TENTATIVE                                         

Occ. Code 4316110

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

Construction Estimators determine building construction costs based on completed plans and specifications, taking into consideration quantities and types of material to be used in the structure, pricing of various items, wage rates for various classifications of labor, and indirect costs such as access roads and field office expenses.

 Incumbents visualize each step in construction from excavation to landscaping and determine the most effective and economical method of performing each phase of construction using guides such as manufacturers lists, engineering and estimating handbooks and periodicals, and previous construction cost records.  They check the drawings and may recommend design changes to reduce building costs. They are also called upon to make comparative studies of construction costs.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS  

          CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 1 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS): entry level; assists higher level construction estimators in determining building construction costs.

          CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 2 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS): performance level; under the general direction of a Construction Estimator 3 or other higher level staff, independently makes and reviews detailed cost estimates in connection with building construction and rehabilitation projects.      

          CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 3 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS): first level supervisor;  under the general direction of a Construction Estimator 4 or other higher level staff, supervises two or more Construction  Estimators 2 and other staff engaged in construction estimating; and estimates and reviews total costs of major and diversified building construction and rehabilitation projects.  At this level, cost estimates involve many different types of materials and a variety of construction complications due to architectural or structural design. 

          CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 4 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS): second level supervisor; under the general direction of higher level staff, supervises two or more Construction Estimators 3 and other staff engaged in construction estimating; oversees the day-to-day activities of a construction estimating program or unit, or geographic area in a statewide program.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 1 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS)

·       Estimate from building plans and working drawings the gross quantities of materials and labor costs going into the construction of standard items such as concrete, brick, plaster, filling and grading work, pipes, sanitary fixtures, and values.

·       Refer to established guides or to higher ranking construction estimators for a determination of unit cost, and make extensions and computations to find the total cost.

·       Assemble from records and other publications basic raw data on average cubic cost by type of construction and by geographical location.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 2 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS)

·       Perform all of the duties and responsibilities of a Construction Estimator 1.

·       Make detailed quantity and cost estimates for materials and labor from specifications, and estimate costs of construction per cubic foot for various types of buildings.

·       Check quantity and cost estimates prepared by contractors and shown in contracts.

·       Review the accuracy of quantities and total costs in estimates prepared by Construction Estimators 1.

·       Make detailed estimates for changes in contracts, and confer with higher ranking construction estimators on modifications to and/or substitutes for equipment.

·       May prepare general descriptions and sketches of the work to be done and the equipment and apparatus involved in construction based on plans and specifications.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 3 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS)

·       Perform all of the duties and responsibilities of a Construction Estimator 2.

·       Supervise the preparation of quantity surveys and detailed cost estimates of labor and materials.

·       Make detailed and difficult quantity and cost estimates for all types of building construction projects including quantity and cost surveys of labor and materials. 

·       Confer with engineers, architects, and specification writers relative to the cost of alternative methods of design.

·       Compile data on factors and trends entering into the forecast of building costs and volume of building construction.

·       Make estimates for proposed projects without complete working drawings, sometimes involving field visits to the site.

·       Make estimates for work undertaken by contractors in excess of contract.

·       Perform the full range of supervisory duties including identifying staff development needs, evaluating staff performance, and completing performance evaluations for subordinate staff.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 4 (VARIOUS PARENTHETICS)

·       Perform all of the duties and responsibilities of a Construction Estimator 3.

·       Supervise the preparation of large, complicated cost estimates for building construction and rehabilitation projects.

·       Manage and prioritize the workload to ensure that detailed estimates, change order reviews, post bid reports, review and approval of termination costs, review of consultant estimates and negotiation of consultant design fee services are performed accurately and in a timely manner.

·       Review the work in progress and check final estimates for accuracy and completeness.

·       Advise contractors and the heads of departments of construction proposals, and notify prospective bidders of changes in estimates.

·       Supervise the review of contractors bids for construction work.

·       Confer and correspond with contractors and manufacturers concerning the cost of material and labor, particularly to suggest ways of saving money in construction materials or methods without sacrificing utility or safety.

·       Perform the full range of administrative supervisory responsibilities.

          Construction Estimators perform a wide variety of duties.  Construction Estimator parenthetics are classified when the majority of a given positions duties and responsibilities emphasize a particular specialty.  

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 1, 2, 3 AND 4 (ARCHITECTURAL): Incumbents make and review detailed cost estimates of the quantity and price of labor, materials, and equipment involved in architectural facets of building construction, site development, and rehabilitation projects.   

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 1, 2, 3 AND 4 (MECHANICAL): Incumbents make and review detailed cost estimates of the quantity and price of labor, materials, and equipment for heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, lighting, power, and other mechanical and electrical systems in building construction and rehabilitation projects. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 1 (ARCHITECTURAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service in any engineering or drafting title allocated to Grade 13.

Open Competitive: one year of experience in architectural drafting or assisting in architectural work or in building construction cost estimating and three additional years of experience in any combination of the following: (a) assisting in architectural or engineering work; or (b) college study in architecture or engineering; or (c) technical institute or two-year college study in applied science in a curriculum such as construction, highway technology or pre-engineering.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 2 (ARCHITECTURAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Construction Estimator 1 (Architectural).

Open Competitive: one year of experience in preparing and checking building construction cost estimates and five additional years of experience in any combination of the following: (a) assisting in architectural or engineering work; or (b) college study in architecture or engineering; or (c) technical institute or two-year college study in applied science in a curriculum such as construction, highway technology or pre-engineering.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 3 (ARCHITECTURAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Construction Estimator 2 (Architectural).

Open Competitive:  four years of experience in preparing and checking building construction cost estimates and four additional years of experience in any combination of the following: (a) assisting in architectural or engineering work; or (b) college study in architecture or engineering; or (c) technical institute or two-year college study in applied science in a curriculum such as construction, highway technology or pre-engineering.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 4 (ARCHITECTURAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Construction Estimator 3 (Architectural).

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 1 (MECHANICAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service in any engineering or drafting title allocated to Grade 13.

Open Competitive:  one year of experience in mechanical drafting or in assisting in mechanical engineering work or in mechanical cost estimating and three additional years of experience in any combination of the following: (a) assisting in mechanical engineering, drafting, or construction; or (b) college study in engineering; or (c) technical institute or two-year college study in applied science in a curriculum such as construction, highway technology or pre-engineering

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 2 (MECHANICAL) 

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Construction Estimator 1 (Mechanical).

Open Competitive: one year of experience in preparing and checking mechanical construction cost estimates and five additional years of experience in any combination of the following: (a) assisting in architectural or engineering work; or (b) college study in architecture or engineering; or (c) technical institute or two-year college study in applied science in a curriculum such as construction, highway technology or pre-engineering.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 3 (MECHANICAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Construction Estimator 2 (Mechanical).

Open Competitive: four years of experience in preparing and checking mechanical construction cost estimates and four additional years of experience in any combination of the following: (a) assisting in architectural or engineering work; or (b) college study in architecture or engineering; or (c) technical institute or two-year college study in applied science in a curriculum such as construction, highway technology or pre-engineering.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR 4 (MECHANICAL)

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Construction Estimator 3 (Mechanical).

Date: 5/17

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.