Design-Build Estimator

Our client is seeking an experienced Design-Build Estimator to take ownership of the earliest and most critical stages of commercial restaurant construction projects. This position combines estimating, preliminary design, space planning, client interaction, and preconstruction into a single role.

Unlike a traditional estimator who prices completed drawings, this individual becomes involved before an architect is hired and often before a client signs a lease. The Design-Build Estimator evaluates potential spaces, captures existing conditions, develops initial test-fit layouts, establishes project scope, and provides clients with realistic construction budgets early enough to determine whether a project is financially and operationally viable.

The successful candidate will own each project’s budget from the initial conceptual estimate through the final fixed-price contract, continuously refining costs as design information becomes available., Preconstruction & Early-Stage Client Engagement

• Serve as one of the client’s first points of contact during the preconstruction process.
• Meet with restaurant operators to understand their concept, project goals, existing information, equipment requirements, and target budget.
• Evaluate potential restaurant locations before leases are finalized.
• Review floor plans, equipment lists, existing conditions, and available mechanical, electrical, and plumbing information.
• Help clients understand whether their concept realistically fits the proposed space and construction budget.
• Deliver clear, defensible preliminary budgets that support early project and lease decisions., * Utilize modern space-scanning and capture technology to document existing conditions and dimensions.
• Develop preliminary test-fit layouts showing how a restaurant concept can function within the proposed space.
• Incorporate key considerations such as:
• Seating
• Kitchen layouts
• Egress
• Hood locations and runs
• MEP requirements
• Equipment placement
• Existing building conditions
• Produce preliminary layouts that can effectively communicate the project’s direction to clients, architects, subcontractors, and project teams.

Estimating & Budget Development

• Own project budgets from the earliest conceptual estimate through the final fixed-price contract.
• Develop detailed, line-by-line construction budgets that are accurate, timely, and defensible.
• Price projects when complete construction documents are not yet available.
• Identify unknown conditions and incorporate clearly defined allowances rather than delaying the estimating process.
• Update budgets throughout each design milestone as additional information becomes available.
• Maintain documentation explaining changes between budget versions.
• Ensure clients understand exactly why project costs have increased, decreased, or changed.
• Deliver final contract budgets that can successfully hold through construction.

Scope Development & Trade Coordination

• Develop detailed scopes of work in collaboration with subcontractors and internal project leadership.
• Lead subcontractors through project walkthroughs.
• Obtain and analyze subcontractor pricing.
• Work with suppliers to price finish materials and other project components.
• Ask detailed constructability questions during the estimating process to identify scope gaps before construction.
• Ensure every budget line includes a clear written description of the associated work.

Landlord & Lease Budgets

• Develop landlord construction budgets for clients negotiating leases.
• Identify work that could reasonably be completed or funded by the landlord.
• Help clients understand potential landlord responsibilities and construction contributions.
• Provide accurate construction information that can strengthen the client’s lease negotiations., * Ensure clients, designers, subcontractors, and project teams have a consistent understanding of project scope.
• Incorporate kitchen drawings, filing plans, specifications, finish selections, and design changes into evolving budgets.
• Maintain continuity between preliminary concepts and final construction pricing.

Client Presentations & Budget Reviews

• Conduct internal budget reviews before information is presented externally.
• Lead client-facing budget presentations and clearly explain project costs.
• Translate detailed construction information into language restaurant owners and operators can easily understand.
• Respond confidently to questions regarding pricing, scope, allowances, and constructability.
• Incorporate approved client changes into subsequent budget versions.

Pricing Systems & Cost Database

• Build and continuously improve the company’s internal pricing system.
• Develop and maintain:
• Unit costs
• Construction assemblies
• Trade rates
• Finish benchmarks
• Estimating templates
• Checklists
• Historical cost information
• Use completed project results to continuously improve future estimates.
• Direct internal takeoff resources to ensure accurate and well-documented estimating information.
• Develop systems that allow budgets to become faster and more accurate over time.

Cost Reconciliation & Continuous Improvement

• Compare final project costs against original estimates.
• Review completed-project actuals with Project Managers and company leadership.
• Identify areas where estimates differed from actual construction costs.
• Determine the causes of estimating variances and incorporate lessons learned into future pricing.
• Maintain an increasingly accurate and comprehensive pricing database., * Partner with Project Managers as projects transition from preconstruction into design and construction.
• Conduct detailed budget handoffs.
• Ensure Project Managers understand and can independently explain and defend project budgets.
• Maintain continuity between estimating assumptions and field execution.

Performance Expectations

• Deliver budgets within two weeks of receiving complete project information.
• Produce estimates that remain accurate through construction.
• Maintain clear written descriptions for every budget line.
• Ensure all client-facing budgets receive internal review before presentation.
• Continuously improve the accuracy and depth of the company’s pricing database.
• Provide Project Managers with sufficient information to confidently manage and defend project budgets.
• Reconcile completed project costs against estimates and incorporate findings into future pricing.

• Significant experience estimating and building commercial interior construction projects.
• Strong understanding of commercial construction pricing and constructability.
• Ability to develop conceptual budgets from incomplete design information.
• Experience developing detailed scopes of work.
• Experience soliciting, reviewing, and analyzing subcontractor pricing.
• Ability to manage multiple active budgets simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of construction materials, labor, trades, and sequencing.
• Comfortable working directly with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, and Project Managers.

Strongly Preferred

• New York City restaurant construction experience.
• Restaurant, hospitality, or food-service construction experience.
• Design-build construction experience.
• Commercial interior estimating experience.
• Experience performing early-stage feasibility and preconstruction analysis.
• Experience developing landlord or lease-negotiation budgets.

Design & Technical Capabilities

• Ability to personally produce preliminary construction layouts and restaurant test fits.
• Understanding of restaurant seating, kitchen layouts, egress, hood systems, and MEP considerations.
• Experience with space-scanning technology.
• Experience with digital drawing and takeoff software.
• Strong construction estimating and structured pricing capabilities.
• Ability to interpret architectural and construction information.
• Ability to identify constructability issues before construction begins.

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