Estimator (Substations)

Valard; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary reviews

Benefits package

RRSP matching

Professional development support

Leadership conferences

Team-building events

Job summary

Randstad Canada is seeking a Senior Estimator to lead cost estimation for municipal civil infrastructure projects, including water systems, wastewater facilities and bridge construction. The role emphasizes delivering cost certainty from design through construction start and requires a strong GC background and 15+ years of estimating experience.

You will refine bid strategies, perform full-cycle estimates, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure transparent budgeting

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in commercial and civil construction estimating.
• At least 5 years operating in a General Contracting environment.
• Project portfolio across Institutional, Commercial, Industrial, residential, healthcare and recreational builds.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline.
• Advanced MS Excel and cost-estimating software skills; ability to read complex blueprints and specs.
• Exceptional presentation skills; defend cost recommendations to diverse audiences.
• Deep understanding of market dynamics, supply chain fluctuations and sector challenges.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented; able to meet tight deadlines and balance multiple bids.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute bid strategies to win profitable projects.
• Produce full-cycle cost estimates from design through tender with collaborative delivery.
• Lead cost-alignment workshops with stakeholders for transparency and budget decisions.
• Conduct quantity take-offs for labor, materials, equipment, and sub-trades.
• Maintain databases for unit pricing, rates, contingencies, and escalation factors.
• Obtain quotes, negotiate with vendors/subcontractors, identify value engineering.
• Partner with field ops during pre-construction for procurement, scheduling and logistics.
• Monitor budgets vs actual spend; provide variance analyses to improve estimating.
• Build and sustain partnerships with clients, consultants, sub-trades and suppliers.

Skills

MS Excel

Cost estimating software

Blueprint interpretation

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Market awareness

Education

Civil Engineering / Construction Mgmt degree

Tools

MS Excel

Cost estimation software

Job description

We are actively searching for a highly motivated, accountable, and resilient Senior Estimator to join our client's growing Civil infrastructure division. Operating with an entrepreneurial spirit, you will take the lead on complex, multi-stakeholder civil projects, ensuring absolute cost certainty from the initial design phase right up to the start of construction. This role focuses heavily on municipal infrastructure initiatives, including water systems, wastewater facilities, and bridge construction.

Advantages

• Exceptional Compensation: Highly competitive base salary paired with annual performance and compensation reviews.
• Comprehensive Coverage: 100% employer-funded benefits package covering health, dental, vision, alongside access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Future Planning: Generous RRSP matching initiative to support you long-term financial security.
• Continuous Growth: Financial support and educational assistance for professional development relevant to your career path.
• Leadership Development: Exclusive access to leadership conferences to network, collaborate, and share industry ideas.
• Vibrant Culture: Frequent company-wide engagement opportunities and team-building events.

Responsibilities

• Develop, refine, and execute winning bid strategies to consistently secure profitable projects.
• Produce comprehensive, full-cycle cost estimates across all project stages—from conceptual design through to final tender- utilizing a highly collaborative delivery approach.
• Facilitate cost-alignment workshops with internal and external stakeholders to ensure transparency and drive effective, budget-conscious decisions.
• Conduct exhaustive quantity take-offs covering labor, materials, heavy equipment, and sub-trade requirements.
• Maintain and update accurate databases for unit pricing, labor rates, contingency funds, and market escalation factors.
• Procure competitive quotes, confidently negotiate with vendors and subcontractors, and actively identify value-engineering opportunities.
• Partner with field operations teams during the pre-construction phase to offer constructability insights, optimizing procurement, scheduling, and site logistics.
• Monitor projected budgets against actual project spend, providing detailed variance reports and post-project analyses to refine future estimating practices.
• Cultivate and sustain strong, collaborative partnerships with clients, consultants, sub-trades, and material suppliers.

Qualifications

• Experience: A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in commercial and civil construction estimating.
• GC Background: At least 5 years operating specifically within a General Contracting environment (experience working strictly for a self-performing developer is not applicable for this role).
• Project Portfolio: Demonstrated estimating success across Institutional, Commercial, and Industrial (ICI), residential, healthcare, and recreational builds.
• Education: Post-secondary degree or diploma in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related discipline.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in MS Excel and modern cost-estimating software, coupled with the ability to interpret complex blueprints, specifications, and execute detailed cost modeling.
• Communication: Exceptional presentation skills; capable of confidently defending cost recommendations and explaining complex data to diverse audiences.
• Industry Acumen: Deep understanding of current market dynamics, supply chain fluctuations, and sector-specific challenges.
• Work Style: Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to meet tight deadlines while balancing multiple high-priority bids. A natural team player who excels at building consensus among diverse groups.

Summary

This is a premier opportunity for a senior-level estimating professional to step into a high-impact role within a dynamic civil construction team. You will be empowered to think like a business owner, driving value and accuracy on major infrastructure projects that shape our communities.

Randstad Canada is committed to fostering a workforce reflective of all peoples of Canada. As a result, we are committed to developing and implementing strategies to increase the equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace by examining our internal policies, practices, and systems throughout the entire lifecycle of our workforce, including its recruitment, retention and advancement for all employees. In addition to our deep commitment to respecting human rights, we are dedicated to positive actions to affect change to ensure everyone has full participation in the workforce free from any barriers, systemic or otherwise, especially equity-seeking groups who are usually underrepresented in Canada’s workforce, including those who identify as women or non-binary/gender non-conforming; Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples; persons with disabilities (visible or invisible) and; members of visible minorities, racialized groups and the LGBTQ2+ community.

Randstad Canada is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible workplace for all its candidates and employees by supporting their accessibility and accommodation needs throughout the employment lifecycle. We ask that all job applications please identify any accommodation requirements by sending an email to [e-mail] to ensure their ability to fully participate in the interview process.