Senior Estimator

Department: Preconstruction | Reports to: VP of Preconstruction | Location: Phoenix, Arizona | Employment Type: Full-Time

About the role

Join GCON as a Senior Estimator and help shape high-impact projects from the earliest concept through construction. You’ll lead complex project pursuits, influence how projects are built, and grow alongside a team that values new ideas. This role offers the opportunity to mentor junior team members, collaborate with industry partners, and contribute to a company committed to innovation, professional development, and continuous improvement.

GCON Inc. is a Phoenix-based general contractor with a national presence and teams across Arizona, Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, and California. We are builders driven by innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Our values—Unconventional Thinking, Value Delivery, Set a New Standard, Continuous Improvement, and Stewardship—shape how we serve our clients, deliver projects, and invest in our people. We support professional growth through leadership development, career advancement opportunities, and a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Responsibilities

• Lead estimating and preconstruction efforts from conceptual budgeting through final proposal submission.
• Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, GMP, negotiated, and competitive hard-bid estimates.
• Develop pursuit strategies that align with client expectations, market conditions, and company objectives.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and cost analyses using historical cost data and current market intelligence.
• Develop project budgets, cost models, alternates, allowances, contingencies, escalation analyses, and value-engineering recommendations.
• Evaluate subcontractor proposals for scope completeness, pricing accuracy, qualifications, and commercial risk.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, schedule impacts, long-lead items, and project risks.
• Recommend practical risk-mitigation, procurement, logistics, sequencing, and phasing strategies.
• Lead estimate reviews, bid leveling, scope review meetings, executive presentations, and client interviews.
• Collaborate with Operations, Business Development, clients, design partners, consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout the pursuit process.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with qualified trade partners and suppliers.
• Support the successful transition of awarded projects from Preconstruction to Operations.
• Mentor estimators and junior preconstruction professionals through coaching, technical guidance, and estimate reviews.
• Contribute to estimating standards, departmental procedures, lessons learned, and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Ten or more years of commercial construction estimating or preconstruction experience.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex project pursuits with minimal supervision.
• Experience preparing negotiated GMP, CM/GC, Design-Build, and competitive hard-bid estimates.
• Advanced knowledge of commercial construction means and methods.
• Strong understanding of conceptual estimating, cost modeling, budgeting, quantity takeoffs, value engineering, and risk analysis.
• Thorough understanding of construction drawings, specifications, CSI MasterFormat, constructability, and project delivery methods.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent pursuits while maintaining accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead estimate reviews and facilitate collaborative decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups.

Skills

Required Technology Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including:
  • Complex formulas
  • Pivot tables
  • Cost modeling
  • Data analysis
  • Estimate development
• Advanced knowledge with at least one commercial construction estimating platform.
• Advanced knowledge with digital quantity takeoff, drawing review, and document markup tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• General contractor estimating or preconstruction experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline; equivalent field experience will also be considered.
• Experience with commercial, industrial, mission-critical, healthcare, higher education, or similarly complex construction projects.
• Experience developing procurement strategies for long-lead materials and critical scopes.
• Previous experience mentoring or developing estimators and junior preconstruction professionals.

A Successful Senior Estimator At GCON Will

• Lead complex pursuits confidently and independently.
• Deliver accurate, competitive, and well-organized estimates.
• Identify project risks early and communicate practical solutions.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, design partners, trade partners, and internal teams.
• Mentor and develop junior preconstruction professionals.
• Improve estimating processes, standards, and best practices.
• Support seamless project transitions from pursuit through construction.
• Contribute to a collaborative culture centered on quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.