Chief Electrical Estimator

SearchWorks, LLC; Illinois; On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Company vehicle allowance or stipend

Job summary

SearchWorks, LLC is seeking a Chief Electrical Estimator to lead a growing team in the Chicago area. This on-site role anchors estimating strategy across the Midwest and new markets including solar and data centers.

You will own the department, mentor estimators, review bids, and ensure accurate cost strategies for materials and labor while maintaining strong supplier relationships.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in electrical contracting or construction.
• 10+ years of electrical estimating experience.
• Experience leading or mentoring estimators.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
• Proficiency with Estimating software (ConEst preferred) and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and set direction for a team of electrical estimators.
• Oversee blueprint and specification analysis across active projects to determine full scope.
• Establish and validate cost strategy for materials and labor hours.
• Provide final sign-off on detailed proposals prior to submission.
• Build and maintain supplier and subcontractor relationships for competitive pricing.
• Identify design gaps and risks, ensuring contingencies in proposals.
• Set team standards for estimating software (ConEst/Accubid).

Skills

Leadership / mentoring

Estimating

Excel proficiency

Field presence

Estimating software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Construction Management

Tools

ConEst

Accubid

Job description

SearchWorks has been retained by a rapidly growing, union electrical contractor in the Chicago metro area to identify their next Chief Electrical Estimator. Our client is on a steep growth curve — expanding both its service lines and its geographic footprint across the Midwest and into new markets including solar and data centers.

This is a department leadership role reporting directly to the Vice President, with a team of estimators reporting to you. You will own estimating strategy company-wide at a firm where the bid pipeline is expanding into unfamiliar territories and project types, making the accuracy and discipline of your department directly consequential to the business.

What you'll own

• Department leadership — Lead, mentor, and set direction for a team of electrical estimators; establish workflows and best practices across all bids.
• Blueprint and specification analysis — Oversee review of construction documents across active projects to determine full scope of work: lighting, power, low voltage, and fire alarm systems.
• Cost strategy — Establish and validate the methodology for calculating material quantities (conduit, wire, fixtures) and labor hours, ensuring consistency across the team.
• Bid proposal approval — Provide final sign-off on detailed proposals covering materials, labor, subcontractors, permitting, and overhead prior to submission.
• Supplier and subcontractor relationships — Build and maintain strategic vendor relationships to secure competitive pricing.
• Risk assessment — Identify design gaps, difficult site conditions, and other exposures, and ensure appropriate contingencies are built into every proposal.
• Software standards — Set team standards for estimating software (ConEst, Accubid, or comparable).

Project types

Commercial, industrial, and manufacturing (power distribution, lighting, life safety, low voltage, controls) and data center / mission-critical work (backup power, generators, UPS, low-voltage cabling, security systems).

What we're looking for

• 15+ years in electrical contracting or construction
• 10+ years of electrical estimating experience
• Experience leading or mentoring estimators
• Strong proficiency with computerized estimating software (ConEst preferred) and Excel
• Willingness to visit job sites and work directly with field personnel
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred

Location and travel

Based on-site in Westmont, IL, with regular travel to a second Chicago-area office and up to 10% travel nationally.

Compensation

$180,000 – $250,000 total compensation, plus comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and a company vehicle allowance or stipend.

All inquiries are confidential. Client identity disclosed to qualified candidates during initial screening.