Construction and Planning Specialist

Overview

The Office of Space Planning provides strategic and thoughtful planning for how space owned and leased by Indiana University is used. By applying efficient management, utilization, and space programming processes, Space Planning aims to achieve the best use, functionality, and organization of space to meet university goals and both current and proposed facility objectives. The Cost Estimator role supports these goals by developing, analyzing, and maintaining construction cost estimates for the University’s capital planning, renovation, and new construction initiatives.

• Reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Planning and works closely with Capital Projects, Facilities Operations, design consultants, and campus stakeholders.
• Develops and implements standardized cost estimating procedures and best practices across the Office of Planning, Capital Projects, and Facilities.
• Improves financial stewardship by producing reliable estimates throughout all project phases, supporting proactive budget management and informed leadership decisions.
• Reduces dependency on external consultants for routine and preliminary estimates, resulting in cost savings and faster project response times.
• Provides market analysis and benchmarking related to labor, materials, and regional construction trends to improve forecasting accuracy.
• Supports strategic capital planning by supplying leadership with dependable cost data for project feasibility evaluations and investment prioritization.
• Enhances coordination among Planning, Facilities, Procurement, and campus stakeholders to align project scope, assumptions, and financial expectations.

• Manages, supervises, inspects, and coordinates new construction and remodeling projects on assigned campuses; monitors construction timelines to ensure contractors maintain accurate schedules and meet university standards; reviews and approves contractors’ billing performance; coordinates necessary interruptions of services between administration, Physical Plant, and contractor.
• Reviews engineering drawings and specifications and serves as project coordinator with architects, engineers, contractors, and administrators; reviews and approves shop and as-built drawings for university archives and Physical Plant use.
• Provides feedback and recommendations to administrators and concerned parties on project cost analyses and alternatives after bids have been submitted; advises interior designers of special circumstances and facilities requirements; assists architects and engineers with contract change orders as required by new functions, unforeseeable conditions, code requirements, or design refinements.
• Maintains documentation of all assigned projects with IU-issued software, including timelines, schedules, substantial completion, and other construction elements.

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management or a related field.

• Five years of construction management experience and/or large-format planning, managing multi-disciplined construction projects with scopes of work including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.

• Possesses a valid driver’s license and the ability to be insured by Indiana University upon hire.

• Proficient communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Possesses a high degree of initiative.
  
  Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents.
• Basic knowledge of Indiana Building Codes.
• Ability to read and interpret large-format schematics, blueprints, and drawings.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with a broad range of customers and management levels.
• Demonstrates working knowledge and practical application and experience in word processing,…