Construction Cost Estimating Specialist

Job Description

We are looking for multiple Construction Cost Estimating Specialists to support a contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program supporting FEMA’s four Consolidated Resource Centers (CRC). This work is 100% remote and is based on the contingencies listed in the minimum requirements and additional information below.

Project Overview

FEMA’s PA Program provides supplemental funding to state and local governments and eligible private nonprofits, Indian tribal governments, and Alaska Native villages for disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures, and restoration of damaged infrastructure. AECOM will support these efforts by providing FEMA a wide range of technical and program management services to support FEMA’s four CRCs processing grant applications and validating/preparing damage description and dimensions, scopes of work, and cost estimates and conducting compliance reviews across multiple disasters.

Position Description

The Cost Estimating Specialist validates Public Assistance (PA) grant applications for disaster recovery projects in the Standard Lane within FEMA’s PA delivery model. They develop the scope of work and cost estimate. The Cost Estimating Specialist uses information provided by multiple stakeholders to develop the grant application (project). They will prepare a Request for Information (RFI) when additional information is required to complete the project. The Cost Estimating Specialist must attend daily stand-up meetings and complete required daily, weekly, and monthly reports.

When preparing the cost estimate, the Cost Estimating Specialist will:

• Develop disaster-specific cost data when applicable
• Use the best available estimating tools (RSMeans, Xactimate, etc.)
• Use the Cost Estimating Format (CEF) for large projects, in accordance with the Public Assistance CEF for Large Projects Instructional Guide, Version 2.1
• The Costing Specialist(s) will use FEMA’s Grants Manager (GM) system. FEMA’s GM system is used to assign and track actions throughout PA project development, and to collect all PA project-related information and documents, including correspondence.
  
  

Minimum Requirements:

• BA/BS + None or AA/AS + 2 years relevant technical knowledge base and experience in standard concepts, principles and techniques of cost estimating. General knowledge in the design and/or construction of public infrastructure or HS/GED + 4 years relevant technical knowledge base and experience in standard concepts, principles and techniques of cost estimating. General knowledge in the design and/or construction of public infrastructure or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• US Citizenship required with the ability to obtain and maintain DHS Public Trust.
• Experience using cost estimating software (Xactimate, RS Means, etc)?????
• Prior FEMA PA and/or CRC experience preferred, but not required, including PA grant documentation review or project development experience, validating PA grant documentation, and developing or reviewing DDDs, SOWs, and cost estimates for PA grant applications
• Outstanding smart phone and computer skills – this job is 100% computer-based and work is completed through a web-based application, so strong computer skills are required:
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Word), Adobe Acrobat, and Google Earth (file conversion and import/export ability required).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of relevant technical experience in the design and/or construction of public infrastructure. The valuable skill types and experience include, engineers, architects, cost estimators, construction inspectors/managers or similar discipline(s) or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education
• Experience providing excellent customer service; effective written and verbal communication skills; attention to detail.
• Strong observational, decision making, analytical, critical thinking, organizational, and problem-solving skills with ability to synthesize and clearly present key disaster recovery issues and progress to resolution.
• Experience with FEMA Grants Manager
• Current DHS Public Trust clearance/badge
• This project has a heavy focus on productivity and quality. Staff must be committed to completing the work efficiently and accurately. Work will be monitored and reviewed regularly.