Job Title: Sales Estimator Position Overview:
We are seeking a knowledgeable and experienced Sales Estimator to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of arboriculture, tree identification, proper pruning techniques, and ROW clearing/vegetation management, combined with excellent communication and software skills.
This role requires someone with a proven track record in tree estimating and/or sales, as well as the ability to assess tree risks, jobsite conditions, and equipment needs. The Estimator will be responsible for accurately quoting jobs, closing projects, and working closely with clients to ensure expectations are clearly communicated and met.
Flexibility is a must, as this position may require work during days, nights, and weekends to accommodate client schedules and emergency jobs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide accurate and detailed estimates for tree removal, pruning, land clearing, ROW clearing, vegetation management, and other tree-related services.
- Maintain a high level of safety and professionalism.
- Communicate effectively with clients to explain services, proper pruning techniques, tree health information, and project details to ensure quotes accurately match client expectations.
- Write estimates with clear details and instructions for crews.
- Follow up with clients to close jobs and ensure satisfaction.
- Work alongside clients to identify underground utilities, overhead lines, access limitations, and other site conditions that could impact tree work.
- Collaborate with clients, insurance companies, and the AR department to ensure a smooth experience regarding insurance claims.
Qualifications:
- ISA Certification or a degree in Arboriculture/Forestry (BSA) with a minimum of 1 year of tree service experience.
OR
- 5+ years of verifiable sales experience or tree work field experience at an ISA-certified company.
- Strong tree identification and equipment knowledge.
- Familiarity with knots, proper pruning techniques, and tree work safety protocols.
- Ability to identify and assess risk factors.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work with clients in a clear and professional manner.
- Experience with sales and customer relationship management software.
- Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
Skills Assessment:
As part of the hiring process, a comprehensive skills assessment is required in addition to the listed qualifications. This assessment will evaluate the candidate’s knowledge and practical abilities in key areas critical to the role of Estimator. A passing score of 80% or better is mandatory to move forward in the hiring process.
The assessment will cover the following core competencies:
Tree Identification and Knowledge: Candidates must demonstrate their ability to accurately identify various tree species, assess their health, and understand species-specific care and removal considerations.
Equipment Knowledge: Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the proper use of equipment needed for tree service work, such as chainsaws, pruning tools, skid steers, bucket trucks, and other specialized equipment. Candidates must also be able to assess equipment needs for different job types and scales and recommend appropriate machinery.
Knots and Pruning Techniques: Candidates will be tested on their knowledge of essential knots used in arboriculture and proper pruning techniques. This includes demonstrating the ability to communicate these techniques to crew members and ensure pruning is performed safely and effectively.
Risk Identification: The ability to accurately identify tree and jobsite risks is critical for an Estimator. The assessment will evaluate the candidate’s ability to recognize potential hazards and conditions that could affect the safety, scope, equipment needs, or execution of a job.
ROW Clearing & Vegetation Management: Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of ROW clearing and vegetation management, including access, terrain, vegetation density, equipment selection, utility conflicts, clearing requirements, and other factors that may affect job scope and production.
Communication Skills: Candidates must show proficiency in clearly and professionally communicating pruning techniques, risk factors, and service details to both clients and crew members. This portion of the assessment will focus on the candidate's ability to explain technical concepts in a way that ensures client understanding and crew efficiency.
The skills assessment is designed to ensure candidates have the technical expertise, safety awareness, field judgment, and communication abilities necessary to perform their duties effectively.
Expectations:
- Maintain a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends when needed to meet client needs and respond to emergency work.
- Take ownership of assigned leads from the initial appointment through follow-up and closing.
- Work closely with the Leads Coordinator, who is responsible for scheduling and routing daily estimate appointments. Estimators have the autonomy to adjust the flow of their schedule throughout the day as field conditions and client needs arise.
- Proactively communicate schedule changes, delays, early arrivals, cancellations, or other changes directly with affected clients and keep the appropriate office team members informed when those changes impact scheduling or operations.
- Maintain professional, respectful, and productive working relationships with team leads, coworkers, management, office staff, and field personnel. Professionalism is a core company value and is expected in communication, attitude, conduct, and conflict resolution at all levels of the organization.
