Senior Estimator – Restoration / Existing Structures

About the role

At RL James we’re seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to lead estimating and preconstruction for concrete, structural, and building envelope restoration projects on existing structures throughout the region. This is a hands-on leadership role with full estimating ownership — not a support-only or back-office position, working directly with sales, operations, engineering firms, property managers, and condominium associations.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end estimating and preconstruction for restoration and existing-structure projects with minimal oversight.
• Review drawings, specifications, engineering reports, and investigative reports; perform detailed quantity take-offs (LF/SF concrete repair, unit-price and T&M scopes).
• Prepare estimate spreadsheets, bid proposals, budgets, and detailed pricing models.
• Cook up with manufacturer reps, vendors, and subcontractors to secure pricing, product recommendations, and value-engineering options.
• Participate in bid strategy, scope analysis, risk assessment, and project planning.
• Interact directly with restoration engineering firms, property management companies, consultants, and HOA / condominium associations.
• Affirm project risk tied to occupied environments, unknown conditions, logistics, and phased sequencing.
• Support relationship development through networking, trade organizations, and industry events.
• Assist with project handoff and provide estimating support during execution as needed.

Requirements

• You’ve personally estimated concrete restoration, structural repair, waterproofing, or building envelope projects on existing structures, reading engineering and investigative reports, quantifying unknown-condition and unit-price scopes, and pricing phased work in occupied buildings.
• 7+ years of estimating experience in specialty contracting or commercial construction, with real restoration exposure (not property/disaster restoration).
• Ability to independently manage estimates and prioritize multiple opportunities at once.
• Strong collaboration across sales, operations, and field teams.
• Comfortable interfacing directly with engineers, consultants, property managers, and condo/HOA boards.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Willing to travel regularly within the region.

Preferred

• Congrete restoration estimating experience specifically.
• Floirda or Southeast market experience, though strong restoration estimators relocating from other markets are encouraged to apply.
• Familiarity with Florida condo structural-safety work - milestone inspections, Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS), and 40/50-year recertification scopes (SB 4-D and later reforms).
• Experience estimating engineering-driven scopes with evolving or unknown field conditions.