Estimator - HVAC

About the role

The Estimator is accountable for the accuracy, completeness, defensibility, and profitability of all commercial plumbing estimates produced by the organization. This role functions as a core revenue-generation and margin-protection position, responsible for converting qualified bid opportunities into disciplined, competitive, and executable proposals.

Responsibilities

• Bid Pipeline Development & Governance
  • Developing estimates from inbound bid invitations received directly from General Contractors (GCs)
  • Managing negotiated and relationship-based bid opportunities
  • Proactively identifying bid opportunities through approved sourcing platforms (e.g., PlanHub, AGC sites, public bid portals)
  • Screening all opportunities using documented bid/no-bid criteria
  • Enforcing capacity, backlog, and risk constraints prior to pursuit
  • Managing bid calendars, deadlines, addenda, and final submission timing
  • Coordinating pursuit strategy and prioritization with the VP of Sales & Marketing
• Estimating & Bid Development
  • Performing detailed quantity takeoffs for all commercial plumbing systems
  • Developing labor projections using standardized productivity assumptions
  • Pricing materials, fixtures, equipment, and subcontracted work using current supplier data
  • Accounting for escalation, phasing, access constraints, and schedule impacts
  • Identifying and documenting scope gaps, exclusions, clarifications, and assumptions
  • Preparing bid proposals, scope letters, and qualifications in approved formats
• Pricing, Margin & Market Risk Management
  • Maintaining current price books, supplier data, and labor modifiers
  • Incorporating material volatility, labor availability, and escalation risk into estimates
  • Validating estimates against historical job cost and profitability data
  • Applying approved overhead, labor burden, and profit targets
  • Escalating abnormal market conditions to Sales leadership
• Sales Alignment & Pre-Bid Support
  • Participating in bid/no-bid and pricing strategy discussions
  • Responding to GC inquiries, addenda, and clarification requests
  • Supporting value engineering efforts without compromising margin or scope
  • Ensuring all pre-award commitments are documented and approved
• Project Handoff to Operations
  • Delivering a complete handoff package consisting of:
    • Final estimate summary
    • Labor budgets and productivity assumptions
    • Material pricing assumptions and supplier commitments
    • Exclusions, clarifications, and scope qualifications
    • Documented risk items and constraints

Qualifications

• Experience
  • Minimum 8 years of commercial Plumbing or HVAC experience, including estimating
  • Demonstrated success in estimating complex commercial construction projects
• Knowledge
  • Commercial Plumbing systems, HVAC systems, and construction means and methods
  • Job costing, labor productivity, and market pricing dynamics
  • Competitive, negotiated, and alternative delivery bid environments

Skills

• High analytical rigor and attention to detail
• Independent judgment under deadline pressure
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Ability to enforce discipline without positional authority

Pay

$90,000 - $110,000 a year