Due to our continued growth, success, and reputation for excellence in the building restoration industry, Structural Restoration Services (SRS) is seeking an experienced Lead Estimator to join our team.
We are looking for an individual who can take ownership of the entire estimating and bid process while also providing leadership, coordination, and support to the estimating function. This position will pursue initial leads, evaluate projects, prepare and submit complete, competitive proposals, support the operations team after award, and help ensure consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across SRS estimating activities.
The ideal candidate will have a strong construction and estimating background, excellent attention to detail, demonstrated leadership ability, and the ability to evaluate a project from both a technical and financial perspective. This individual must also be comfortable developing and maintaining professional relationships with owners, general contractors, architects, engineers, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal team members.
Key Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
1. Project Leads & Site Evaluation
o Pursue and evaluate project opportunities.
o Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits.
o Take photographs, field measurements, and detailed notes.
o Perform accurate quantity takeoffs.
o Identify access, logistics, phasing, safety, and other site conditions that may affect pricing.
2. Drawing & Specification Review
o Thoroughly review construction drawings, specifications, addenda, and other bid documents.
o Identify discrepancies, missing information, and potential scope conflicts.
o Develop relevant and accurate RFIs and submit them to the appropriate engineer, architect, general contractor, consultant, or owner's representative.
3. Estimate Preparation
o Prepare detailed and accurate estimates for labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other project costs.
o Develop appropriate production rates and evaluate manpower and equipment requirements.
o Review estimates with management and clearly explain the reasoning, assumptions, and strategy behind the pricing.
4. Subcontractor Coordination
o Solicit and evaluate subcontractor proposals.
o Meet subcontractors on site when necessary to review project conditions and scope.
o Ensure subcontractor proposals are complete and accurately reflect the required scope.
o Compare proposals on an \"apples-to-apples\" basis and identify exclusions, qualifications, or potential gaps.
5. Supplier Coordination
o Work with manufacturers and suppliers to obtain competitive material and equipment pricing.
o Confirm that proposed products and materials meet project specifications and requirements.
6. Proposal Development & Bid Submission
o Prepare clear and detailed proposals, including scope of work, pricing, qualifications, exclusions, and alternates when appropriate.
o Ensure bids are submitted accurately, completely, and on time in accordance with all bid requirements.
o Follow up on outstanding bids and maintain communication with customers throughout the award process.
7. Project Turnover & Operations Support
o Upon award, provide a thorough turnover of the estimate, scope, assumptions, and project requirements to the production team.
o Remain available to assist Project Managers with estimating-related questions, change orders, and scope clarification throughout construction.
o Help ensure awarded projects are completed successfully and profitably.
8. Lead Estimating & Team Coordination
o Serve as a lead resource for the estimating team and help coordinate estimating priorities, workload, and bid deadlines.
o Review estimates and proposals prepared by other estimators for scope completeness, accuracy, production assumptions, pricing strategy, and overall quality before submission when appropriate.
o Mentor and support estimators in takeoffs, production rates, means and methods, proposal development, subcontractor and supplier coordination, and overall estimating best practices.
o Help establish, maintain, and improve estimating standards, templates, cost databases, production rates, historical pricing, and estimating procedures.
o Assist management in evaluating bid opportunities and prioritizing projects based on fit, available resources, customer relationships, backlog needs, risk, and profitability.
o Help develop bid strategy, including labor approach, project execution plan, competitive positioning, risk evaluation, qualifications, exclusions, alternates, and final pricing recommendations.
o Track estimating activity and bid results, including pending opportunities, awarded work, lost work, hit rate, and relevant feedback to help improve future estimating performance.
o Promote communication and collaboration between estimating, project management, field operations, and company leadership to support successful project execution and profitability.
o Participate in the training and development of new estimating personnel and help reinforce the SRS estimating process and expectations.
o Identify estimating process improvements and proactively recommend solutions that increase accuracy, efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
Qualifications & Core Competencies
To be successful in this position, an individual should demonstrate the following:
Logical Thinking
Ability to visualize and \"build the project in your head,\" understanding the sequence of work from mobilization through completion.
Problem Solving
Ability to identify potential problems, gather and analyze information, and develop practical and cost-effective solutions.
Blueprint & Specification Reading
Strong understanding of construction drawings, details, specifications, and other contract documents.
Estimating & Cost Analysis
Ability to develop accurate labor, material, equipment, and subcontractor costs while understanding production rates and project profitability.
Technical Writing
Ability to prepare thorough, accurate, and clearly written proposals, scopes of work, RFIs, qualifications, and project correspondence.
Customer Service & Communication
Ability to develop professional relationships with customers and respond promptly and professionally to their needs.
Organization & Attention to Detail
Ability to manage multiple estimates, deadlines, documents, and follow-up items without sacrificing accuracy.
Teamwork
Ability to work collaboratively with estimating, project management, field operations, accounting, subcontractors, and company leadership with the goal of achieving what is best for the company as a whole.
Leadership & Accountability
Ability to lead by example, provide constructive review and guidance, hold estimating work to a high standard, and help the estimating team consistently meet company expectations for accuracy, responsiveness, and profitability.
Preferred Experience
- Commercial construction estimating experience.
- Experience with concrete, masonry, waterproofing, coatings, or building restoration is strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of construction means and methods.
- Experience performing quantity takeoffs and developing labor and production rates.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and construction estimating technologies.
- Ability and willingness to visit active construction sites as required.
- Demonstrated experience leading, reviewing, or mentoring other estimators is strongly preferred.
- Experience managing multiple concurrent bid opportunities and coordinating estimating priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to use historical job cost and estimating data to improve pricing accuracy and production assumptions.
Our Expectations
SRS is looking for an individual whose character aligns with our company culture and values:
- Honesty and integrity
- Dependability and accountability
- Strong work ethic
- Professionalism
- Loyalty and teamwork
- Thoroughness
- Attention to detail
- Initiative and problem-solving
If you have the experience, work ethic, and attention to detail necessary to successfully meet the challenges of today's restoration industry and provide solutions for our customers, we would like to hear from you.
Please submit your resume for consideration.
Structural Restoration Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
