What is a Cost Engineering & Unit Development Specialist?

As a Cost Engineering & Unit Development Specialist, you will play a critical role in supporting early-stage investment planning by developing accurate cost estimates, maintaining compatible unit structures, and contributing to the budgeting process across electric and gas portfolios. You will also support the development and tracking of work units used to plan, monitor, and improve construction productivity and operational efficiency. Working closely with Asset Management, Engineering, Field Operations, and Finance, your work ensures the organization maintains a reliable, data-driven foundation for capital planning, resource forecasting, and performance improvement.

What does a Cost Engineering & Unit Development Specialist do?

• Applies standardized unit costs and productivity assumptions to support scalable asset-centric budgeting across capital and O&M programs

• Assists in refining cost structures to improve estimate reliability and consistency

• Creates, maintains, and improves compatible units (CUs) used for estimating, design, and construction execution

• Coordinates with engineering, supply chain, and field operations to validate labor, material, and equipment components

• Develops and maintains early-stage project and program cost estimates based on asset strategy inputs, historic costs, and scope assumptions

• Provides estimating inputs prior to engineering design to support project forecasting and portfolio scenario planning

• Defines and maintains standardized work units that represent measurable construction outputs across job types

• Supports the use of work units for resource planning, crew sizing, and performance benchmarking

• Collaborates with field and planning teams to monitor unit productivity and recommend refinements

• Supports review of actual vs. estimated costs and work units after project completion

• Helps identify cost drivers, productivity gaps, and improvement opportunities to refine future estimates and planning assumptions

• Collaborates with Asset Management, Engineering, Work Management, and Field Operations to ensure estimating practices, unit structures, and work units align with operational needs

• Provides subject matter support on unit development during design reviews, scope planning, and execution meetings

• Maintains CU libraries, work unit definitions, estimating templates, and associated databases

• Provides support for storm restoration efforts

What does it take to be a Cost Engineering & Unit Development Specialist?

Required:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Technology, Construction Management, Business, or a related field and 8 years of experience in cost estimating, compatible unit development, or work measurement or an Associates Degree in the aforementioned fields and 10 years of experience in cost estimating, compatible unit development or work measurement.

• Working knowledge of construction methods, labor/material cost structures, and unit-based performance tracking

• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly across teams

• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional planning and operations environment

• Valid driver’s license

Preferred:

• Experience in the Utility industry

Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2025. 

This position has a career path which allows for advancement opportunities within a job series.  The title and level are commensurate with experience. Pay range: $91,800 - $168,700

Please go to https://www.cenhud.com/employment. Click the “Search Career Opportunities” button. Follow the directions to submit an application and upload your resume for the desired position.

Applications sent via e-mail and US Mail will not be accepted.  No phone calls or agencies, please.  All replies will be held in strict confidence.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, arrest or conviction record, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, genetic information, familial status, marital status, pregnancy-related condition, domestic violence victim status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance employment in individuals who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

VEVRAA FEDERAL CONTRACTOR