Your success is a train ride away!

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

 

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

 

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

Under the guidance of Cost Estimating management, the Cost Estimator prepares cost estimates for small to mid-sized capital construction projects with low to moderate complexity. This role involves close collaboration with the Project Manager and other team members to develop and update project budgets. The Cost Estimator follows established departmental procedures, guidelines, and best practices throughout the estimate development process and when documenting the basis of estimate. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

· Works with the Project Manager and team to develop total project cost estimates and supplementary basis of estimate documentation per department procedures. 
· Works with the Project Manager and team to develop project cost breakdown structure conceptual and/or detailed cost estimates as required, required escalation, and appropriate contingency reserves using standard templates, methods, and tools within department prescribed parameters. 
· Applies standard construction estimating concepts, procedures and practices as well as railroad disciplines (electric traction, signals, structures, track or applicable general construction) for estimate development. 
· Collects and documents project scope information required to develop cost estimates including but not limited to project requirements, design documents, scope elements, takeoff quantities, project delivery methodology, project schedule information, in-house union labor requirements, and project soft cost requirements. 
· Establishes and maintains the cost estimate basis of estimate (BOE) document with each estimate iteration. 
· Develops summary and detailed reports of cost estimate and presents to internal estimating team for peer review and project team during estimate review sessions. 
· Review and comment on cost estimates developed by others when required under supervision of senior cost estimating staff.    
· Support project teams when required with cost estimating needs for proposed project changes and or reviewing contractor change orders. 
· Support project team with integration of cost and resource data into the project schedule when requested. 
· Assist Project or Program Manager in evaluation and cost impact assessment of identified project risks to enable project team with applicable data for development of risk mitigation plans and contingencies. 
· Manages Controls data via EPPM, SharePoint or any other approved EPMO systems and tools as required. 
· Adheres to Amtrak Enterprise Project Management methodology and CAPD project controls procedures 
· Participates in risk evaluation sessions or preconstruction reviews, and ensures risks are documented and assessed in terms of probability and impact to enable project team development of risk mitigation plans and contingencies 
· Assures quality and timeliness of recurring and ad-hoc deliverables of position 
· Assists senior Cost Estimating staff in preparation of cost estimate reports, or presentations. 
· Supports development and maintenance of cost estimating databases as required. 
· Identifies opportunities for improvement in processes, methods, or tools 
· Visits future and ongoing construction project sites to support cost estimate development and gain knowledge of craft/discipline scope of work 
· Performs other related duties of position

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate for this position must have:

· Bachelor’s Degree required OR equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
· 3-6 years of relevant experience 
· Must have authorization to work in the United States.

 

Demonstrated Basic to Intermediate knowledge and understanding of:

 · Principles and practices of project cost estimating through all phases of the project lifecycle 
 · Reviewing and providing feedback on all aspects of project cost estimates developed by others. 
 · Business processes, techniques, and procedures related to cost estimating in large and/or complex capital construction projects o Construction / Engineering contracting methods and types 
 · Principles and practices of construction services and materials procurement 
 · Cost estimating methods and practices for projects in conceptual design phase through completion of detailed design 
 · Statistical analysis methods 
 · Principles of business letter writing and report preparation 
 · Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration 
 · Integration of estimating and scheduling processes, tools, systems, and data. 

 

Basic to Intermediate skill level in: 

 · Common software tools used in project cost estimating (e.g., InEight Estimate (Hard Dollar), Heavy Bid, Sage Timberline, RS Means) in developing and maintaining cost estimates for large and/or complex construction projects and extracting data to generate analysis and status reports. 
 · Use of internal financial system data to determine benchmarking to validate and improve estimates. 
 · Advanced user skills in MS Excel for data analysis. 
 · Communicating complex information clearly and concisely, both orally and writing across all levels. 
 · Effectiveness working diplomatically across teams with varying objectives. 
 · Strong focus on collaboration, team building and customer service. 
 · Objective evaluation of available information or differing points of view and making sound and timely decisions consistent with department strategic goals. 
 · Establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 
 · Negotiation and conflict resolution. 
 · Leading effective meetings. 
 · Delegating authority and responsibility. 
 · Preparing and delivering effective presentations and/or training to diverse audiences. 
 · Preparing professional letters, memos, and other documents using Excel, Word, Visio, and/or PowerPoint

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

 · Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in Science, Engineering, Construction management, or a related field. 
 · 6 years of relevant experience
 · Experience developing estimates on medium to large capital construction projects in railroad environment. 
 · Experience in reviewing and providing feedback on cost estimates, cost proposals, and bids produced by others. 
 · Capital construction experience in the rail industry. 
 · One or more of the following certifications / credentials: CCT, CCP, CEP (AACE), PMP (PMI) 
 · Hands on experience with data analysis  
 · Experience with data analysis, preferably with Excel. 
 · Experience with database management (SQL)

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

· Environmental Conditions: Office environment; exposure to computer screens. 
· Physical Conditions: May require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting, walking or standing for prolonged periods of time. 
· Up to 25% travel

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

 

The salary range is $78,600 - $101,844. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

#LI-CD1

Requisition ID:165157

Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak. 
Relocation Offered:No 
Travel Requirements:Up to 25% 

You power our progress through your performance.
 

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions. 

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. 

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.  

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

 

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses. 

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law..