Estimating Manager

CoVolt Energy is a full-service design/build contractor providing Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for renewable energy projects across North America. We are a values-based company guided by a set of Core Principles, fostering a culture that prospers people and resources, lives with integrity, respects one another, and continuously strives to be elite.

About the role

We are searching for a Manager of Estimating for utility-scale solar projects and battery storage projects. This position does not require relocation but will require periodic travel for site visits, client meetings, industry events, and team-building functions. Experience with self-perform construction/estimating, utility-scale solar, and/or battery storage systems is required.

Reports to: Director – Estimating

Works closely with: Signal Leadership, Estimating Team, Pre-Construction Team, Business Development, Operations, Procurement, Customers, Third Party Engineers, Vendor and Trade Partners for all PV and BESS estimates.

Responsibilities

• Work with Estimating Leadership to develop the estimating team, manage department proposal capacity, and ensure quality of all proposals.
• Support Estimating Leadership by taking ownership of select departmental templates and processes.
• Provide coaching and guidance to team members for professional and personal growth while exemplifying Signal’s core principles.

Bid Phase

• Contribute to winning future work by managing development of competitive and precise project budgets in response to client RFPs.
• Review and manage the review of client RFP documents to determine scope, schedule, and design criteria, perform/review detailed material takeoffs from design documents and drawings, and manage the development of proposal documents for submission to Customers.
• Develop and manage the development of subcontractor bid packages, strategically solicit pricing, and drive competitive and innovative solutions.
• Answer subcontractor RFIs, manage evaluation and statistical normalization of received bids, make tactful selections, and cost recommendations.
• Facilitate collaborative relationships between Estimating and Operations to ensure optimal alignment of cost estimation and operational execution.
• Compile and manage the pricing efforts for detailed and indicative utility-scale solar and storage opportunities.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of estimates prior to review by Preconstruction Leadership Team.
• Work closely with Business Development, Engineering, Procurement, and Operations to determine and implement value-engineering opportunities resulting in strategic and successful proposals.
• Perform other Estimating Department tasks as assigned.

Pre-Construction Phase

• Support contract negotiations for the client and subcontractor scopes and updates to project pricing.
• Support Procurement to finalize subcontractor scopes, schedules, and budgets to align with bid phase commitments—this will require leveraging partnership-driven discussions and negotiation with subcontractors.
• Complete budget tracking and cost variance analysis for all prepared project estimates.

Construction Phase

• Support project teams with response to change orders and other construction-related issues.
• Support project teams by providing historical context to design decisions and vendor/subcontractor selections.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related areas.
• Prior self-perform estimating experience required.
• Experience in subcontract tendering and response evaluation required.
• Experience with solar and/or battery storage required.
• Prior self-perform construction experience preferred.
• Experience with B2W estimating software preferred, but not required.

Skills

• Strong coordination skills to support a cross-functional team, as well as time management, active listening, verbal and written communication, critical thinking, analytic, and reasoning skills.
• Superior attention to and appreciation for detail; self-motivated but driven by team success; ability to learn quickly and independently.
• Dedicated to the growth and development of the team and individual team members; determine staffing needs and allocate team resources in accordance with direction from Signal Leadership.
• Sensitivity to problems, ability to tell when something is wrong, and able to revise and adapt as necessary.
• Excellent mathematical skills, including application and use in problem-solving.
• Computer literacy, MS Office proficiency (strong Excel skills a must, MS Project skills preferred), Procore experience a plus.
• Driven by natural curiosity and a results-driven, problem-solving mentality; asking and getting answers to the right questions.