge and inspire you to be your very best. We’ll embrace what makes you unique and lift you up as you take chances. Here, you’ll find a place where you can act with purpose and integrity, bringing intelligence and grit to every aspect of your job. Join us for the chance to achieve your ambitions and build your legacy.

The Senior Estimator is responsible for all aspects of estimating the most complex and large-scale jobs, including pre-construction, hard bids, negotiated bids, budgets, general conditions, systems studies and comparisons, value engineering, subcontractor relations and staying abreast of industry developments applicable to estimating. 

The Mechanical Estimator is responsible for all aspects of mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection estimating including pre-construction, hard bids, negotiated bids, budgets, systems studies and comparisons, value engineering, subcontractor relations and staying abreast of industry developments applicable to estimating. 

Responsibilities:

• Comprehensive MEP Estimating Expertise
  Develop detailed cost estimates for HVAC and plumbing systems within large-scale ground-up projects ($50M–$300M), ensuring alignment with overall mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) scopes.
• Preconstruction and Value Engineering
  Collaborate with design teams and trade partners to analyze drawings, specifications, and project requirements; provide cost-saving alternatives and constructability reviews for HVAC and plumbing systems.
• Large Project Sector Focus
  Specialize in estimating for complex commercial, higher education, and life sciences projects, including advanced HVAC systems and plumbing infrastructure for high-performance buildings.
• Vendor and Subcontractor Management
  Solicit, review, and negotiate bids from HVAC and plumbing subcontractors; maintain strong relationships with trade partners to ensure competitive pricing and quality execution.
• Integration with Overall Project Delivery
  Work closely with project managers and other estimators to integrate HVAC and plumbing estimates into full project budgets, schedules, and risk assessments for large-scale general contracting projects.

• Unit Cost Pricing
  • Clearly understand the complexity of the scope of work as shown on the construction documents.
  • Prepare detailed take off of materials.
  • Prepare detailed labor estimates utilizing man-hours, crews and equipment.
  • Organize the material and labor information for pricing.
  • Solicit material prices from suppliers.
  • Obtain current labor rates.
  • Prepare unit prices by "Building the Project in your Head."
  • Verify and compare your unit prices or the price of a system with a subcontractor and previous similar estimates.
  • Review all unit pricing on projects prepared by the Mechanical/Electrical Estimator. Make changes as required.
  • Understand the influence of market conditions on pricing.
  • Track all current market conditions.
  • Develop mechanical estimating database line items, unit costs, systems and assemblies, templates and wizards to prepare accurate mechanical estimates.
  • Develop historical data base for Mechanical/Electrical work.

• Subcontractor Solicitation & Selection
  • Prepare subcontractor list from PDM program or manually.
  • Prepare subcontractor bid packages including transmittals, drawings and specifications.
  • Follow up with subs regarding bidding and update the subcontractor list.
  • Prepare scope sheets for subcontractors, and review scope of work.
  • Review all subcontractor information prepared by the Mechanical/Electrical Estimator. Make changes as required.
  • Verify subcontractor coverage.
  • Edit subcontractor list.

•  Subcontractor Relationships & Feedback
  • Keep Subcontractors up to date with project information and addenda during the bidding process.
  • Maintain excellent relationships with subcontractors in order to receive preferential bids.
  • Answer subcontractor questions.
  • Prepare RFI's to the design team.
  • Contact key subs during bidding for scope of work issues, qualifications, and to obtain information about the project which could give SCCI a competitive advantage.

• Preconstruction Abilities
  • Identify the information required in pre-construction for pricing of estimates.
  • Set up and facilitate pre-construction workshops; coordinate information with consultants.
  • Represent SCCI at pre-construction meetings.
  • Outline the guidelines for conceptual, SD, DD, CD, and GMP estimating.
  • Prepare Value Engineering.
  • Prepare qualifications and assumptions for the estimates.
  • Prepare estimate updates and reconciliations.
  • Know the proper use of allowances in estimating during pre-con.
  • Prepare Mechanical/Electrical Systems Analyses as requested by Clients, Chief Estimator, VP Precon, or Project Executive.
  • Prepare Mechanical/Electrical Systems Life Cycle Cost studies as requested by Clients, Chief Estimator, VP Precon, or Project Executive.

