Overview In this role you lead the heavy-civil preconstruction effort, steering budgets, estimates, and bid strategies to drive divisional growth. You will standardize estimating processes, mentor a multidisciplinary team, and manage cost databases and tools to deliver competitive, executable project approaches. You collaborate with operations and leadership to shape winning proposals and ensure consistent, high-quality cost reporting. This position offers strategic influence across the division and opportunities to impact project outcomes at scale.
Compensation / Benefits- Competitive salary
- Health benefits
- 401(k) plan
- Paid time off
- Holiday pay
- Vehicle allowance
Responsibilities- Leads the estimating process for division projects and ensures standardized methods are used
- Sets estimating strategies, bid criteria, and pricing approaches to support growth and competitiveness
- Analyzes past performance, production rates, labor and equipment utilization to establish standards
- Oversees historical cost databases, bid management systems, estimating software, and preconstruction tools
- Maintains department standards for deliverables and budget-tracking tools in collaboration with Division Manager
- Coordinates estimating team, software, and resources to perform estimating functions effectively
- Recruits, mentors, and evaluates estimating personnel and drives continuous improvement
- Assigns project responsibilities to ensure ownership and accountability
- Reviews plans, specifications, and contract documents for complete scope and pricing accuracy
- Leads pricing for self-performed heavy civil activities and develops conceptual budgets
- Evaluates means/methods, sequencing, equipment, logistics, and schedule impacts for optimal approach
- Identifies risk and mitigates it during preconstruction
- Solicits subcontractor and supplier pricing to support competitive estimates
- Reviews qualification, evaluation, and scoping of subcontractor proposals
- Prepares bid instructions and forms as required
- Performs quantity surveys and pricing for budgets, negotiated work, and bids
- Develops conceptual budgets and feasibility estimates from limited design information
- Participates in Design-Build, CMGC/CMAR, negotiated, and hard-bid opportunities
- Reviews general conditions, schedules, scopes, and logistics exhibits
- Maintains and communicates project information throughout estimating
- Coordinates insurance with risk management and proposal requirements with Marketing
- Reviews constructability with operations for practical project plans
- Monitors cost trends, labor markets, equipment, and material pricing for accurate estimates
- Analyzes value engineering opportunities and cost-saving solutions
- Leads bid review meetings and has final pricing authority before submission
- Builds relationships with customers, design teams, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners to reflect company values and exceed expectations
- Performs other related duties as needed
Key requirements- 15+ years in heavy civil construction with at least 10 years leading estimating/preconstruction teams
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Business Administration (or equivalent experience)
- Experience estimating self-performed heavy civil projects (earthwork, utilities, site development, infrastructure)
- Strong understanding of heavy civil means and methods, sequencing, constructability, production rates, equipment use, and temporary works
- Knowledge of public and private procurement processes and alternative delivery methods
- Experience reviewing plans, specs, geotechnical reports, schedules, and risk factors
- Proficiency with estimating software, bid management tools, cost databases, and takeoff software; familiarity with HCSS HeavyBid, AGTEK, Bluebeam, Primavera P6 or similar
- Strong mathematical, analytical, organizational, communication, leadership, and computer skills
- Ability to lead teams, develop personnel, manage multiple pursuits, and meet deadlines
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Estimating software and bid management tools
- Historical cost databases
- Quantity takeoff software