- Maintain professional relationships with municipal representatives, ROW and vegetation-management contractors, utilities, commercial clients, vendors, and other industry partners. Employees are expected to represent the company professionally both during and outside normal working hours when interacting with individuals connected to the company or its business relationships.
- Use sound judgment and discretion when discussing company business. Sensitive, confidential, proprietary, personnel, pricing, client, operational, or other non-public company information should remain within the company and only be shared externally when authorized or necessary to perform the employee's responsibilities.
- Approach disagreements, feedback, and operational challenges professionally and work toward solutions through the appropriate channels.
- Provide accurate, complete estimates that clearly communicate the scope of work to both the client and production crew.
- Follow up consistently with prospective clients to close opportunities and maintain strong client relationships.
- Maintain accurate and timely notes, photos, estimates, and client information within company software.
- Look beyond the immediate estimate for additional opportunities to serve the client when appropriate.
- Participate in cold calling, client stop-ins, relationship building, and other business-development efforts within assigned routes.
- Support local marketing efforts while traveling assigned routes, including placing approved yard signs, distributing door hangers/knockers, and assisting with similar company marketing activities as directed.
- Maintain professionalism in appearance and conduct while representing the company to clients and the public.
- Be dependable, self-motivated, and capable of working independently without requiring constant direction or follow-up.
- Be receptive to feedback, continue learning, and adapt as company procedures, services, and industry standards evolve.
- Assist outside normal day-to-day responsibilities when reasonably needed and contribute positively to the overall success of the team and company.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Base pay + commission.
- Commission is awarded upon invoicing.
- Company phone provided.
- Company vehicle and fuel provided.
Monitored Metrics:
- Total dollars sold/closed.
- Percentage of estimates closed.
- Revenue and sales performance compared to established goals.
- Estimate accuracy and accuracy of work completed compared to the sold scope.
- Quality and completeness of estimate descriptions, job notes, photos, and project information communicated to production crews.
- Accuracy of client expectations in relation to the scope of work sold.
- Timeliness and consistency of client follow-up.
- Client communication, including communication regarding schedule changes, delays, project changes, and other relevant updates.
- Accuracy and completeness of information maintained within company software.
- Estimate turnaround time and timely completion of assigned administrative responsibilities.
- Customer satisfaction, including client feedback, complaints, and issues resulting from the estimating or sales process.
- Change orders, missed scope, or additional costs resulting from estimating errors or incomplete job information.
- Schedule reliability, punctuality, and communication regarding assigned appointments.
- Development and maintenance of residential, commercial, municipal, ROW, and vegetation-management opportunities and relationships.
- Business-development activity, including cold calls, stop-ins, relationship building, yard signs, door hangers/knockers, and other assigned local marketing efforts.
- Professionalism, attitude, teamwork, communication, and working relationships with coworkers, team leads, management, clients, contractors, and industry partners.
- Compliance with company procedures, safety expectations, documentation requirements, and confidentiality standards.
- Willingness to assist, take ownership, solve problems, and contribute beyond minimum day-to-day responsibilities.
At Lumberjacks Tree Service, we are looking for more than someone who simply shows up and checks the boxes. We want someone who takes ownership, brings a positive attitude, values professionalism, and takes pride in doing the job right. We are a growing company with high standards, and we are looking for an Estimator who can bring their experience to the table, continue developing their skill set, and help us build what comes next.
If you are motivated by growth, accountability, teamwork, and the opportunity to make an impact, we would like to meet you.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $65,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- How proficient are you in identifying tree species, and what methods do you use?
- What experience do you have in identifying tree risk hazards, and what key factors do you assess?
- Are you able to teach and tie essential arborist knots and explaining proper pruning techniques to a team?
Education:
Experience:
- Tree care: 1 year (Required)
- Tree trimming: 1 year (Required)
- Chainsaw: 1 year (Required)
- Sales: 1 year (Required)
- verifiable tree estimating exp. at an ISA-certified company: 5 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- ISA certification (Required)
Work Location: In person
