Commercial Construction Estimator

Trueline's client, a growing commercial general contractor in Richmond, Virginia, is seeking a Commercial Construction Estimator to take ownership of estimating and preconstruction efforts. This role offers the chance to run the full bid cycle, work directly with ownership, and help build a preconstruction function with a path toward future leadership.

What You'll Do

• Own commercial estimates from initial bid invitation through final submission and turnover.
• Review architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings, specifications, addenda, and bid requirements.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and develop complete project estimates.
• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, negotiated, and hard‑bid pricing.
• Solicit subcontractor and supplier proposals and build sufficient bid coverage.
• Develop clear scopes of work and trade bid packages.
• Level subcontractor proposals and identify gaps, overlaps, exclusions, and potential project risks.
• Estimate labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, general conditions, bonding, insurance, and other project costs.
• Identify value‑engineering and cost‑saving opportunities.
• Attend pre‑bid meetings, site walks, and internal estimate reviews.
• Partner directly with ownership on bid strategy, final pricing, and bid/no‑bid decisions.
• Maintain historical cost data and strengthen the company's subcontractor and supplier network.
• Lead estimating‑to‑operations turnover for awarded projects.
• Support buyout, budgeting, change‑order pricing, and cost management when needed.
• Help improve estimating processes as the company's project volume continues to grow.

Must-Haves

• Demonstrated commercial construction estimating experience, ideally 5+ years.
• Experience working in a commercial General Contractor environment.
• Ability to independently develop a complete commercial construction estimate.
• Hands‑on quantity takeoff experience.
• Experience soliciting subcontractors and suppliers and developing competitive bid coverage.
• Experience developing scopes and bid packages.
• Strong bid‑leveling skills.
• Ability to identify scope gaps, exclusions, overlaps, and pricing risks.
• Knowledge of commercial construction costs, means, methods, and sequencing.
• Experience estimating labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and general conditions costs.
• Ability to read architectural, structural, civil, and MEP plans and specifications.
• Bluebeam Revu proficiency.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Comfortable working directly with subcontractors, vendors, operations, and company leadership.
• Ability to work onsite in Richmond.

Nice-to-Haves

• Richmond or Central Virginia commercial construction experience.
• Established Virginia subcontractor and supplier relationships.
• Public‑sector or government construction experience.
• Institutional or higher‑education estimating experience.
• Davis‑Bacon or prevailing wage knowledge.
• Public procurement experience.
• Bid bond and performance/payment bond experience.
• Conceptual and budgetary estimating experience.
• Value engineering experience.
• Subcontractor buyout and project turnover experience.
• Previous Project Manager or Estimator/PM experience with substantial hands‑on estimating responsibility.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary $110,000–$130,000.
• Performance‑based incentive opportunity.
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance.
• Fuel card or business mileage reimbursement.
• Health benefits.
• PTO and paid holidays.
• Company laptop and mobile phone.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Direct access to company ownership.
• Significant autonomy over the estimating process.
• Opportunity to help shape and build the company's preconstruction function.
• Potential advancement into Preconstruction Manager and Director of Preconstruction responsibilities as the company grows.