Chief Estimator / Purchasing, Ground-Up Multifamily Construction

Chief Estimator / Purchasing, Ground-Up Multifamily Construction

Location: Westchester, NY

Industry: Multifamily Development & Construction

Pay: $185,000 - $240,000 base salary, commensurate with experience

A general contractor based in Westchester, NY is hiring a Chief Estimator to lead estimating and purchasing across its ground-up multifamily development pipeline. This is a pure estimating and buyout leadership seat, not a business development role: projects come to the company through ownership's existing relationships, so you won't be chasing new work, you'll be responsible for pricing it accurately and buying it out right. You'll lead a small estimating team and own trade buyout and materials procurement from preconstruction through contract award.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own the estimating process across the company's ground-up multifamily pipeline, from conceptual budgets through final GMP
• Build, manage, and mentor a small estimating team, reviewing their takeoffs and pricing
• Lead trade buyout: solicit, qualify, and negotiate subcontractor bids, and award trade contracts
• Oversee materials procurement, including long-lead items, vendor relationships, and supply chain tracking
• Develop and maintain subcontractor and vendor relationships across trades
• Partner with ownership, development, and project management teams to validate project budgets at every phase (feasibility, design development, GMP)
• Lead value engineering and cost analysis efforts to keep projects on budget
• Track market pricing trends and adjust estimating and buyout strategy accordingly
• Review and weigh in on change order pricing in partnership with project management
• Maintain historical cost data and bid results to improve future estimate accuracy

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of estimating experience in ground-up multifamily or commercial construction, including senior-level ownership of full-project estimates and trade buyout
• Proven experience managing or mentoring an estimating team
• Strong background in both estimating and materials/trade procurement, not just one side of the process
• Deep understanding of construction documents, specifications, and the GMP/buyout process
• Proficiency with estimating software (e.g. On-Screen Takeoff, PlanSwift, or similar), Procore, and MS Office
• Strong negotiation skills with subcontractors and vendors
• Comfortable in a seat focused purely on estimating and buyout, this role does not include business development or new work pursuit

Preferred

• Experience specifically in ground-up multifamily construction
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field
• Experience building or scaling an estimating/purchasing function

Compensation and Benefits

• $185,000 - $240,000 base salary, commensurate with experience
• Annual bonus
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) giving employees an ownership stake in the company
• 401(k)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Time Off and company holidays
• A senior leadership seat building out a growing company's estimating and purchasing function

This is a confidential search conducted on behalf of the hiring company. The company name is shared directly with candidates who advance in the process.

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