The Lead Estimator is a key member of the preconstruction team responsible for leading the estimating and preconstruction efforts for commercial construction projects throughout the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) market and requires a highly experienced construction professional with a strong understanding of the local commercial construction market, established relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, owners, developers, architects, consultants, and other industry stakeholders, and a proven track record of successfully pursuing and winning competitive projects.
Essential Functions
- Lead the preparation of accurate, competitive estimates, budgets, and proposals for commercial construction projects.
- Manage the estimating process from project pursuit through bid submission, including takeoffs, scope development, subcontractor solicitation, leveling, and pricing analysis.
- Leverage established DMV relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, owners, developers, architects, engineers, and other industry professionals to strengthen project pursuits and obtain competitive pricing.
- Utilize established industry relationships to strengthen subcontractor participation, improve project coverage, and identify new business opportunities.
- Evaluate potential projects and provide recommendations to executive leadership based on project fit, market conditions, resources, risk, and probability of success.
- Identify and mitigate estimating, scope, contractual, schedule, and financial risks during the preconstruction process.
- Develop conceptual estimates, GMPs, hard bids, negotiated estimates, and design-build budgets.
- Maintain and improve historical cost databases, subcontractor databases, unit pricing, labor productivity, and post-bid/project performance data.
- Monitor DMV market conditions, construction costs, subcontractor capacity, competitive activity, and upcoming commercial opportunities.
- Maintain and expand relationships with key subcontractors, clients, developers, architects, consultants, and industry partners.
- Collaborate with executive leadership, operations, business development, and design-build teams to support the Company’s growth and strategic objectives.
- Lead, coach, and mentor estimators and junior estimating team members by providing direction, technical guidance, and support.
- Promote accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement while sharing estimating best practices and industry knowledge to improve accuracy, consistency, efficiency, and overall team performance.
