Position Overview
The Union Sitework Estimator will determine the time and resources needed to prepare accurate, competitive estimates for union-built excavation, grading, utilities, drainage, paving, concrete flatwork, demolition, erosion control, and related site development work throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
This role requires strong plan-reading skills, practical field knowledge, an understanding of union labor and prevailing wage requirements, preparing detailed cost estimates and budgets/schedules, managing bids from vendors and sub-contractors, presenting the prepared estimates to project managers. The position requires a blend of technical skills and project management capabilities to carry bids from initial review through proposal submission, award support, project handoffand project manager support.
Key Responsibilities
- Review plans, specifications, addenda, geotechnical reports, site conditions, bid forms, labor requirements, and contract documents for scope, quantities, risk assessment, and constructability.
- Perform detailed takeoffs for clearing, earthwork cuts and fills, grading, utilities, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water, drainage structures, paving, stone, trucking, disposal, erosion control, site demolition, concrete prep work, and related sitework.
- Build estimates using union labor rates, fringe benefits, crew compositions, equipment costs, material pricing, trucking, disposal, subcontractor quotes, production assumptions and safety expectations.
- Account for Philadelphia-area public work requirements when applicable, prevailing wage classifications, certified payroll considerations, minority/women/disadvantaged business participation goals when applicable, permits, bonds, insurance, and bid compliance requirements.
- Solicit, manage, compare and incorporate supplier, hauler, disposal facility, trucking, subcontractor, and vendor pricing to ensure complete and competitive bids.
- Prepare bid proposals with accurate exclusions and conditions, scope letters, alternates, clarifications, exclusions, unit-price schedules, cost summaries, and internal estimate reviews.
- Coordinate with ownership, project management, superintendents, union foremen, dispatch contacts, vendors, subcontractors, and field crews on means, methods, sequencing, crew availability, and labor needs.
- Attend site visits, pre-bid meetings, bid openings, scope reviews, and project handoff meetings; support buyout, change order pricing, budget updates, and job-cost reviews as needed.
Additional Responsibilities
- Collaboration: Work closely with project managers, contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on project goals and budgetary constraints.
- Market Research: Stay updated on market trends, material costs, and regulatory standards that may impact project estimates.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate records of estimates, bids, and project changes to support financial tracking and reporting.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years of experience estimating or managing sitework, heavy civil, excavation, grading, utilities, or related civil construction work, with a general knowledge of paving, hauling or demolition being helpful.
- Experience preparing estimates for union labor projects, prevailing wage work, public bids, with experience estimating municipal/heavy highway construction being helpful.
- Ability to read civil plans, details, specifications, bid forms, addenda, geotechnical reports proficiently, and contract documents with limited supervision.
- Practical understanding of union crew sizing, union labor rules and classifications, production rates, equipment spreads, materials, trucking, disposal, sequencing, and site logistics.
- Comfortable using takeoff software, spreadsheets, email, online plan rooms, and estimating/project documentation tools.
- Strong math, organization, communication, follow-through, scope review, negotiation, and deadline-management skills.
- Valid driver’s license and willingness to visit jobsites, vendors, disposal facilities, pre-bid meetings, and field personnel throughout the Philadelphia region.
Preferred Qualifications
- Field experience as a foreman, operator, project engineer, assistant project manager, or project manager for a union sitework or heavy civil construction company.
- Experience with City of Philadelphia, PennDOT, SEPTA, PWD, PIDC, School Board, PHA, university, hospital, commercial, industrial, or municipal sitework projects.
- Familiarity with Autodesk Takeoff and Bluebeam or some of the other estimating software such as PlanSwift or HCSS.
- Familiarity with Excel, Procore, QuickBooks, or similar tools.
- Knowledge of Philadelphia-area union practices, local labor availability, prevailing wage schedules, certified payroll coordination, DOT standards, utility authority requirements, and soil conservation requirements.
- Experience pricing conceptual budgets, value engineering options, hard bids, negotiated work, alternates, change orders, and unit-price public work.
- Union and Compliance Knowledge
- Understand how labor classifications, fringe benefits, crew makeup, overtime, shift work, and jurisdictional requirements affect estimate accuracy.
- Coordinate with internal leadership and field supervision to confirm union crew assumptions, equipment needs, and realistic production rates.
- Review bid documents for prevailing wage, certified payroll, apprenticeship, local hiring, safety, bonding, insurance, and subcontractor compliance requirements.
- Maintain professional relationships with general contractors, owners, engineers, public agencies, suppliers, subcontractors, and union field personnel.
Core Competencies
- Clear communication with owners, general contractors, public agencies, engineers, suppliers, subcontractors, union foremen, and crews.
- Ability to balance estimating, field questions, vendor calls, bid deadlines, and project support.
- Accountability, reliability, confidentiality, and ownership of bids from review through handoff.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation will be based on experience, estimating ability, union/public work knowledge, field judgment, and overall company fit. Benefits may include health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan options, vehicle or mileage reimbursement, phone allowance, bonus eligibility, training opportunities, and other company-provided benefits.
Work Environment
This role is primarily office-based with frequent communication with project management, field leadership, union crews, subcontractors, vendors, and general contractors. Occasional travel is required to Philadelphia-area job sites, pre-bid meetings, bid openings, suppliers, disposal facilities, subcontractor locations, and agency meetings. The estimator should be comfortable promoting our company to potential customers and working in a deadline-driven union contractor environment and supporting both public and private work.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status. We are committed to a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
Join us if you’re eager to bring your estimation expertise into a fast-paced construction environment where your skills directly contribute to successful project delivery. We value energetic professionals who thrive on challenge and are passionate about building excellence!
Pay: $60,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
