*Direct applicants only; third-party agencies will not be considered.*
Position: Junior Cost Estimator (All Trades/MEP)
Department: Estimating/Preconstruction
Reports to: Preconstruction Manager
Location: Chicago, IL. (West Loop) (WFH 1 Day/Week)
Employment Type & Shift: Full-time benefits eligible
About Richard Group:
A premier veteran-owned general contracting and construction management company with headquarters in Chicago’s West Loop, Richard Group is a culture-forward purpose-builder who is building to solve the world’s greatest challenges.
Established in 2014 by Founder and President Jed Richard, Richard Group is proud to develop, design, build, and maintain many of the smartest structures on earth. Our proactive turn-key approach produces the most efficient path to occupancy while honoring the demand for timely execution, partner collaboration, and a process and product that deliver every time.
Richard Group has been the prime contractor on over 180 projects valued at over $600MM. Trusted by clients like the U.S. Department of Defense, Richard Group’s past work includes critical patient care facilities, civil roadway and utility projects, mission-critical data centers, electronic healthcare upgrades, government rehabilitation projects, and more.
By prioritizing people, purpose, and innovation over the bottom-line, Richard Group has held tight to its reputation for unparallel quality while more than doubling in size since 2022.
Recognized as the fastest-growing general contractor in the country, Richard Group is proud to employ over 100 full-time employees and trade professionals at both their homes in Chicago’s West Loop and at projects across 16 states. Each of these individuals are equally dedicated to the company’s mission to serve through proactive problem-solving, clear communication, and seamless navigation of multi-phase, logistically demanding projects.
Responsibilities:
- Reviews project plans, requirements and specifications to develop a comprehensive understanding of the project and develop scope of work, labor, and equipment costs
- Initiates RFIs as needed for accurate and competitive pricing
- Prepares quantity takeoffs and pricing of scope either through self-perform production-based estimating or unit price estimating
- Assists with estimating preparation and ITB software
- Reviews and understands all bid documents and material requirements to assess constructability and product material requirements
- Prepares bid packages
- Reviews all bids across subcontractors to ensure pricing comparisons are accurate and all missing items are recorded and accounted for
- Prepares estimates according to the requirements of multiple delivery systems
- Reviews quotes and estimates with the project management team
- Understands FAR clauses, the self-performance requirements on Government Contracts
Mandatory Qualifications:
- 5+ years of all trade estimating experience
- Experience bidding federal & private sector projects
- Proficient in estimating software and Excel; must be self-sufficient
- Experience bidding commercial building projects
- Experience with design-bid-build and design-build
- Able to produce detailed estimates for 3-5 different trade packages
- Experience with construction means and methods, costs and engineering principles
- Engages and coordinates with Estimators on the bid
- Understands costs and market conditions
- Accurately estimates time required to complete actions and activities
- A motivated and driven individual with strong organizational and communication skills
- Able to prioritize tasks in a high-pressure bidding environment
- Advanced computer skills with estimating software
- A desire to stay and grow with a company that will help mentor, train, and educate you
Preferred Qualifications:
- Assisting with the bid process
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil, MEP Engineering or Construction Management
- Expertise in building construction
- Experience in a competitive hard bidding environment
- Experience bidding healthcare, and design-build projects
- Experience with Davis Bacon-Prevailing wage or Union required projects
- Experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs, GSA, USACE, Army, Navy, NAVFAC
At Richard Group, we believe in showing the same gratitude and care to our team members that we do in our projects. This position comes with a competitive salary to match your level of experience and includes competitive benefits such as:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA) available
- 15 days of paid time off (PTO)
- 8 paid holidays
- All employees are immediately eligible for a position-based bonus program
- Company 401(k) matching contributions
- Parental leave policy
- All employees immediately have access to mentorship, regular skills-based training, and leadership development programs
Richard Group is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants and employees will receive equal employment opportunities without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
