Chief Estimator

Protouch Staffing; O’Fallon (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Profit sharing

Career growth opportunities

Ownership and autonomy

Direct interaction with leadership

Job summary

Protouch Staffing seeks a Chief Estimator to own the estimating function for commercial plumbing projects. The role requires hands-on takeoffs, bid development, and interaction with leadership to optimize pricing strategies.

The estimator will handle diverse projects from tenant improvements to ground-up builds, coordinating with operations to ensure seamless handoffs after award.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years in commercial plumbing estimating.
• Experience reading and interpreting commercial plans/specs.
• Strong knowledge of fixtures, piping, materials, and installation methods.
• Experience with quantity takeoffs.
• Trimble AutoBid experience preferred.
• Excellent Excel skills for estimating spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Own the estimating process from bid lead to final submission.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and prepare estimates using Trimble AutoBid.
• Develop and refine fixture, piping, material, labor, and production assemblies.
• Manage bid calendar and ensure deadlines are met.
• Review plans, drawings, and specs; identify risks and value engineering opportunities.
• Solicit and negotiate pricing with vendors and suppliers.
• Provide accurate project pricing and go/no-go recommendations.

Skills

Quantity takeoffs

Vendor negotiation

Excel proficiency

Bid management

Independent work

Communication

Attention to detail

Plumbing systems knowledge

Tools

Trimble AutoBid

Estimating databases

Job description

Job Post Summary

A growing commercial plumbing contractor is seeking a Chief Estimator to take full ownership of its estimating function. This is a highly visible, hands-on position responsible for converting commercial construction plans and specifications into accurate and competitive bids.

Job Title

Chief Estimator

Job Post Summary

A growing commercial plumbing contractor is seeking a Chief Estimator to take full ownership of its estimating function. This is a highly visible, hands-on position responsible for converting commercial construction plans and specifications into accurate and competitive bids.

The estimator will manage projects ranging from smaller tenant improvements through multi-million-dollar ground-up commercial construction projects. The role requires strong commercial plumbing knowledge, independent decision-making, detailed quantity takeoffs, vendor coordination, bid strategy, and effective handoff of awarded projects to operations.

Job Roles And Responsibilities

• Own the complete estimating process from project lead through final bid submission for commercial plumbing projects
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and prepare estimates using Trimble AutoBid
• Develop, maintain, and refine fixture, piping, material, labor, and production assemblies
• Independently manage the complete bid calendar and ensure all bid deadlines are met
• Review commercial construction plans, drawings, specifications, and contract documents
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, risks, constructability concerns, and value engineering opportunities
• Solicit, evaluate, compare, and negotiate pricing from vendors and suppliers
• Develop accurate and competitive project pricing based on material, labor, equipment, and production requirements
• Make go or no go recommendations and determine appropriate pricing strategies for projects
• Coordinate estimating assumptions and scope with ownership and operations leadership
• Complete clean and accurate project handoffs to project management and field teams after awardEnsure estimates, assumptions, exclusions, and scope requirements are clearly communicated to operations
• Track bid performance against actual project costs
• Analyze job cost information and use historical performance to improve future estimates
• Maintain accurate estimating tools, databases, assemblies, and spreadsheets
• Manage multiple bids simultaneously while maintaining accuracy under deadline pressure

Qualifications And Certifications

• Minimum 3 years of commercial plumbing estimating experience
• Strong knowledge of commercial plumbing systems, fixtures, piping, materials, and installation methods
• Experience performing complete plumbing quantity takeoffs
• Experience reading and interpreting commercial construction plans and specifications
• Trimble AutoBid experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of plumbing labor and material pricing
• Experience developing or maintaining estimating assemblies and databases
• Ability to independently manage a complete bid schedule
• Strong vendor and supplier communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to identify project risks, scope gaps, and value engineering opportunities
• Strong Excel skills and ability to create and maintain estimating spreadsheets and tools
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy under deadline pressure
• Ability to communicate effectively with ownership, operations, vendors, project managers, and field personnel
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• No specific professional certification is stated as mandatory in the provided job description

Benefits

• Health benefits
• Dental benefits
• Vision benefits
• Profit sharing
• Career growth opportunities
• High level of ownership and autonomy
• Direct interaction with ownership and operations leadership