• Conceptual Estimating
  • Identify the information required for the pricing of the estimate.
  • Identify the scope of work, program functions and owner requirements, designer(s) intent, and any implied information that will effect the cost of the project.
  • Possess ability to take off material quantities from a set of Conceptual documents to produce a detailed conceptual estimate.
  • Know how to review completed design documentation of the Architect, and apply this information when pricing the conceptual estimate.
  • Identify major building components and systems.
  • Identify market conditions, including escalation that will affect the estimate.

• Hard Bid Estimating
  • Assist the lead estimator in the following as it relates to mechanical/electrical work:
    • Review specifications and bid form for special trade requirements.
    • Create sub list.
    • Create bid packages for plan orders.
    • Set up bid assignment sheet.
    • Call key subs and suppliers.
    • Update sub list and confirm coverage.
    • Perform take offs of items requiring SCCI pricing. We should attempt to do a complete "Control Estimate".
    • Site visits.
    • Issue and coordinate questions and notes to all team members.
    • Send questions to the A/E.
    • Set up bid spreadsheets with common scope items to all trades at top.
    • Manage other team members, if applicable, in creation of scope sheets for their respective trades.
    • Prepare GC estimate.
    • Prepare Bid form.
    • Plug in numbers the night before the bid.
    • Coordinate all FAX and pricing information gathering for bid day.
    • Keep all project information organized throughout the bid process.

• Quality Control of Departments Bids and Estimates
  • On time delivery of bids and estimates.
  • Complete and thorough conceptual estimates and hard bids.
  • Creation of Value Management.
  • Attempt to provide an in house Mechanical/Electrical "Control Estimate" for every hard bid that SCCI is involved in.
  • Provide a detailed "Presentation Control Estimate" for every pre-con level estimate.
  • Bid Day Activities
  • Assist the lead estimator in the following as it relates to mechanical/electrical work:
  • Run through the estimate the night before it is due.
  • Check all spread sheet formulas and insert plug numbers into all trades on the bid summary sheet to obtain a total.
  • Work with estimators to close out subcontractor spread sheets.
  • Review all information with the Chief Estimator or VP Precon.
  • Develop a bid strategy to give SCCI a competitive advantage.

• Post Bid Activities
  • Attend any review meetings with the Chief Estimator or VP Precon.
  • If called to the table or awarded the bid, review the estimate and discuss strategy with the team for any holes, value management, or potential profit pockets.
  • Attend weekly staff meetings and report on status of assignments.

#SUFFOLKHIRING

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or related field.
• E. License in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred.
• Mechanical and Electrical design experience preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Mechanical/Electrical Estimating or equivalent.
• Quantity Surveys, Take off skills, Computer Skills
• Working knowledge of Excel spread sheets, and Word processing programs.
• Work with and manage Mechanical/Electrical Estimators so that take off work is organized, complete and easy to follow.
• Understanding of Construction Documents
• Knowledge of the contents of each CSI section.
• Ability to read & interpret blue prints in order to understand the scope of work at SD, DD and CD phases of design.
• Ability to coordinate construction document plans, details and specifications.
• Ability to apply CD details to a conceptual set of documents to capture all cost impacts of the details.

Necessary Attributes:

• Excellent presentation skills – the ability to “sell” an estimate to an Owner or A/E
• Work effectively with all colleagues and constituents.
• Possess and understand Suffolk’s core values, goals, and vision.
• Possess clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a Mechanical Estimator.
• Actively participate as a team member.
• Detail oriented
• Time management skills
• Sense of urgency

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level.

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.  This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk. 

The expected salary range for this position (Senior Estimator) in Boston, MA is between $174.0 and $256.0 (annualized USD).  This represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Suffolk’s total compensation package.  Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, skill set, experience, education and other qualifications, including budgetary objectives.  Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall compensation strategy.  Salary ranges may differ by geography and are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.