Construction Estimator 

Employer: Long & Associates, LLC
Location: Remote
Employment Type: Part-Time
Support Area: HUD Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Program

About Long & Associates

Long & Associates, LLC is a public accounting and consulting firm that provides specialized services in financial management, program evaluation, construction analysis, and administrative support for public sector and tribal clients. Our mission is to empower communities through data-driven solutions, strategic insight, and operational excellence.

We are seeking a qualified Construction Estimator to join our team in support of the HUD IHBG Competitive Program Evaluation, a high-priority, research-driven initiative that aims to assess the performance and outcomes of HUD’s competitive tribal housing grant program.

Position Overview

The Construction Estimator will support the evaluation of the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Program, with a focus on analyzing construction costs, project documentation, bid data, and implementation models. This role is responsible for developing cost assessments, reviewing vendor and contractor proposals, and contributing to comparative analysis of construction outcomes between competitive and formula-funded projects.

This position combines core estimating responsibilities with support for a multidisciplinary research team that includes analysts, policy experts, and tribal housing specialists. The successful candidate will help answer HUD’s overarching research questions and contribute to written deliverables that will inform housing policy and program reform.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Estimating & Cost Analysis

• Analyze blueprints, specifications, and proposals for IHBG-funded housing projects to prepare cost, material, labor, and time estimates

• Estimate costs for materials, subcontracted work, leased/purchased equipment, and labor

• Prepare both preliminary planning estimates and detailed, itemized estimates from final plans

• Assess cost-effectiveness of projects, products, and services

• Review administrative and program documentation to determine material/labor requirements and create itemized cost breakdowns

Bid Evaluation & Procurement Review

• Review contractor/subcontractor bid proposals

• Analyze vendor pricing, quality, and compliance with HUD and tribal requirements

• Evaluate pricing structures and construction project financing models

• Maintain records of bids, outstanding proposals, and vendor assessments

Program Evaluation Support

• Contribute to the analysis of how IHBG Competitive projects differ from IHBG Formula-funded efforts in:

  • Cost structures

  • Project implementation

  • Housing types and outputs

  • Grantee characteristics

• Identify construction-related barriers or enablers to project delivery in tribal communities

Research Integration & Reporting

• Provide detailed documentation to support:

  • 6–9 project case studies (including stalled and completed projects)

  • Interim report on selected Research Questions, using ACS and administrative data

  • Final report including cost and efficiency analysis, methods, and federal recommendations

• Participate in briefings, team meetings, and interagency discussions

Data Sources to Be Utilized

• American Community Survey (ACS) and Census data

• IHBG administrative data and grant documentation

• Interviews and focus groups with tribal staff, contractors, and HUD ONAP staff

• Survey responses and project narratives

• Existing research, including Pindus (2017): Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Finance, Public Administration, or related field

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a construction estimator or cost analyst

• Demonstrated experience with housing or infrastructure projects, preferably in public or tribal sectors

• Proficiency in analyzing construction documents, bids, and cost reports

• Strong written documentation skills and ability to contribute to research reports

• Ability to manage multiple project components simultaneously and meet federally mandated deadlines

Preferred

• Experience with HUD-funded programs, particularly IHBG Competitive or Formula grants

• Familiarity with tribal housing authorities and culturally relevant construction practices

• Experience working on multi-phase evaluations or federally funded research initiatives

• Knowledge of federal procurement processes and cost allowability standards

Additional Information
Long & Associates reserves the right to modify job descriptions to meet organizational needs. Reasonable accommodations will be provided by governing law. This posting is part of an ongoing inventory for immediate and future Construction Estimator openings.