Estimator - Mission Critical

About the Role

The Estimator - Mission Critical coordinates complete, qualified estimates and proposals for ALL 5'S Specialty Scopes: structural ceilings, ACT, interior/exterior panel systems, hot aisle/cold aisle containment (HACS), raised access floors, and security fencing.

Responsibilities

General Responsibilities

• Coordinate all aspects of assigned estimates and proposals, including document review, quantity takeoff, labor, material, equipment, vendor and subcontractor pricing, logistics, schedule, risk, and final proposal preparation.
• Review structural, architectural, civil, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, low-voltage, specifications, reports, addenda, and other contract documents applicable to the assigned scope.
• Develop the estimate plan, milestone schedule, responsibilities, bid coverage strategy, and internal review dates in coordination with the project team.
• Supervise, delegate work to, and develop Junior Estimators as assigned; review takeoffs, pricing, scope coverage, and estimate documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with clients, general contractors, design professionals, suppliers, subcontractors, manufacturers, and internal operations teams.
• Perform other duties that may not be listed here but are part of the role's assigned responsibilities.

Estimate Development and Preconstruction

• Conduct an initial bid-document review and develop a thorough understanding of the project, delivery method, bid requirements, scope boundaries, schedule, site constraints, and commercial terms.
• Prepare detailed quantity surveys and takeoffs that capture all labor, material, equipment, accessories, waste, freight, taxes, escalation, supervision, logistics, and temporary-work requirements.
• Establish labor crews, production rates, work hours, equipment needs, access assumptions, sequencing, and means-and-methods considerations with input from field and operations leadership.
• Solicit suppliers and subcontractors early enough to obtain complete coverage; issue clear bid invitations, answer scope questions, track responses, and follow up on missing or incomplete quotations.
• Evaluate and level quotations for scope completeness, exclusions, alternates, lead times, freight, taxes, escalation, warranty, bonding, and compliance with the contract documents.
• Develop clarifications, inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, alternates, value-engineering options, and bid qualifications that accurately communicate the proposed scope.
• Maintain current drawing, specification, addendum, bulletin, and revision control throughout the estimate and incorporate all changes into takeoffs, pricing, and proposal documents.
• Build the estimate in ALL 5'S job-cost format using standard cost codes so the approved budget can be transferred to operations and compared with actual production.

Trade Specific Responsibilities

• Perform area-by-area and system-based takeoffs for raised-access flooring, containment, structural ceilings, security fencing, accessories, supports, trims, transitions, doors, ramps, steps, grounding components, and related work.
• Coordinate estimate assumptions with electrical, mechanical, controls, fire-protection, low-voltage, security, equipment, and commissioning requirements shown in the contract documents and owner standards.
• Develop labor productions and installation sequences for secure, controlled, occupied, phased, accelerated, or white-space environments, including badging, escorts, clean-work practices, protection, and limited work windows.
• Price engineered supports, seismic bracing, delegated design, BIM/VDC coordination, mockups, testing, labeling, grounding/bonding, quality documentation, and commissioning support where required.
• Identify long-lead and proprietary systems, approved-manufacturer restrictions, release dates, submittal durations, fabrication windows, secure storage, and turnover milestones that affect price or schedule.
• Evaluate room turnover, energization, equipment-setting, shutdown, MOP, access, material-routing, and protection constraints and clearly carry associated costs and qualifications.
• Develop alternates and value-engineering options without compromising owner standards, system performance, commissioning requirements, security, or schedule commitments.

Bid Finalization and Offer Handoff

• Review labor productions, equipment productions, material pricing, subcontractor pricing, indirect costs, risk allowances, and estimate strategy with the Chief Estimator before final approval.
• Complete estimate reconciliation, scope checks, quote leveling, subcontractor comparisons, schedule review, and final document audit before submission.
• Prepare accurate, professional proposals and scope letters that comply with bid instructions and clearly present pricing, alternates, clarifications, exclusions, and schedule assumptions.
• Participate in client scope reviews, bid interviews, post-bid discussions, value-engineering exercises, and estimate revisions as requested.
• Lead the estimate-to-operations handoff for awarded work, including scope, budget, cost codes, production assumptions, quotations, buyout recommendations, long-lead items, logistics, schedule, risks, and outstanding decisions.

Qualifications

• 3 to 7 years of relevant construction experience, including at least three years of estimating or preconstruction experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience estimating data centers, semiconductor facilities, hospitals, laboratories, advanced manufacturing, or other mission-critical/technically complex projects preferred.
• Experience with raised-access flooring, containment, structural ceilings, security fencing, accessories, coordinated overhead systems, or comparable specialty scopes.
• Ability to interpret owner standards, architectural and structural documents, MEP/controls drawings, security requirements, equipment layouts, BIM coordination information, and commissioning or turnover requirements.
• Working knowledge of phased turnover, long-lead procurement, secure-site logistics, controlled environments, delegated design, seismic supports, and mission-critical quality expectations.
• Experience with digital takeoff and estimating platforms such as Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, BuildingConnected, Sage Estimating, QuickBid, or comparable systems preferred.
• Understanding of scheduling software such as MS Project and/or Primavera P6.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work accurately at a fast pace under multiple deadlines while maintaining professional composure and timely follow-up.
• Develop and maintain long-term client relationships that support repeat business opportunities.
• Strong organization, time management, analytical ability, and attention to detail.
• Understanding of drawing reviews, specification reviews, and front-end document reviews.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present estimates, explain assumptions, and resolve scope questions with clients, vendors, and internal teams.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word and fluency reading, quantifying, and analyzing construction drawings and specifications.
• Ability to develop and evaluate labor productions, material pricing, equipment costs, supplier quotations, subcontractor coverage, logistics, schedules, and commercial risk.
• Desire to teach and mentor Junior Estimators, Project Engineers, and field employees and to learn from operations and completed-project results.
• Positive attitude and willingness to adopt new estimating technology, digital takeoff tools, cost databases, and process improvements.