A Brief Overview The Construction Estimator provides independent cost estimating, cost planning, and financial analysis for University Hospitals' capital construction program. Serving as the owner's cost expert, this position develops and validates project budgets, evaluates estimates prepared by architects, engineers, contractors, and construction managers, and advises project leadership on cost risks, market conditions, procurement strategies, and value-management opportunities.
The Construction Estimator supports projects from initial planning through design, procurement, construction, and closeout. This role establishes consistent estimating standards, improves the accuracy and reliability of capital forecasts, and provides University Hospitals with an independent basis for evaluating project costs, contractor proposals, change orders, allowances, contingencies, and escalation. The position works closely with project managers, facilities leadership, finance, supply chain, legal, design professionals, contractors, and other internal stakeholders to ensure capital decisions are supported by complete, transparent, and defensible cost information.
Prepare conceptual, schematic, design-development, and detailed construction estimates for healthcare renovation, infrastructure, equipment, and new-construction projects using available drawings, narratives, program information, historical data, and site conditions. Develop and validate comprehensive project budgets that account for construction costs, design and consulting fees, equipment, technology, permits, testing, temporary conditions, escalation, contingency, owner costs, and other project-specific requirements.
Independently evaluate estimates submitted by architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors, and specialty consultants for accuracy, completeness, quantity assumptions, unit pricing, labor rates, general conditions, markups, allowances, escalation, contingency, and scope coverage. Lead estimate reconciliation efforts between University Hospitals, design teams, contractors, and consultants. Identify material cost differences, scope gaps, duplicate costs, unsupported assumptions, and unresolved risks, and document the final reconciled position.
Support contractor and vendor procurement by reviewing bids, proposals, guaranteed maximum price submissions, bid leveling documents, alternates, qualifications, exclusions, allowances, and unit prices. Provide recommendations regarding cost reasonableness and overall value. Analyze contractor change-order proposals for entitlement, scope, quantities, labor productivity, material pricing, equipment costs, subcontractor markups, general conditions, schedule impacts, and compliance with contractual requirements.
Develop independent estimates when needed to support negotiations. Identify cost drivers, evaluate design alternatives, and recommend value-management strategies that maintain clinical, operational, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements while improving project affordability and lifecycle value. Develop and maintain a centralized database of historical project costs, unit prices, escalation factors, regional market conditions, contractor pricing, change-order trends, and healthcare construction benchmarks.
Use this information to improve future estimates and capital planning. Provide estimating support for annual and multiyear capital planning, project prioritization, funding requests, business cases, feasibility studies, and executive approvals. Communicate estimate ranges, assumptions, confidence levels, contingencies, and potential financial exposure.
Create and maintain University Hospitals’ estimating procedures, templates, cost-code structures, estimate classifications, documentation requirements, benchmarking standards, and quality-control processes. Promote consistent estimating practices across the capital program. Additional Responsibilities Participate in project planning, design reviews, constructibility reviews, contractor interviews, procurement activities, and project risk assessments.
Monitor construction-market conditions, including labor availability, material pricing, supply-chain constraints, escalation, and regional bidding activity. Assist project managers with cash-flow projections, contingency analysis, cost-to-complete assessments, and financial reporting. Support audits, executive reviews, contract negotiations, and claims analysis by providing cost documentation and independent evaluations.
Conduct site visits to understand existing conditions, construction constraints, phasing requirements, logistics, infection-control requirements, and impacts to occupied healthcare environments. Collaborate with project teams to improve scope definition before budgets are established or procurement activities begin. Perform other duties related to capital cost management and project delivery as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned. Complies with all policies and standards. For specific duties and responsibilities, refer to documentation provided by the department during orientation.
Must abide by all requirements to safely and securely maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) for our patients. Annual training, the UH Code of Conduct and UH policies and procedures are in place to address appropriate use of PHI in the workplace. Education Bachelor's Degree Construction management, engineering, architecture, finance, or related field (Required) Work Experience 5+ years construction estimating, construction consulting, or project cost-management experience (Required) 1+ years experience working as an owner's representative (Preferred) 1+ years experience working in healthcare construction (Preferred) Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Ability to independently challenge estimates and cost proposals while maintaining productive relationships with contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders.
(Required proficiency) Strong understanding of conceptual estimating and the ability to develop reasonable cost projections when design information is limited. (Required proficiency) Ability to identify missing scope, inconsistencies, unrealistic assumptions, and potential financial exposure. (Required proficiency) Ability to manage multiple projects and estimates with competing deadlines.
(Required proficiency) Physical Demands Standing Occasionally Walking Occasionally Sitting Constantly Lifting Rarely up to 20 lbs Carrying Rarely up to 20 lbs Pushing Rarely up to 20 lbs Pulling Rarely up to 20 lbs Climbing Rarely up to 20 lbs Balancing Rarely Stooping Rarely Kneeling Rarely Crouching Rarely Crawling Rarely Reaching Rarely Handling Occasionally Grasping Occasionally Feeling Rarely Talking Constantly Hearing Constantly Repetitive Motions Frequently Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination Frequently Travel Requirements 10% Travel to and from UH locations as needed.