Construction Estimator

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.

At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.

The Construction Estimator, with ample experience in tenant-in-place renovations and LIHTC deals, will lead the full estimating lifecycle — from early conceptual budgeting through project closeout — while driving procurement strategy and vendor management. In this role, you will serve as a subject matter expert and strategic partner to project managers, architects, consultants, and subcontractors, producing accurate and competitive cost models that guide investment decisions and keep projects on schedule and within budget.

You will also help shape departmental best practices and estimating standards.

• Lead detailed quantity takeoffs and cost estimates across all project phases, including schematic design, design development, construction documents.
• Own the development and management of conceptual and parametric budgets for Residential projects, including comprehensive renovations, capital improvements, and new construction.
• Critically review construction drawings, specifications, and scopes of work to identify gaps, clarifications, risks, and value engineering opportunities — and drive resolution.
• Serve as the primary cost advisor to design teams during pre-construction, ensuring constructability and alignment between project budgets and design objectives.
• Lead design review meetings and provide authoritative cost guidance as project designs evolve.
• Own and continuously improve historical cost databases, unit pricing, and benchmarking tools, setting standards for estimating accuracy across the team.
• Identify, communicate, and mitigate project risks early in the pre-construction process.

• Develop and oversee bid packages, scope sheets, and RFP documents for subcontractor and supplier solicitations.
• Lead the full bidding process — document distribution and outreaching, subcontractor screening and vetting, pre-bid meetings, proposal collection, bid leveling, and comparative analysis — with a focus on strategy and efficiency.
• Evaluate, qualify, and manage relationships with subcontractors and vendors; maintain and expand the approved vendor database.
• Lead subcontract negotiations, including pricing, scope alignment, and contract terms in coordination with project management and legal teams.
• Direct project buyout activities and procurement tracking to ensure timely subcontract awards and material purchases.
• Proactively identify long-lead items and develop procurement schedules that protect project timelines.

• Present and defend estimates, assumptions, cost analyses, and reconciliation summaries to internal stakeholders, ownership groups, and executive leadership.
• Lead the development of owner budgets, project pro formas, and cost validation efforts.
• Partner with project managers during the transition from pre-construction…