Chief Estimator

FlexForce; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

FlexForce in San Antonio is seeking a Chief Estimator to lead the estimating function for specialty construction, manufacturing, and fabrication projects. You will guide pricing, review complex bids, and collaborate with Preconstruction, Operations, Design/Engineering, Procurement, and Management to win opportunities.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of estimating experience in related fields, strong leadership, and proficiency with Excel and estimating software.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant estimating experience in specialty construction or manufacturing.
• Ability to lead, mentor, or provide technical direction to estimators.
• Strong knowledge of drawings, specifications, contracts, and project delivery methods.
• Experience with detention equipment or security construction desirable.
• Proficiency with Excel and estimating software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the estimating team and workload.
• Assign estimating responsibilities based on project size, complexity, schedule, and estimator experience.
• Establish and maintain consistent estimating procedures, templates, and standards.
• Mentor and develop Estimators and Senior Estimators.
• Review estimates for completeness, accuracy, competitiveness, and compliance with project requirements.
• Lead final technical estimate reviews and ensure required reviews and approvals are completed under established company procedures before bid submission.
• Develop and oversee conceptual, budgetary, design-development, and final estimates for specialty construction and manufacturing projects.
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, contracts, and other bid documents.
• Perform or oversee quantity takeoffs and detailed cost analysis.
• Develop labour, material, equipment, subcontractor, manufacturing, freight, and other project costs.
• Evaluate subcontractor and supplier proposals for scope coverage and pricing.
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, clarifications, allowances, and assumptions.
• Maintain historical cost information and utilise completed-project data to improve future estimates.
• Support the company’s Go/No-Go evaluation process with preliminary cost, technical, capacity, and risk input for leadership decisions.
• Identify and document project risks, unusual contract requirements, schedule concerns, assumptions, opportunities, and potential cost exposures throughout estimating.
• Recommend appropriate contingencies, escalation, allowances, and pricing strategies.
• Lead technical estimate review meetings and support formal estimating-to-operations handover meetings.
• Recommend final pricing, margins, and competitive strategy to company leadership in accordance with established approval authority.
• Support value engineering and alternative construction or manufacturing approaches.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring Estimators

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Pricing strategy

Excel

Estimating software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Estimating software

Project management systems

Job description

The Chief Estimator is responsible for leading and overseeing the estimating function, including the development, review, and delivery of accurate and competitive estimates for specialty construction, detention equipment, manufacturing, fabrication, and related project opportunities.

This position provides leadership and technical direction to the estimating team based in San Antonio while maintaining consistent estimating standards, processes, and cost databases. The Chief Estimator will work closely with Preconstruction, Operations, Project Management, Design/Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, and executive leadership to evaluate opportunities, identify project risks, develop pricing recommendations, and support successful project awards.

The ideal candidate is an experienced estimator from specialty construction, manufacturing, fabrication, or a related technical environment with strong leadership skills, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to evaluate complex projects from conceptual budgeting through final bid.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the estimating team and overall estimating workload.
• Assign estimating responsibilities based on project size, complexity, schedule, and estimator experience.
• Establish and maintain consistent estimating procedures, templates, and standards.
• Mentor and develop Estimators and Senior Estimators.
• Review estimates for completeness, accuracy, competitiveness, and compliance with project requirements.
• Lead final technical estimate reviews and ensure required reviews and approvals are completed under established company procedures before bid submission.
• Develop and oversee conceptual, budgetary, design-development, and final estimates for specialty construction and manufacturing projects.
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, contracts, and other bid documents.
• Perform or oversee quantity takeoffs and detailed cost analysis.
• Develop labour, material, equipment, subcontractor, manufacturing, freight, and other project costs.
• Evaluate subcontractor and supplier proposals for scope coverage and pricing.
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, clarifications, allowances, and assumptions.
• Maintain historical cost information and utilise completed-project data to improve future estimates.
• Support the company’s Go/No-Go evaluation process with preliminary cost, technical, capacity, and risk input for leadership decisions.
• Identify and document project risks, unusual contract requirements, schedule concerns, assumptions, opportunities, and potential cost exposures throughout estimating.
• Recommend appropriate contingencies, escalation, allowances, and pricing strategies.
• Lead technical estimate review meetings and support formal estimating-to-operations handover meetings.
• Recommend final pricing, margins, and competitive strategy to company leadership in accordance with established approval authority.
• Support value engineering and alternative construction or manufacturing approaches.

Preconstruction & Operations Coordination

• Work closely with Preconstruction, Design/Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Project Management throughout the estimating process.
• Coordinate with Operations and Manufacturing to validate labour productivity, staffing assumptions, production capacity, schedules, logistics, and execution methods.
• Participate in design reviews to identify cost impacts and value-engineering opportunities.
• Ensure Estimating initiates and completes its responsibilities in the formal handover of awarded projects, including scope, pricing assumptions, exclusions, and identified risks.
• Coordinate estimate-to-actual reviews with Operations and Finance and incorporate lessons learned into future estimates.
• Develop and maintain relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and trade partners.
• Assist in expanding the company’s subcontractor and vendor network.
• Review subcontractor coverage and identify areas requiring additional competition.
• Work with Procurement to evaluate market pricing, lead times, material availability, and escalation risks.

Process Improvement

• Continuously improve estimating systems, procedures, and cost databases within established company processes.
• Develop standardised estimating metrics and reporting.
• Identify recurring estimating variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Support implementation and effective use of estimating and construction management technology.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant estimating experience in specialty construction, manufacturing, fabrication, or similar complex project environments preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, or provide technical direction to estimators; prior formal management title is not required.
• Strong understanding of specialty construction, manufacturing, fabrication, or related technical project scopes.
• Experience with detention equipment, security construction, architectural metals, industrial fabrication, modular construction, or similar complex scopes is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of construction drawings, specifications, contracts, and project delivery methods.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and review detailed estimates for large and complex projects.
• Strong understanding of labour productivity, material pricing, manufacturing or installation processes, subcontractor scopes, project schedules, and logistics.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and estimating software or related project management systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred; equivalent industry experience will be considered.

Credentialing Requirements:

• Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screen