Cost Estimator II- Security Clearance

Overview

The Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate is responsible for the design, coordination, and management of OBO's construction and renovation programs. The Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Directorate of Project Development, Coordination and Support, Office of Cost Management (OBO/PDCS/COST), requires cost estimating services to complete the task requirements stated below. As a Cost Estimator assigned to an organizational element of the Office of Cost Management, the incumbent performs a wide range of cost estimating and cost management consulting duties associated with overseas construction and maintenance projects for which OBO is responsible.

• Review and support the preparation of estimates for construction projects; provide a complete range of cost analysis and cost management services including program, cost, and price analysis, cost planning, concept cost estimating, budget development, detailed cost estimating through the planning and execution phases, preparation of Independent Government Estimates (IGEs), proposal price analysis, and data management to support institutional historical database requirements.
• Advise and assist with construction market surveys, including gathering in‑country construction cost data and evaluating the impacts of laws, taxes, and other conditions pertaining to construction cost estimates.
• Participate in discussions with foreign officials regarding the Department's related cost issues such as real estate matters, utility requirements, tax regulations, local government‑controlled services, and economic issues likely to affect the estimated cost of construction.
• Analyze project and program requirements and prepare conceptual and detailed budget estimates from partially complete scopes of work such as space programs, requirements reports, existing conditions assessments, surveys, standard criteria sketches, detailed drawings, project manuals, etc.; update cost estimates based on provided scope definition.
• Analyze project scopes of work and program requirements and prepare or review comparative estimates for design and construction alternatives.
• Ensure that all cost estimates are published using standard formats institutionalized by the Office; prepare Current Working Estimates (CWEs) in accordance with OBO program requirements, policy, and guidance.
• Prepare professional products and provide professional services on all cost engineering and cost analysis/management/control matters and consistently apply disciplined cost management controls to ensure adherence to project budget limitations.
• Conduct or facilitate the preparation of risk analyses for OBO construction cost estimates, including the development of project risk registers, identification of risk mitigation strategies, and calculation of appropriate contingency estimates.
• Coordinate cost estimates developed for program requirements from other OBO organizations and program budget estimates with project stakeholders and ensure that all such estimates meet minimum quality requirements and relevant published performance targets.
• Prepare reports, drafts, correspondence, and attend project meetings; coordinate, present, and communicate work‑related information to the Division Chief and Office Director.
• Remain abreast of current knowledge in cost engineering, analysis, and management and control theories, principles, and methodologies, and discuss their applicability to Division operations with the Division Chief.
• Maintain program and reference materials, project files, and relevant background documents and provide input to policies, procedures, and written instructions for senior management officials.
• Analyze and advise on contractor proposal prices and compare with Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) and Request for Proposal (RFP), Scope of Work (SOW), preparing proposal price analysis and technical reports to support negotiation of equitable contract award amounts.
• Advise on all cost‑related aspects of contracts between the U.S. Government and independent architectural/engineering cost estimator consultants for each project.