Chief Estimator - Heavy Highway Construction

Benefits

• Great medical, dental, and vision insurance options with additional programs available when enrolled
• Mental health benefits
• 401(k) plan to help save for your future including company match
• In addition to 7 observed holidays, salaried team members have flexible paid time off
• Paid parental leave

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategic Impact
• Build, lead, and develop a high-density estimating team with strong expectations around accuracy, speed, and operational partnership.
• Establish standardized estimating processes, cost models, and submission templates that improve repeatability and scalability across divisions.
• Partner with executive leadership on market positioning, pricing strategy, and targeted pursuit guidance.
• Analyze historical performance data to improve cost forecasting, competitive strategy, and win rates
• Estimating Excellence & Bid Strategy
• Oversee the review of bid invitations, specs, and drawings to determine true scope, schedule needs, risks, and value opportunities.
• Lead and personally contribute to detailed cost estimates across labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor scopes for guardrail, signage, and fencing projects.
• Drive rigorous takeoff processes, ensuring precision and clarity in quantity and risk interpretation.
• Manage bid calendars, ensuring zero misses, high-quality submissions, and clear competitive positioning.
• Conduct bid reviews, lead clarifications, and represent the company in negotiations with DOTs, public agencies, GCs, and owners
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Ensure seamless handoff to Project Managers and Operations with accurate scopes, schedules, and assumptions.
• Partner tightly with engineering, operations, and field leadership to challenge assumptions, identify value engineering opportunities, and increase constructability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, and agencies to improve pricing intelligence and early visibility into market changes.
• Represent the company confidently in pre-bid meetings, industry events, and site walks.
• Financial & Operational Insight
• Own the development, maintenance, and accuracy of internal cost databases, production rates, and unit pricing.
• Track cost trends and provide analysis to operations and finance to support smarter pricing and execution strategies.
• Oversee prequalification submissions and ensure compliance with all DOT and public works procurement requirements.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of estimating experience in heavy civil construction or specialties such as guardrail, structural signage, or industrial fencing.
• Proven success leading or managing an estimating function.
• Deep fluency in DOT specifications, public works bidding, and government contract structures.
• Proficiency with estimating tools (HCSS HeavyBid, Bluebeam, OST, Excel).
• Strong analytical strength, communication clarity, and negotiation ability.
• Extreme attention to detail, organizational discipline, and reliability.

Preferred Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with design-build, alternative delivery, or negotiated work.
• Familiarity with steel structures, concrete, and fabrication.
• Ability to see constructability issues early and identify cost or schedule risks.
• A strategic thinker who elevates team performance and enhances market competitiveness.