Chief Estimator

Aspenational; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspenational in Mesa, AZ seeks a Chief Estimator to lead the pre-construction estimating department. You will forecast costs, labor, and materials to secure bids and guide the bidding process from start to finish.

You will mentor estimators, analyze project plans, and collaborate with project managers, design teams, and clients to ensure competitive, profitable outcomes. Proficiency in Accubid, Bid 2Win, Bluebeam, and Excel is expected.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of construction estimating experience, with a proven track record in industrial projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of estimators, assign tasks, provide training, and review their work for accuracy.
• Oversee the entire bidding cycle, including detailed analysis of project plans, specifications, and client proposal documents.
• Analyze bidding risks, identify potential project constraints, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate the preparation of detailed take-offs, labor, material, and equipment costs.
• Utilize advanced estimating software to enhance efficiency.
• Collaborate with project managers, superintendents, owners, and design teams to determine project scope, feasibility, and scheduling.
• Maintain and update historical cost databases and benchmarking to improve future estimating accuracy.
• Build relationships with customers, design teams, specialty contractors, suppliers, and user groups that reflect company vision and meet customer expectations.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Risk analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Cost analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management

Civil Engineering related field

Tools

Bluebeam

Accubid Classic Pro 16

Bid 2Win

Excel

Job description

The Chief Estimator leads the pre-construction estimating department, overseeing accurate cost, labor, and material forecasting to secure construction bids. The role manages the bidding process, reviews complex project proposals, identifies risk, and fosters client/subcontractor relationships to ensure competitive, profitable projects. The Chief Estimator provides mentorship and guidance to estimators while fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.

• Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of estimators, assign tasks, provide training, and review their work for accuracy.
• BiddingProcess: Overseetheentirebiddingcycle,includingdetailedanalysisofprojectplans, specifications, and client proposal documents.
• RiskManagement:Analyzebiddingrisks,identifypotentialprojectconstraints,anddevelopmitigation strategies.
• CostAnalysis: Coordinatethepreparationofdetailedtake-offs,labor,material,andequipment costs.
• Technology&Tools: Utilizeadvancedestimatingsoftwaretoenhance efficiency.
• StakeholderCollaboration: Collaboratewithprojectmanagers,superintendents,owners,anddesign teams to determine project scope, feasibility, and scheduling.
• Database Management: Maintain and update historical cost databases and price benchmarking to improve future estimating accuracy.
• Cultivate Relationships: Build effective relationships with customers, design team, specialty contractors, suppliers, and user groups that reflect and support company vision, mission, and core values, and meets or exceeds the customer’s expectations.
• Networking: Actively participate in industry, client, and community relations to enhance company image.
• SafetyandOther: Observeallsafetypoliciesandperformotherdutiesas assigned.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Leadership Skills: Experience managing teams and directing the estimating function, with strong emphasis on mentoring the team.
• TechnicalSkills: Deepunderstandingofconstructionmeansandmethods,materialpricing,andlabor rates. Knowledge and understanding of civil engineering principles. Knowledge and understanding of electrical and underground construction principles.
• Software Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and specialized estimating software such as Bluebeam, Accubid Classic Pro 16 and Bid 2Win.

Education, Qualifications, & Experience (include but not limited to):

• 10+ years of construction estimating experience, with a proven track record in industrial projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred.

Additional Requirements (include but not limited to):

• As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete an online Accubid skills assessment. The assessment will consist primarily of take-off tasks based on two pages of drawings and is intended to evaluate job‐related technical skills while ensuring mutual alignment between the candidate and the role.