Estimating Manager

About the Role

The Estimating Manager leads the daily operations of the estimating team and manages the preparation of accurate, competitive, and timely project estimates. This role oversees estimating staff workloads, bid schedules, estimate quality, subcontractor/vendor outreach, and internal coordination throughout the bid process. The Estimating Manager partners closely with the Director of Preconstruction, Operations, and Business Development teams to support project pursuit strategies and successful project handoff.

Responsibilities

• Direct estimating staff on all assignments and ensure accountability with company protocols.
• Ensure estimating milestones and deliverables are met.
• Train estimating staff and ensure completeness and quality of work.
• Provide estimating capacity and input on project selection and bid strategy.
• Oversee estimating responsibilities for all bids, including pre-bid meeting attendance and subcontractor/vendor communications.
• Review quantity takeoffs and scope responsibilities.
• Coordinate bid delivery, schedule, and resource allocation.
• Maintain and follow estimating systems, forms, templates, programs, and databases.
• Ensure compliance with bonding/insurance requirements for all bids.
• Verify all add-on costs and insurance costs included in estimates.
• Manage the internal estimating process from kickoff through submission, including coordination meetings and adherence to bid schedules.
• Verify bid teams’ knowledge of assigned scopes and communication of addenda/supplemental information.
• Identify and communicate coordination items between scopes of work.
• Support subcontractor outreach and bid coverage efforts, including developing and maintaining relationships with trade partners and suppliers.
• Set up estimates, including General Conditions, project duration, and special requirements.
• Oversee bid day activities, including inputting numbers, reviewing scopes/quotes, and determining the lowest qualified bidder.
• Analyze competitors' bid amounts and provide input on bid day fee and final bid amount.
• Organize and file bid documents, log bid results, and track bid win percentage against annual targets.
• Ensure estimate accuracy, scope alignment, and complete scope coverage to protect fee margins.
• Manage bid pipeline and estimating throughput to support revenue goals.
• Maintain market awareness and subcontractor/vendor coverage for all pursuits.
• Identify and add new vendors to the database.
• Manage cost savings processes and attend post-project review meetings to implement adjustments.
• Attend turnover meetings for awarded projects and complete rebuilt estimates.
• Coordinate information for bid turnover meetings and ensure clear communication of project details to management and field teams.
• Perform estimating staff employee reviews.
• Positively represent the company as a sought-after construction partner and employer of choice.
• Contribute to and promote a positive company culture, exemplifying core values: Work Ethic, Solution Oriented, Project Excellence, Client Centric, and Professionalism.
• Assist with positive revenue and profitability, and market the company’s mission, vision, and brand promise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Construction/Project Management, or equivalent.
• 8-12 years of general construction experience in the commercial space, with a concentration on pre-construction and estimating.
• Proficient with MS Excel, MS Word, and estimating and earthworks software; On-screen Takeoff and Timberline experience preferred.
• Track record of proven leadership abilities, including communication, relationship building, training & development, and employment decisions.
• Commercial general construction estimating and pre-construction experience.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment criminal, driving, and drug screen.
• Current and valid state driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Skills

• Strong mentorship and team development skills.
• Ability to ensure adherence to estimating processes and company protocols.
• Consistent meeting of internal and external deadlines.
• Commitment to sustaining and improving positive company culture.
• Ability to create a cohesive team built on mutual trust and psychological safety.
• Demonstrates empathy and encourages work/life balance.
• Proactively checks in with team members and aligns work with corporate strategy.
• Respectful behavior toward employees at all organizational levels.
• Professional presence in communities and on social media.
• Strong customer relations and ability to give/receive timely feedback.
• Commitment to excellence and motivated team player mindset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Operationally focused, detail-oriented, with ability to grasp the big picture.
• Strong people skills, able to manage, motivate, and discipline if necessary.
• Strong work ethic and ability to lead by example.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing deadlines.
• Accuracy-driven with a commitment to estimate completeness and precision.
• Strong decision-making skills, especially under pressure and during bid-day activities.
• Knowledge of standard building codes, local codes, state fire marshal requirements, and other authorities having jurisdiction.
• Knowledge of architectural, structural, and MEP design.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job successfully:

• Regular use of close vision to read engineering blueprints, reduced-size black-and-white drawings, specifications, fine print, reports, schedules, estimates, spreadsheets, and summaries in hard copy or on a computer monitor.
• Ability to converse on the telephone and in person, use hands and fingers to write and type, prepare email messages with attached files, and use personal computers and calculators.
• Periodic need to lift and/or carry heavy documents or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.