Manager, Estimating & Bid Strategy

RedBranch Executive Search & Recruitment; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

RedBranch Executive Search & Recruitment is assisting a Mississauga-based renewable energy company in hiring an Estimation Manager to lead the cost estimation team. The role covers technical and commercial authority on project costing, supplier quotations, pricing strategy, and bid development for Canada/US solar projects.

The ideal candidate will own department processes, manage KPIs, and collaborate across Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance to align estimates with business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, SCM, Construction Management, Business, or related field.
• 5–8 years in cost estimating, bid management, sourcing, or technical proposals.
• Strong knowledge of solar PV, foundations, and fabrication methods.
• Ability to develop detailed cost models and evaluate supplier quotes.
• Excellent commercial judgment: freight, Incoterms, tariffs, duties, margins.
• Experience coordinating bids across multiple departments and suppliers.
• Advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint; experience with ERP/CRM or estimating systems is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; capable of engaging executives and clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead estimation team, set KPIs, and drive performance improvements.
• Oversee cost estimation for solar mounting systems; protect margins.
• Review bids, build cost models, and set pricing strategies.
• Lead supplier sourcing, RFQs, quotes, and commercial negotiations.
• Coordinate cross-functional input; manage risks in pricing and proposals.
• Standardize processes, improve cost controls, and boost bid win rates.

Skills

Leadership

Cost modelling

Bid management

Commercial acumen

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, Business, or related field

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

ERP systems

CRM systems

Estimating software

AutoCAD

PVsyst

HelioScope

Job description

Our client is a well-established manufacturing, design and engineering company within the Renewal Energy industry based in Mississauga and they are seeking an experienced Estimation Manager to lead the Estimation department and take ownership of the accuracy, integrity, competitiveness, and timely delivery of every cost estimate and bid produced by the team. Reporting directly to senior leadership, the Estimation Manager will act as the technical and commercial authority on project costing, supplier quotations, pricing strategy, and bid development across a growing pipeline of commercial and utility-scale solar projects in Canada and the United States.

Key Responsibilities

Team and Department Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the estimation team, overseeing workload allocation, performance management, hiring, and departmental objectives.
• Establish department processes, accountability measures, and KPIs, reporting on estimating performance, bid outcomes, and continuous improvement.

Cost Estimation and Bid Ownership

• Oversee cost estimation for solar mounting systems and foundation solutions, ensuring estimates are accurate, commercially viable, and protect profit margins.
• Review complex bids, develop cost models, establish pricing strategies, and maintain reliable cost data, estimating tools, and historical benchmarks.

Supplier Sourcing and Commercial Management

• Lead supplier sourcing, RFQs, quotation evaluations, and commercial negotiations to optimize pricing, quality, capacity, and delivery.
• Manage supplier relationships and assess material costs, tariffs, freight, duties, exchange rates, and supply-chain risks.

Bid and Proposal Management

• Oversee the preparation, review, and submission of complete, competitive, and compliant bids and proposals, ensuring deadlines and client requirements are met.
• Coordinate cross-functional input, identify commercial and technical risks, and support client negotiations and high-value proposals.

Cross-Functional and Process Leadership

• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations to align estimates with technical requirements and business objectives.
• Standardize estimating procedures, strengthen cost controls, and implement process improvements to increase accuracy, efficiency, and bid success rates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, Business, or a related field.
• 5-8 years of progressive experience in cost estimating, bid management, strategic sourcing, or technical proposal development, including direct leadership of an estimating, procurement, sourcing, or bid-management team.
• Strong knowledge of solar PV systems, structural steel, fabrication, foundations, and construction methods; experience sourcing fabricated steel, roll-formed components, fasteners, galvanizing, or other engineered products is preferred.
• Proven ability to develop detailed cost models, evaluate complex supplier quotations, and establish or improve estimating processes, supplier networks, documentation, and controls.
• Strong commercial acumen, including knowledge of freight, lead times, Incoterms, tariffs, duties, contract terms, pricing escalation, and margin protection, with the ability to identify and mitigate commercial and supply-chain risks.
• Experience coordinating complex bids across multiple departments and suppliers, managing competing deadlines, and presenting and defending pricing recommendations to senior leadership and clients.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, particularly in cost modelling and quotation analysis; strong proficiency in Word and PowerPoint. Experience with ERP, CRM, procurement, or estimating systems is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to engage and present effectively to clients and senior executives. Experience with AutoCAD, PVsyst, HelioScope, or solar design documentation is an asset.