Cost Estimator; Construction and Planning Specialist

SPACE MANAGEMENT (BL-SPAC-IUBLA)

Capital Planning and Facilities (CPF) works to ensure that Indiana University (IU) campuses are beautiful, functional, and sustainable while supporting excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement across the entire university. A unit within Capital Projects Construction Management provides project management services for IU capital projects. Construction Management staff coordinate the efforts of everyone involved on IU Capital projects - external contractors, IU Capital Projects staff, and our university partners - ensuring projects are completed on schedule, on budget, and in accordance with university guidelines and safety standards.

The Office of Space Planning provides strategic and thoughtful planning for how space owned and leased by Indiana University is used. Applying the most efficient management, utilization, and space programming processes allows Space Planning to achieve the best use, functionality, and organization of space to meet university goals and the objectives of both current and proposed facilities.

The Cost Estimator is responsible for developing, analyzing, and maintaining construction cost estimates to support the university's capital planning, renovation, and new construction initiatives. This position provides independent cost analysis during the planning and pre-construction phases of projects to support informed decision-making regarding scope, feasibility, and budget development. The Cost Estimator serves as a technical resource to university leadership and project teams by providing objective cost information throughout project development and assisting in the review of design consultant and contractor estimates.

• Reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Planning (or designated senior planning leadership) and works closely with Capital Projects, Facilities Operations, design consultants, campus stakeholders, architects, engineers, and project managers to evaluate project scope and prepare conceptual and detailed cost estimates.
• Develops and implements standardized cost estimating procedures, methodologies, assumptions, documentation standards, and best practices across the Office of Planning, Capital Projects, and Facilities.
• Assists in project conceptual, schematic design, design development, and detailed construction cost estimates appropriate to the level of project definition.
• Provides independent cost analyses, estimates, and recommendations throughout project planning, design bidding, and construction to identify budget risks, evaluate alternatives, and support informed decision-making.
• Provides market analysis and benchmarking related to labor, materials, escalation, and regional construction trends to improve forecasting accuracy.
• Maintains historical cost data, benchmarking information, escalation assumptions, and current market information to support consistent and reliable project estimates.
• Supports strategic capital planning and project feasibility analysis by providing leadership with dependable cost data, cost modeling, benchmarking, escalation forecasting, and evaluation of project alternatives.
• Performs value analysis and evaluates alternative materials, systems, phasing approaches, and scope options to assist project teams in maintaining established budgets and aligning projects with institutional priorities and financial parameters.
• Reviews design consultant estimates, contractor bids, and other cost proposals for completeness, reasonableness, scope alignment, and consistency with established project budgets.
• Provides feedback and recommendations to administrators, project managers, and other appropriate parties regarding project cost analyses, bid results, budget risks, and cost alternatives.
• Evaluates the cost implications of proposed change orders, unforeseen conditions, code requirements, and design refinements and provides independent cost recommendations to project managers and university leadership.

• Manages, supervises, inspects, and coordinates new construction and remodeling projects on assigned campuses.
• Monitors construction timeline to ensure contractors maintain accurate schedule and perform to university standards; reviews and approves contractors' billing performance.
• Coordinates necessary interruption of services between administration, Physical Plant, and contractor.
• Reviews engineering drawings and specifications and serves as project…