Cost Estimator for the Division of Building Land Development Services

Job Description

Agency Description:

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.

- We maintain building and resident safety and health.
- We create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability.
- We engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity.

HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness,” Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To support this important work, the administration has committed $5 billion in new capital funding, bringing the 10-year planned investment in housing to $22 billion the largest in the city’s history. This investment, coupled with a commitment to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, is a multi-pronged strategy to tackle New York City’s complex housing crisis, by addressing homelessness and housing instability, promoting economic stability and mobility, increasing homeownership opportunities, improving health and safety, and increasing opportunities for equitable growth.________________________________________

Your Team:


The Division of Building and Land Development Services (BLDS) leads the agency’s effort in providing architectural, engineering, cost valuation, environmental planning, and construction support services to the various divisions within HPD’s Office of Development. The Office of Development utilizes a public-private partnership model and provides loans, grants and/or incentives to assist in the finance of housing development projects that will benefit low- and moderate-income New Yorkers.

BLDS is the largest division within the Office of Development with over 120 staff composed of seven units which include: the Bureau of New Construction Design Review Services, the Bureau of Preservation Design Review Services, the Bureau of Engineering, the Bureau of Construction Services, Environmental Planning Unit, the Policy Unit, and the Program Management Unit.

Your Impact:

As a Cost Estimator, you will be responsible for preparing cost estimates based on construction documents, utilizing RS Means database, for both newly-constructed and rehabilitated multi-family buildings assisted by HPD Funding/Assistance.

Your Role:

The ideal candidate should have a background in Cost Estimating, Engineering, Engineering Science, or related field, and possess a thorough understanding and strong knowledge base of New York City building and construction codes, as well as Federal, State, and City housing codes and regulations, along with experience in methods and standards in cost estimating of new construction and preservation of multi-family residential housing.

Your Responsibilities:

- Prepare cost estimate by gathering quantities from construction drawings and utilizing RS MEANS database, for multi-family new construction and renovated residential buildings;

- Review cost estimates and change orders prepared by external consultants for accuracy and reasonableness multi-family residential buildings;

- Perform value engineering to determine possible cost savings, and produce base costs and preliminary budget estimates for new construction and renovated residential buildings;

- Review contractors’ bid proposals and prepare bid recommendations;

- Assist in the processing of documents related to change orders and attend meetings related to change order negotiations with other HPD staff and external partners involved;

- Review and analyze construction documents, including drawings, scopes of work, and project specifications; and

- Assist in developing and maintaining a historical cost database in order to prepare, analyze, and validate estimates and budgets.

Preferred skills

1. Thorough knowledge of City, State and Federal housing regulations, procedures and practice.
2. Familiarity with New York City government and housing issues.
3. Proficient in the use of various cost estimating tools, including RS Means and Sage.
4. Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Word, etc.).
5. Thorough understanding of construction and cost estimating industry standards.
6. Ability to read and understand drawings/plans, scopes of work, and specifications.
7. Ability to negotiate with diverse technical specialists.
8. Ability to work independently, apply independent judgment in technical matters, take initiative, and work effectively with others.
9. Excellent technical, writing, verbal, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.