Chief Estimator – HVAC & Plumbing

Sperton Global AS; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Sperton Global AS is seeking a Chief Estimator to lead the estimating process for project bids, working with the Executive Team to prioritize opportunities and ensure accurate, competitive estimates. The role emphasizes strong HVAC and plumbing knowledge, leadership of the estimating team, and transition of bids into execution.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in estimating HVAC/plumbing, proficiency with estimating software (QuickPen preferred), and outstanding organizational and communication

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of experience estimating HVAC and/or plumbing projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of HVAC and plumbing systems, project scope, specifications.
• Experience leading or coordinating complex estimating activities and multiple bids.
• Proficiency with estimating software and related systems; QuickPen preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating process across project bids, ensuring estimates and proposals are accurate, competitive, complete, and delivered on schedule.
• Assign and prioritize responsibilities across the estimating team for each project.
• Partner with the Executive Team to evaluate bid opportunities and lead bid reviews.
• Lead weekly estimating meetings to monitor progress and deadlines.
• Review project plans and specs to confirm complete scope coverage.
• Identify risks and cost impacts, and incorporate mitigation into estimates.
• Direct preparation and distribution of bid packages and documentation.
• Support development of competitive proposals for HVAC, plumbing, design-build, and energy projects.
• Lead transition of bids into project execution with kickoff and knowledge transfer.
• Conduct site visits to validate assumptions and improve estimates.
• Strengthen estimating standards, processes, tools, and best practices.
• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams.

Skills

Estimating leadership

HVAC knowledge

Plumbing knowledge

Bid management

Project coordination

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

QuickPen

Job description

Role Overview

The Chief Estimator will lead and coordinate the estimating process across project bids, ensuring estimates are accurate, competitive, strategically positioned, and delivered on schedule. The role will work closely with the Executive Team and estimating professionals to evaluate opportunities, establish bid priorities, review project scope, assess risk, and develop proposals that support continued business growth.

This position requires strong technical knowledge of HVAC and plumbing systems combined with estimating leadership, commercial awareness, and attention to detail. The successful candidate will also help strengthen estimating practices, apply lessons learned from completed projects, and support innovative approaches to design-build and energy-related opportunities.

The Chief Estimator will remain connected to projects after award through project kickoffs, periodic reviews, and site visits to help ensure a strong transition from estimating into execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating process across project bids, ensuring estimates and proposals are accurate, competitive, complete, and delivered on schedule.

• Assign and prioritize responsibilities across the estimating team for each project, maintaining clear accountability and efficient workload distribution.

• Partner with the Executive Team to evaluate potential bid opportunities, develop the weekly bid calendar, and lead bid review discussions.

• Lead weekly estimating meetings to monitor progress, resolve issues, maintain alignment, and ensure key deadlines are achieved.

• Review project plans, drawings, specifications, and supporting documentation to confirm complete and accurate scope coverage.

• Identify and evaluate project risks, assumptions, discrepancies, and potential cost impacts, ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are incorporated into estimates.

• Direct the preparation and distribution of bid packages, including instructions to bidders, bid forms, scope information, and supporting documentation.

• Support the development of competitive and strategic proposals for HVAC, plumbing, design-build, and energy-related projects.

• Lead the transition of successful bids into project execution, including project kickoff and the transfer of estimating assumptions, documentation, and project knowledge.

• Conduct periodic project reviews and site visits to validate estimating assumptions, support project teams, capture lessons learned, and improve future estimates.

• Strengthen estimating standards, processes, tools, and best practices to improve consistency, accuracy, and overall estimating performance.

• Collaborate effectively with leadership and cross-functional teams to support a results-driven, high-performance environment.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Green Card holders and already authorized to work in the United States. No sponsorship is available.

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience estimating HVAC and/or plumbing projects.

• Strong technical knowledge of HVAC and plumbing systems, project scope, specifications, and estimating requirements.

• Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating complex estimating activities and managing multiple bids and priorities simultaneously.

• Strong proficiency with estimating software and related systems, with QuickPen experience strongly preferred.

• Ability to review project plans and specifications, identify scope gaps, evaluate project risks, and develop accurate cost estimates.

• Experience supporting competitive bids, bid packages, proposal development, and the transition of awarded projects into execution.

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline preferred.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify discrepancies, assumptions, risks, and potential cost impacts.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Ability to manage demanding deadlines and shifting priorities in a fast-paced estimating environment.

• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, estimating teams, project teams, and other stakeholders.

• Willingness to conduct project reviews and site visits as required.

Sperton Global AS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.