Chief Estimator (1006)

Admiral Heating and Ventilating; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus and profit sharing

401k plan with company match

Health insurance options

Dental and vision plans

Tuition reimbursement

Generous PTO policy

Paid holidays

Life insurance

Employee assistance plan

Parking reimbursement

Job summary

Admiral Heating and Ventilating in Chicago is seeking a Chief Estimator to lead a team responsible for estimating roughly $400 million of HVAC projects, including design-build work. You will collaborate with sales, operations, and procurement to ensure timely, accurate bids and handoffs after award.

The role requires a Mechanical Engineering degree with 10+ years in estimating, bidding, and sales within commercial/industrial HVAC, plus strong skills in plans, specs, and Excel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, business, or related field.
• 10+ years estimating experience with increasing responsibility.
• 3+ years of direct personnel supervision.
• Experience leading estimates for large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience implementing estimating systems or workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the estimating function from opportunity to turnover.
• Develop bid strategy and pricing aligned with margins.
• Oversee estimate quality and data integrity across labor, materials, and subcontractors.
• Mentor and develop estimators; manage workloads.
• Maintain CRM updates and coordinate with sales and operations.
• Present bid updates to leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Bid preparation

Project management

Microsoft Excel

Communication skills

Problem solving

Team mentoring

Contract knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

HeavyBid

Job description

NOTE: The Chief Estimator is required to have a Mechanical Engineering degree with 10+ years of estimating, bidding, and sales experience, in the commercial/industrial HVAC arena. Must have experience working with sheet metal/ducts, pipes, controls, balancing, commissioning, insulation, and service.

Company Overview

Admiral Heating has been a trusted leader in commercial and industrial HVAC solutions in the Chicagoland area for over 70 years. Specializing in union construction projects and service work, we partner with contractors, developers, and building owners to deliver custom engineered heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions. Our reputation is built on quality workmanship, deep industry relationships, and a commitment to long-term customer success.

Admiral Heating operates on the EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System). We exemplify our Core Values: Safety and Quality First, Intensely Diligent, Own It, Innovative Approach, Humbly Proud, and Exceed Expectations, and require adherence of every employee.

Position Overview

The Chief Estimator is responsible for leading, managing and holding accountable a team of estimators who together are responsible for estimating approximately $400 million of HVAC projects including tenant improvement and design build including Sheetmetal, Piping and Commissioning. The Chief Estimator will work closely with the sales team on tracking and completing all bids in a timely manner while also working closely with the operations team on handing off projects awarded.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the estimating function, setting priorities, review standards, and bid governance from opportunity evaluation through final submission and turnover.
• Direct estimating strategy for complex, large-scale pursuits, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives, risk tolerance, and margin expectations.
• Provide executive oversight of estimate quality, pricing assumptions, and commercial alignment across labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor, and freight components.
• Lead the implementation, optimization, and adoption of estimating systems, tools, databases, and workflows to improve consistency, efficiency, and reporting.
• Establish bid strategy, identify project risks and opportunities, and recommend pricing approaches that align with company goals.
• Partner with executive leadership, operations, procurement, project management, and business development to align estimating priorities with operational capacity and market strategy.
• Develop and maintain estimating standards, templates, cost databases, and historical pricing information.
• Solicit and evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotations, negotiate where appropriate, and ensure scope completeness.
• HeavyBid experience is highly desirable, particularly to support leadership visibility into estimating workflows, data quality, and reporting consistency.
• Manage, mentor, and develop estimators, including workload allocation, quality review, coaching, and performance support.
• Support customer and contractor outreach before and after bid, including scope reviews, value engineering discussions, and handoff meetings.
• Provide management with regular updates on bid volume, hit rates, market conditions, competitive activity, and department performance.
• Maintain accurate and up to date information in the CRM, SalesForce
• Participate in client meetings, trade shows, and industry events as needed.

Qualifications, Competencies, & Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, business, or related field.
• 10+ years of estimating experience, with increasing responsibility in construction, specialty contracting, traffic control, or related industries. 3+ years of direct personnel supervision.
• Demonstrated experience leading estimates for complex, large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders, tight deadlines, and significant operational scope.
• Proven experience implementing, improving, or leading adoption of estimating systems, software, or process workflows.
• Previous experience managing, mentoring, and developing other estimators or preconstruction team members.
• Strong knowledge of reading plans, specifications, bid documents, and contract requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite or related estimating software.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proposal writing and executive-level presentation ability.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Self-Motivated, with the ability to work with little or no supervision.
• Strong level of attention to detail.
• Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate information and ideas both verbally and written so others will understand.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment.
• Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
• Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
• Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary Range $180,000 - $200,000
• Bonus and Profit Sharing up to 30% of base salary
• Fidelity 401k Plan with all fees paid by Admiral
• 401k Safe Harbor Match of 4%
• BCBS PPO and HMO Health Insurance Options (Admiral pays 75%)
• Dental and Vision Plans (Admiral pays 75%)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Generous PTO Policy
• Paid Holiday’s
• 100% Admiral paid Long and Short Term and Short
• $20,000 Admiral Paid Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts
• Employee Assistance Plan
• CTA and Parking Reimbursement
• Employee events throughout the year

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by managers to perform other instructions and duties. This job description may be revised from time to time and does not constitute a contract for employment.