SHOREWOOD DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Construction Estimator
Department: Construction & Development
Reports To: Matt Jung, Senior Project Manager
Location: Buffalo Grove, IL (hybrid; site visits and subcontractor meetings required)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Overview
Shorewood Development Group is a Buffalo Grove-based retail commercial real estate developer with a growing portfolio of ground-up projects featuring national credit tenants including Tesla, Sprouts, Dutch Bros, and Chipotle. We develop $5M–$50M projects across the Midwest and are building our in-house construction capability to deliver better cost control, schedule performance, and quality.
We are looking for an experienced Construction Estimator to own the preconstruction process — from conceptual budgeting through bid leveling and GMP development. This is a senior-level contributor role for someone with deep subcontractor relationships, strong command of commercial construction costs, and the discipline to produce estimates that partners and lenders can actually rely on. You will work closely with our project managers, design team, and ownership group to make go/no-go and scope decisions with real numbers behind them.
Key Responsibilities
Preconstruction & Estimating
- Prepare conceptual, schematic, and design development budgets for retail and mixed-use projects ranging from $2M to $30M
- Develop detailed quantity takeoffs from architectural, civil, structural, and MEP drawings
- Produce and issue bid packages; manage the solicitation, receipt, and leveling of subcontractor bids
- Identify scope gaps, exclusions, and clarifications in subcontractor proposals and resolve before award
- Build and maintain cost databases for unit pricing, labor rates, and material benchmarks by trade and market
- Produce final GMP or hard-bid estimates with clearly documented assumptions, alternates, and contingency recommendations
Subcontractor & Vendor Relationships
- Leverage an existing network of subcontractors across key trades (concrete, steel, framing, MEP, sitework) to generate competitive, reliable bids
- Cultivate new subcontractor relationships in Shorewood's target markets, with emphasis on the Midwest
- Evaluate subcontractor capacity, financial stability, and past performance as part of the bid qualification process
- Maintain an approved subcontractor list and flag performance issues to project leadership
Design & Value Engineering
- Engage early in design to provide real-time cost feedback and identify value engineering opportunities before drawings are complete
- Coordinate with architects, civil engineers, and MEP consultants to resolve cost-driving design issues proactively
- Prepare side-by-side cost comparisons for design alternatives and present tradeoffs clearly to partners
- Identify long-lead materials and equipment early; recommend procurement strategies to protect schedule
Budget Handoff & Construction Support
- Produce a detailed project budget at construction start that aligns with the estimate and serves as the baseline for PM cost tracking
- Participate in buyout meetings and assist PMs in finalizing subcontract scopes and award values
- Support change order review by providing independent cost assessments on GC-submitted pricing
- Conduct post-project cost reviews and incorporate lessons learned into future estimates
Reporting & Internal Collaboration
- Present estimates to partners with clear narrative on assumptions, risks, and contingency rationale
- Maintain estimate files and bid documentation in an organized, retrievable format per Shorewood standards
- Work collaboratively with development, accounting, and project management teams to align cost projections with proformas and lender budgets
Technology & Tools
Shorewood is a tech-forward organization and expects the Estimator to bring modern tools to the preconstruction process. Proficiency or demonstrated experience in the following is expected:
- Bluebeam Revu – quantity takeoff, drawing markup, and bid package assembly
- On-Screen Takeoff, PlanSwift, or equivalent digital takeoff software
- Procore – bid management, document control, and construction cost tracking
- Microsoft Excel (advanced) – estimate templates, bid leveling workbooks, and cost tracking
- Familiarity with RSMeans or similar cost databases for benchmarking and validation
- Openness to AI-assisted tools for specification review, scope gap analysis, and cost modeling
Qualifications
Required
- 5+ years of estimating experience in commercial construction, with demonstrated responsibility for projects in the $2M–$30M range
- Established subcontractor network across key trades in the Chicagoland area and/or broader Midwest
- Strong command of construction costs by trade, division, and market — you can spot a number that's wrong
- Experience managing full bid cycles from solicitation through award
- Ability to read and interpret full construction document sets including architectural, civil, structural, and MEP
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills — estimates mean nothing if you can't explain them
- High proficiency in Excel and digital takeoff tools
Preferred
- Experience estimating ground-up retail, QSR, or multi-tenant commercial projects
- Background working for a general contractor, construction manager, or owner's representative
- Familiarity with construction loan draw processes and lender budget requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field
- LEED AP, DBIA, or other relevant professional credential a plus
What We're Really Looking For
We're not just filling a seat in a preconstruction department. We're building an in-house construction capability from the ground up, and the Estimator will be foundational to that effort. The right person:
- Takes ownership of their numbers — you stand behind your estimate and can defend every line
- Has relationships, not just a contact list — subcontractors call you back because they want to work with you
- Moves fast without cutting corners — we work in a competitive market and speed matters
- Thinks like an owner — you understand that a bad estimate doesn't just lose a bid, it kills a deal or a project
- Wants to be part of building something, not just processing work orders
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
- Discretionary performance bonus tied to project and company performance
- Blue Cross Blue Shield health coverage — company pays 80% of individual premiums
- 15 days PTO annually
- Opportunity for project ownership participation as construction entity scales
- Direct access to partners and genuine influence over how the company builds
Shorewood Development Group is an equal opportunity employer.
Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
