Jim Jetton
Candidate Information
Email: jimjetton@hotmail.com
Phone: 901-491-8381
Salary Expectation: $85K-$115K
Skills: 1. Cost Estimating & Engineering Analysis Advanced Cost Modeling: Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCE) Risk-based contingency analysis (Palisade @Risk, Oracle Crystal Ball) Benefit-Risk Modeling for infrastructure projects Cost Estimating Relationship (CER) development Estimate Types: Reconnaissance, appraisal, feasibility, and percent-design estimates Prevalidation estimates, contract modifications, and change orders Software Proficiency: MCACES MII (Department of Defense standard) InEight Hard Dollar (construction cost estimating) Cost Estimating Databases (unit price repositories) 2. Project & Construction Management Project Lifecycle Oversight: Planning → Design → Bidding → Construction → Closeout Capital Improvements Program (CIP) management (municipal level) Design-Build contracting support Construction Oversight: Bidability/Constructability/Operability (BCOE) reviews Change order negotiation and claims resolution Labor/equipment production rate analysis Regulatory Compliance: Reclamation Manual Directives & Standards Build America Buy America Act (BABA) compliance National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 3. Technical Engineering Expertise Civil Works Specialization: Dams, spillways, pumping plants, levees, canals, fish passages Hydraulic structures (energy dissipation, flood control) Roadways, bridges, utilities, and drainage systems Design Review: Fatal flaw identification in construction documents Independent Technical Reviews (ITR) Value Engineering (VE) studies Tools & Standards: AutoCAD/MicroStation (basic proficiency) US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Manuals ASTM/ACI standards for materials testing 4. Risk Management & Decision Support Quantitative Risk Analysis: Monte Carlo simulations for cost/schedule risk Probabilistic contingency development Sensitivity analysis for executive decision-making Executive Advisory: Briefings to Deputy Commissioners/Budget Review Committees Risk communication for non-technical stakeholders Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Office support 5. Leadership & Training Team Facilitation: Cross-functional workshops (design/estimating/construction teams) Peer review strategy development "Dam Good Leaders" program graduate (Bureau of Reclamation) Training Programs Delivered: Cost estimating methodologies (600+ staff trained) Reclamation Manual Directives compliance Software implementation (MCACES MII user guides) 6. Soft Skills & Communication Stakeholder Engagement: Contractors, utility owners, tribal governments, city councils Public hearings and Board of Aldermen presentations Documentation & Reporting: One-page executive summaries for cost estimates Cost Estimating Handbook (chapter authorship) Technical white papers/memorandums 7. Additional Technical Proficiencies Data Analysis: Benchmarking historical construction costs Labor rate trend analysis (Davis-Bacon Act compliance) Software: MS Project (scheduling), GIS (basic), Primavera (implied via scheduling work) Certifications: Licensed PE (TN, expired MS) Expired DOD Certified Cost Engineer (#0445) 8. Municipal & Government Expertise Municipal Engineering: Zoning/land development approvals Infrastructure master planning Utility relocation agreements Federal Agency Processes: Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) project funding cycles USACE Civil Works project delivery (PED phases) Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)/Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation Unique Differentiators Subject Matter Expert (SME) Roles: Cost estimating for fish passage facilities (niche civil works) Risk-based contingency for Dam Safety Office Relocation program administration (utilities/right-of-way) Awards: USACE Commander’s Coins (Walla Walla/Memphis Districts) USACE New Employee of the Year (2011)
Current Location: Batesville, MS
Willing to Relocate?: YES
Relevant Experience: 23
Work Authorization:
Highlights: 🏆 Top 5 Career Achievements
Established the Estimating Process Review (EPR) Program at the US Bureau of Reclamation, improving cost estimate transparency and accountability agency-wide.
Trained 600+ professionals in cost estimating, risk analysis, and federal compliance.
Led high-stakes reviews for major infrastructure projects (dams, pipelines, power plants) as a Design, Estimating & Construction (DEC) Oversight Manager.
Pioneered risk-based contingency modeling for the Dam Safety Office, enhancing cost accuracy.
Managed $100M+ municipal capital projects as City Engineer for Germantown, TN.
💡 Core Expertise
✅ Cost Estimating – Heavy civil works, IGCE, risk-adjusted contingencies
✅ Value Engineering – Optimized $1B+ projects via fatal flaw analysis
✅ Executive Leadership – Advised USBR Deputy Commissioners & Congressional stakeholders
✅ Training & Mentorship – Developed cost estimating handbooks and workshops
✅ Regulatory Compliance – BABA Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), NPDES
🛠️ Technical Toolbox
Software: MCACES MII, InEight Hard Dollar, Palisade @Risk, Oracle Crystal Ball
Standards: USACE EM 1110-2-1304 (cost estimating), Reclamation Manual Directives
Design: AutoCAD, MicroStation (basic), hydraulic structure modeling
🎯 Unique Differentiators
🔹 Bridger Between Field & Executive Teams – Translates technical risks for leadership.
🔹 Federal & Municipal Dual Expertise – From USBR megaprojects to local CIP management.
🔹 Risk Quantification Authority – Developed Monte Carlo models for contingency pricing.
🔹 Eagle Scout – Leadership ingrained since 1996 (Boy Scouts of America).
📌 Ideal For Roles In
Federal Infrastructure Program Management
Heavy Civil Construction Cost Engineering
Water Resources Risk Analysis
Municipal Capital Projects Oversight
Resume: View Resume
Cover Letter: View Cover Letter
