Chief Estimator (Heavy Highway/Paving)

Peckham Industries, Inc.; Village of Brewster (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Peckham Industries, Inc. in Palmer, MA seeks a Chief Estimator to lead asphalt paving and heavy highway bids across the four-state market. You will manage a team of estimators, develop bid strategy, and ensure timely, accurately priced proposals that reflect field execution.

You will leverage DOT specifications and regional market knowledge to optimize costs, mentor staff, and collaborate with operations to improve bid performance and win rates.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience estimating asphalt paving or heavy highway work.
• Experience estimating DOT projects in the $5 million to $45 million range.
• Proficient using Bid2Win (B2W), Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project.
• Strong knowledge of regional paving markets, public bidding, and DOT specifications.
• Good understanding of construction means and methods, crew and equipment production rates, material sourcing, trucking, and plant operations.
• Proven ability to identify estimating risk, develop practical contingencies, and make sound bid/no-bid recommendations.
• Collaborate with leadership and operations leadership to evaluate bid opportunities, assess risk, and make the best decisions for the company.

Responsibilities

• Lead, assign work to, and mentor the estimating team across the four-state market.
• Review plans, specifications, site conditions, quantities, costs, and production assumptions before bid submission.
• Track market conditions, competitors, upcoming opportunities, and pricing trends to guide bidding decisions.
• Communicate bid strategy, risk, and financial exposure clearly to leadership and operations teams.
• Maintain relationships with customers, subcontractors, and suppliers to support competitive bids.
• Lead project handoffs and document key bid assumptions, risks, and commitments.
• Compare estimated costs with actual results and use those findings to improve future bids.
• Maintain consistent estimating procedures, tools, and bid review practices.
• Develop estimates and bid strategies for asphalt paving and heavy highway projects, including major DOT work.
• Work with operations and project managers to confirm that bids reflect how the work will be built.
• Evaluate alternative construction methods and value engineering opportunities to optimize project costs.

Skills

Estimating

Leadership

Bid strategy

Risk assessment

Bid/no-bid decisions

Construction means and methods

Team mentoring

Tools

Bid2Win (B2W)

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Project

Job description

Peckham Industries

About Us:

Peckham Industries Inc. (PII) has been a family-run business since 1924 and we believe our family by choice ethos delivers value as the trusted supplier of construction materials, products, and services in the communities we serve. Through our extensive network of hot mix asphalt and ready-mix concrete plants, quarries, and liquid asphalt terminals, PII delivers the highest quality materials and custom solutions to thousands of road construction and road maintenance customers. In addition, the companys construction operations include paving and road reclamation services, as well as precast/prestressed concrete production and erection of multi-level parking structures, specialty buildings, and bridge components.

Become part of our mission by realizing your purpose, serving our community interests, and delivering growth for our customers. Peckham Industries educates, innovates, and applies technology in a way that is safe, sustainable, inclusive, and profitable.

Position Description

Job Summary

The Chief Estimator leads estimating for asphalt paving and heavy highway projects across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. This role manages a team of estimators and ensures bids are submitted on time, accurately priced, and achievable in the field. The Chief Estimator brings knowledge of each market to bid strategy and works with operations to improve bid performance.

Essential Functions

• Results matter
• Lead, assign work to, and mentor the estimating team across the four-state market.
• Focused
• Review plans, specifications, site conditions, quantities, costs, and production assumptions before bid submission.
• Obligated
• Track market conditions, competitors, upcoming opportunities, and pricing trends to guide bidding decisions.
• Communicate bid strategy, risk, and financial exposure clearly to leadership and operations teams.
• Respect and engage
• Maintain relationships with customers, subcontractors, and suppliers to support competitive bids.
• Lead project handoffs and document key bid assumptions, risks, and commitments.
• Compare estimated costs with actual results and use those findings to improve future bids.
• Ownership and caring
• Maintain consistent estimating procedures, tools, and bid review practices.
• Mastery
• Develop estimates and bid strategies for asphalt paving and heavy highway projects, including major DOT work.
• Work with operations and project managers to confirm that bids reflect how the work will be built.
• Compulsive tinkering. Evaluate alternative construction methods and value engineering opportunities to optimize project costs.

Position RequirementsRequirements, Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of experience estimating asphalt paving or heavy highway work.
• Experience estimating DOT projects in the $5 million to $45 million range.
• Proficient using Bid2Win (B2W), Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project.
• Strong knowledge of regional paving markets, public bidding, and DOT specifications.
• Good understanding of construction means and methods, crew and equipment production rates, material sourcing, trucking, and plant operations.
• Proven ability to identify estimating risk, develop practical contingencies, and make sound bid/no-bid recommendations.
• Collaborate with leadership and operations leadership to evaluate bid opportunities, assess risk, and make the best decisions for the company.
• Experience leading,

Location: Palmer, MA

Contract type: Full Time

Pay Range: $160,000.00 - $175,000.00