Construction Estimator

CA; Calgary; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ATCO Frontec seeks a Construction Estimator to prepare reliable, competitive, and fully traceable estimates for infrastructure opportunities. You will translate drawings, specs, schedules, and commercial requirements into complete estimates for bid strategy and handover.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, develop labour/material/equipment estimates, and maintain auditable files, with a strong emphasis on Excel, ERP, and risk assessment.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Construction Management, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Building Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in construction estimating, pre-construction, project controls, quantity surveying, or a related commercial role.
• Experience estimating infrastructure, industrial, commercial, institutional, defence, modular, remote-site, heavy civil, or facilities-related construction work.

Responsibilities

• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates appropriate to the level of design and available project information.
• Develop direct and indirect cost estimates for labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors, temporary works, mobilization, demobilization, logistics, and site services.
• Complete quantity take-offs from drawings, specifications, models, schedules, and field information.
• Develop crew compositions, production rates, work-hour and shift assumptions, and execution durations with operations and project teams.
• Prepare estimate summaries, cost breakdown structures, and pricing schedules that meet client and internal requirements.
• Review requests for proposal, invitations to tender, statements of work, technical specifications, commercial terms, and addenda to identify pricing requirements and gaps.
• Participate in bid kick-off meetings, site visits, constructability reviews, and estimate strategy sessions.
• Maintain clear records of assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, and qualifications for each estimate.
• Support bid forms, pricing narratives, executive summaries, commercial reviews, bidder questions, post-bid clarifications, and negotiations.
• Partner with Supply Chain to develop bidder lists, procurement strategies, bid packages, and award recommendations.
• Solicit, level, and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations for completeness, scope coverage, commercial compliance, and value.
• Identify quote gaps, overlaps, exclusions, and commercial risks before incorporating pricing into the estimate.
• Maintain current cost data, productivity benchmarks, historical pricing, and regional market intelligence.
• Identify cost, schedule, scope, market, logistics, productivity, and commercial risks and opportunities.
• Support risk reviews and recommend appropriate contingency and escalation allowances.
• Prepare estimate review packages that reconcile scope, quantities, rates, assumptions, and risks.
• Participate in peer and management reviews and approval gates in accordance with bid governance requirements.
• Maintain an auditable estimate file containing source documents, calculations, quotations, approvals, and revision history.
• Lead or support estimate handover to the project delivery team and explain estimate structure, assumptions, subcontractor coverage, allowances, and identified risks.
• Compare estimated costs and production assumptions with actual project performance and capture lessons learned.
• Support change estimates, cost forecasting, and commercial analysis during project execution, as required.

Skills

Analytical judgement

Attention to detail

Organisation

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree or diploma in Construction Management, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Building Science, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP

Document management systems

Job description

The Opportunity

ATCO Frontec delivers integrated infrastructure, facilities management, defence, remote operations, and construction solutions across Canada and internationally. We work in challenging environments and support government, defence, Indigenous, industrial, and commercial clients through disciplined project delivery, operational excellence, and strong collaboration.

We are seeking a Construction Estimator to prepare reliable, competitive, and fully traceable estimates for construction and infrastructure opportunities. You will support projects from early planning through contract award and handover, translating drawings, specifications, schedules, and commercial requirements into complete and defensible cost estimates.

Working with Business Development, Project Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, subcontractors, and clients, you will contribute to bid strategy, pricing governance, project risk management, and successful project delivery.

What You Will Do

Estimate Development and Cost Planning

• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates appropriate to the level of design and available project information.
• Develop direct and indirect cost estimates for labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors, temporary works, mobilization, demobilization, logistics, and site services.
• Complete quantity take-offs from drawings, specifications, models, schedules, and field information.
• Develop crew compositions, production rates, work-hour and shift assumptions, and execution durations with operations and project teams.

• Prepare estimate summaries, cost breakdown structures, and pricing schedules that meet client and internal requirements.

  Bid and Proposal Support

• Review requests for proposal, invitations to tender, statements of work, technical specifications, commercial terms, and addenda to identify pricing requirements and gaps.
• Participate in bid kick-off meetings, site visits, constructability reviews, and estimate strategy sessions.
• Maintain clear records of assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, and qualifications for each estimate.

• Support bid forms, pricing narratives, executive summaries, commercial reviews, bidder questions, post-bid clarifications, and negotiations.

  Pricing, Procurement, and Market Intelligence

• Partner with Supply Chain to develop bidder lists, procurement strategies, bid packages, and award recommendations.
• Solicit, level, and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations for completeness, scope coverage, commercial compliance, and value.
• Identify quote gaps, overlaps, exclusions, and commercial risks before incorporating pricing into the estimate.

• Maintain current cost data, productivity benchmarks, historical pricing, and regional market intelligence.

  Risk, Governance, and Handover

• Identify cost, schedule, scope, market, logistics, productivity, and commercial risks and opportunities.
• Support risk reviews and recommend appropriate contingency and escalation allowances.
• Prepare estimate review packages that reconcile scope, quantities, rates, assumptions, and risks.
• Participate in peer and management reviews and approval gates in accordance with bid governance requirements.
• Maintain an auditable estimate file containing source documents, calculations, quotations, approvals, and revision history.
• Lead or support estimate handover to the project delivery team and explain estimate structure, assumptions, subcontractor coverage, allowances, and identified risks.
• Compare estimated costs and production assumptions with actual project performance and capture lessons learned.
• Support change estimates, cost forecasting, and commercial analysis during project execution, as required.

Who You Are

• Degree or diploma in Construction Management, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Building Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in construction estimating, pre-construction, project controls, quantity surveying, or a related commercial role.
• Experience estimating infrastructure, industrial, commercial, institutional, defence, modular, remote-site, heavy civil, or facilities-related construction work.
• Demonstrated ability to develop labour, material, equipment, subcontractor, indirect, logistics, and risk components of an estimate.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, sequencing, temporary works, labour productivity, equipment utilisation, and site logistics.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, contracts, geotechnical information, and client pricing forms.
• Advanced skills in quantity take-off, cost build-up, bid levelling, estimate reconciliation, and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with estimating, take-off, scheduling, ERP, and document management systems.
• Strong analytical judgement, attention to detail, organisation, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and produce accurate work in a fast-paced bid environment.

Assets

• Professional designation or certification such as CEC, GSC, PQS, PMP, or equivalent.
• Experience with lump-sum, unit-rate, design-build, EPC, construction management, or cost-reimbursable delivery models.
• Experience supporting projects in remote, northern, international, or logistically complex environments.
• Working knowledge of procurement, subcontracting, contract risk, bonds, insurance, taxes, duties, and commercial terms.

Why Join ATCO Frontec?

Contribute to meaningful infrastructure, defence, facilities management, and construction projects that support communities, industry, and national interests. You will work alongside a diverse team committed to safety, innovation, operational excellence, collaboration, and disciplined project execution.