Chief Estimator

Just Construction Recruitment; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Senior leadership role

Job summary

Just Construction Recruitment partners with a South Florida General Contractor in search of a Chief Estimator/Preconstruction Director to lead the estimating and preconstruction operations in Miami. This senior role requires extensive GC leadership and a proven record of managing large teams on high‑value projects.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in construction and 10+ years in senior estimating roles, with strong knowledge of bid strategy, risk assessment, and preconstruction execution in

Qualifications

• 15+ years in the construction industry.
• 10+ years as Chief Estimator/Preconstruction Director with GC.
• GC experience required; not purely subcontractor or Owner’s Rep.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee estimating and preconstruction department.
• Mentor and develop estimating team of 8+ estimators.
• Develop estimating processes, standards, and best practices.
• Lead preconstruction strategy from concept to bid and award.
• Review estimates for accuracy, risk, and competitiveness.
• Manage bid strategies based on project needs and market conditions.
• Build strong relationships with subcontractors and owners.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Team management

Bid strategy

Risk assessment

Contract negotiations

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in CM/CE/Architecture

Tools

On-Screen Takeoff

Procore

Microsoft Office

Job description

Just Construction is partnered with an established General Contractor in South Florida that is seeking an experienced Chief Estimator / Preconstruction Director to lead its estimating and preconstruction operations. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced General Contractor professional with a strong South Florida market background and a proven record of leading large estimating teams and preconstruction efforts on complex, high-value construction projects. The company will consider relocation for the right candidate; however, preference will be given to someone who has an established network and strong understanding of the South Florida construction market.

About the Role

• Location: Miami
• Job Type: Full-Time

This is an excellent opportunity for a Chief Estimator or Preconstruction Director looking to join an established South Florida General Contractor and have a meaningful impact on both project success and the long-term growth of the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the company’s estimating and preconstruction department.
• Manage, mentor, and develop an estimating team of 8+ estimators.
• Assign estimating workloads, establish priorities, and ensure accurate and timely bid deliverables.
• Develop and implement estimating department processes, standards, and best practices.
• Lead preconstruction strategy from conceptual estimating through final bid and contract award.
• Review estimates for accuracy, completeness, risk, and overall competitiveness.
• Establish and manage bid strategies based on project requirements, market conditions, subcontractor availability, and company objectives.
• Develop and review detailed subcontractor scope sheets and ensure complete coverage of project scopes.
• Lead value engineering efforts and identify opportunities to improve project cost and constructability.
• Develop General Conditions and General Requirements estimates.
• Analyze labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other project costs.
• Perform project risk assessments and identify potential estimating and execution risks.
• Participate in owner, architect, and contract negotiations.
• Work closely with Senior Management, Project Executives, and Project Managers to transition awarded projects successfully from preconstruction into operations.
• Assist with strategic planning and the continued growth and development of the estimating department.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, vendors, owners, architects, and other project stakeholders.
• Support the company’s overall business development and strategic growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in the construction industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience as a Chief Estimator, Chief Estimator-level leader, or Preconstruction Director with a General Contractor.
• Experience must be with a General Contractor, not solely a subcontractor or Owner’s Representative.

Required Skills

• Proven experience overseeing an estimating department of 8+ estimators.
• Minimum 10 years of experience developing detailed subcontractor scope sheets.
• Demonstrated experience with owner and contract negotiations.
• Proven experience assigning workloads and managing an estimating team.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and team-management capabilities.

Preferred Skills

Project Experience

• Candidates should have significant experience estimating and leading preconstruction efforts on complex, large-scale projects, including:
• Minimum of 4 high-rise condominium projects, ideally ranging from 30-60+ floors.
• Minimum of 4 high-rise projects valued between $90M and $240M.
• Experience with deep foundation systems required; DSM experience is a strong plus.
• Higher Education
• Experience estimating and/or leading preconstruction for higher education projects valued from $50M to $100M+.

K-12 Education

• Experience with K-12 educational projects within a similar $50M-$100M+ range.
• Healthcare estimating experience on projects ranging from approximately $4M to $70M+.

Delivery Methods

• Strong experience with multiple project delivery methods, including:
• CM at Risk
• Design-Build
• IPD experience is a strong plus

Technology

• Proficiency with modern estimating and construction technology, including:
• On-Screen Takeoff
• Procore
• Microsoft Office and related estimating/preconstruction systems

Core Skills

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, and market pricing.
• Advanced knowledge of value engineering, risk assessment, bid strategy, General Conditions, and General Requirements.
• Strong understanding of subcontractor procurement and scope development.
• Ability to evaluate constructability, project risk, schedule considerations, and overall project execution strategy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, owners, architects, Project Executives, and Project Managers.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of South Florida market conditions.