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Chief Estimator / Purchasing, Ground-Up Multifamily Construction

Posted today

cobalt recruitmentYonkers (NY)

SENIORITY

Manager

SALARY

$240000.00 per annum

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About the role

Chief Estimator / Purchasing, Ground-Up Multifamily Construction
Location: Westchester, NY
Industry: Multifamily Development & Construction
Pay: $185,000 - $240,000 base salary, commensurate with experience
A general contractor based in Westchester, NY is hiring a Chief Estimator to lead estimating and purchasing across its ground-up multifamily development pipeline. This is a pure estimating and buyout leadership seat, not a business development role: projects come to the company through ownership's existing relationships, so you won't be chasing new work, you'll be responsible for pricing it accurately and buying it out right. You'll lead a small estimating team and own trade buyout and materials procurement from preconstruction through contract award.
Responsibilities:
  • Lead and own the estimating process across the company's ground-up multifamily pipeline, from conceptual budgets through final GMPBuild, manage, and mentor a small estimating team, reviewing their takeoffs and pricing
  • Lead trade buyout: solicit, qualify, and negotiate subcontractor bids, and award trade contracts
  • Oversee materials procurement, including long-lead items, vendor relationships, and supply chain tracking
  • Develop and maintain subcontractor and vendor relationships across trades
  • Partner with ownership, development, and project management teams to validate project budgets at every phase (feasibility, design development, GMP)
  • Lead value engineering and cost analysis efforts to keep projects on budget
  • Track market pricing trends and adjust estimating and buyout strategy accordingly
  • Review and weigh in on change order pricing in partnership with project management
  • Maintain historical cost data and bid results to improve future estimate accuracy
Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of estimating experience in ground-up multifamily or commercial construction, including senior-level ownership of full-project estimates and trade buyout
  • Proven experience managing or mentoring an estimating team
  • Strong background in both estimating and materials/trade procurement, not just one side of the process
  • Deep understanding of construction documents, specifications, and the GMP/buyout process
  • Proficiency with estimating software (e.g. On-Screen Takeoff, PlanSwift, or similar), Procore, and MS OfficeStrong negotiation skills with subcontractors and vendors
  • Comfortable in a seat focused purely on estimating and buyout, this role does not include business development or new work pursuit
  • PreferredExperience specifically in ground-up multifamily construction
  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field
  • Experience building or scaling an estimating/purchasing function
Compensation and Benefits:
  • $185,000 - $240,000 base salary, commensurate with experience
  • Annual bonus
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) giving employees an ownership stake in the company 401(k)
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Paid Time Off and company holidays
  • A senior leadership seat building out a growing company's estimating and purchasing function
  • This is a confidential search conducted on behalf of the hiring company. The company name is shared directly with candidates who advance in the process.cob3Salary/Rate: US$185000.00 - US$240000.00 per annum
Job Type: Office Based
Contract Type: Permanent
Town/City: Yonkers
County: New York
Sector: Construction & Development
Job ref: JN -112026-85968_1793896117 Post Date:11. 05. 2026

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