Design and Construction Estimator

Design and Construction Estimator

Requisition Number: 74102

Location: Boulder Colorado

Employment Type: University Staff

Schedule: Full Time

Posting Close Date: 20-Aug-2026

Date Posted:

This position serves as the department's internal subject matter expert in construction cost estimating, equipping Planners, Engineers, and Project Managers with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to develop well-informed project budgets from the earliest stages of project development.

Rather than functioning as a gatekeeper in the project delivery process, the Estimator is a coach and enabler in building institutional cost knowledge, delivering targeted training, and stepping in as a direct contributor on large capital projects where deeper expertise is needed. This position represents a meaningful investment in PD&C's ability to deliver data-backed, reliable cost estimates that support sound planning and project decision-making across our department teams.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The PD&C department consists of three teams (Planning, Engineering, and Design & Construction) responsible for the planning, design, and construction of buildings on campus, in support of CU Boulder's academic mission. The Design & Construction team consists of approximately 40 high performing project delivery professionals leading over 400 projects across campus annually with a combined budget of over $500 million. The Design & Construction team strives to guide campus development in a way that gives physical form to the university's mission, vision, and programs through the effective use of human, environmental, and financial resources.

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine a data-backed estimating cost model that empowers Planners and Project Managers to independently prepare well-informed initial project budgets, reducing reliance on the Estimator for routine cost development.

• Build and maintain a comprehensive project cost database by incorporating historical project cost data, current market pricing, and contractor-submitted cost information, ensuring the model reflects accurate and current conditions.

• Design the estimating cost model in a format that is accessible and practical for everyday use by Planners and Project Managers, with clear documentation that supports independent application across project types and sizes.

• Collect and integrate cost data from completed projects and contractor engagements on an ongoing basis, continuously improving the accuracy and relevance of the model over time.

• Develop detailed calculations from completed capital projects in collaboration with the Campus Controller's Office to assist with Campus capitalization reports.

• Lead department-wide training on estimating fundamentals and cost evaluation to build the team's skills and capacity in developing and reviewing project budgets without requiring the Estimator's direct involvement on every project.

• Develop and deliver training curriculum for Planners and Project Managers on how to use the department's estimating cost model to prepare initial project budgets, with an emphasis on independent application.

• Facilitate training sessions for Project Managers on how to evaluate contractor-submitted pricing documents, including Schedules of Values (SOVs), Guaranteed Maximum Price documentation (GMPs), Design-Bid-Build bids, and change orders.

• Provide targeted coaching to Project Managers on reviewing Contractor's Proposals (COPs) and other pricing deliverables, strengthening the department's first line of review at the project level.

• Provide expert-level Class 5 and Class 4 estimates to support Planning, Design & Construction in developing reliable cost projections for capital, large deferred maintenance, and controlled maintenance projects prior to contractor or third-party estimator engagement.

• Prepare Class 5 and Class 4 conceptual estimates for capital projects in support of the Planning team, delivering data-backed and time-based cost projections that allow projects to advance with confidence through early development phases.

• Develop conceptual estimates for deferred maintenance and controlled maintenance projects in support of the Engineering team, informing prioritization and scoping decisions based on realistic cost expectations.

• Prepare Life Cycle Cost Analyses (LCCAs) on projects as requested, providing long-range cost perspective to inform decisions on materials, systems, and project scope.

• Build and maintain active relationships with the regional construction market to gather current…