Civil - Chief Estimator

Kids for the Future; Kahului (HI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Holidays

401(k) retirement plan

Life insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Company equipment

Job summary

Alpha Inc. in Hawaii is seeking a Chief Estimator who can lead a high‑performing civil estimating team, own backlog strategy, and partner with operations and executives to price risk and capture profitable work.

You will drive go/no-go decisions, push beyond the spreadsheet, and turn data from past projects into smarter estimates while mentoring analysts and aligning pursuits with long‑term objectives.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive estimating experience in civil/heavy construction.
• Leadership or senior-level estimating responsibility preferred.
• Hands-on experience with HeavyBid and HeavyJob.
• Strong command of civil construction means, methods and contracts.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own Alpha's profitable backlog strategy and pursue opportunities with margin goals.
• Lead estimating reviews from opportunity to submission and present the bid story.
• Turn field performance data into smarter estimates and feedback loops.
• Build and mentor the estimating team to improve accuracy and speed.
• Bridge estimating with operations to ensure feasible, profitable execution.
• Maintain market awareness and strong client and partner relationships.

Skills

Civil estimating leadership

HeavyBid & HeavyJob

Go/no-go decision making

Excel proficiency

Cost drivers & risk analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Civil Engineering

Tools

HeavyBid

HeavyJob

Excel

Job description

• Location 427 Ala Makani Street,Maui, HI, 96732,United States
• Base Pay $180,000.00 - $250,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type FT - Regular (Exempt)

The Opportunity

Some estimators price work. This one helps decide what work Alpha should chase in the first place.

Alpha Inc. is looking for a Chief Estimator who can see beyond quantities, unit costs, and bid tabs—and understand what it actually takes to build a profitable, sustainable backlog in Hawai?i's civil construction market.

This is not a role for someone who simply wants to manage the estimating calendar.

We’re looking for a strategic leader who can pick the right opportunities, price risk intelligently, challenge assumptions, develop a high-performing estimating team, and turn years of project data into a competitive advantage.

You’ll own Alpha's civil estimating strategy from opportunity selection through final bid submission. You'll partner directly with operations and executive leadership to make disciplined go/no-go decisions, sharpen our cost intelligence, strengthen relationships with clients and trade partners, and build an estimating operation capable of supporting Alpha's continued growth.

And when a major pursuit is on the table?

You’re in it.

Because at this level, leadership doesn't mean getting farther away from the estimate. It means knowing exactly when to get closer.

About Alpha Inc.

Founded in Hawai'i in 2007, Alpha Inc. has grown from a single piece of equipment into a full-service civil construction company serving communities across the Hawaiian Islands. Today, Alpha's capabilities include heavy civil construction, water well drilling, underground utilities, concrete construction, and renewable energy solutions.

We build infrastructure that matters—and we're serious about how we build it.

Our culture is grounded in three values:

Leading with Heart — Operate with integrity, transparency, humility, and respect.

Strength in Unity — Great estimates—and great projects—aren't built in silos. We win as one team.

Alpha Mentality — Prepare relentlessly. Compete intelligently. Own the outcome. Get better every time.

For the Chief Estimator, those aren't words on a wall. They're how you pursue work, lead people, challenge assumptions, partner with operations, and make decisions when millions of dollars are riding on the answer.

What You Will Own

Build the Backlog—Intentionally

You will own Alpha's profitable backlog strategy, aligning pursuits with margin expectations, operational capacity, market conditions, and long‑term business objectives.

Not every project is the right project.

You’ll help make the call.

Evaluate risk, competition, client fit, resources, and capabilities to drive disciplined go/no-go decisions—and keep Alpha focused on work we can execute exceptionally well and profitably.

Own the Estimate from Opportunity to Submission

Take ownership of estimating and proposal efforts from initial opportunity evaluation through final bid.

Lead comprehensive reviews of plans, specifications, soils reports, contracts, and supporting documents.

Push beyond "the number" to understand scope, constructability, production assumptions, exposure, and execution risk.

Every estimate should be accurate, executable, defensible, and clear about the assumptions behind it.

And when it's time for executive review, you'll present the bid story—not just the spreadsheet.

Turn Data into an Advantage

Yesterday's projects should make tomorrow's estimates smarter.

Own Alpha's historical bid and project-cost data and build the feedback loops necessary to turn field performance into better estimating intelligence.

Partner closely with operations to compare estimates against actual production, refine assumptions, identify patterns, and continually improve estimating accuracy.

Then improve the systems, processes, tools, and standards behind the work so the entire department becomes faster, sharper, and more consistent.

Know the Market Before the Bid Hits

Stay close to the market.

Build strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and industry partners.

Monitor government publications, industry sources, pricing movements, competitive behavior, and upcoming opportunities.

We don't want to discover where the market is going after everyone else does.

We want you helping Alpha see it coming.

Lead the Estimating Team

Set clear expectations and performance standards for Alpha's estimating department—and build a team capable of meeting them.

Assign pursuits based on capability, capacity, and project complexity.

Coach estimators through bid reviews. Develop their judgment around scope, risk, pricing, and constructability. Hold the team accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and results.

Partner with executive leadership to make sure Alpha has the estimating talent and resources necessary to support future growth.

Your job isn't to be the smartest estimator in the room forever.

It's to make the entire room better.

Be the Bridge Between Estimating and Operations

A winning bid that can't be executed isn't a win.

Serve as the primary estimating partner to operations and executive leadership, creating real alignment between what we bid and what our teams can deliver in the field.

Navigate disagreements around scope, pricing, assumptions, and risk with clarity and professionalism.

Bring accountability without ego, invite feedback, and keep the focus where it belongs: building the right work, the right way, at the right return.

What You Bring

We're looking for someone who has earned their judgment through experience.

Experience & Technical Depth

• 7+ years of progressive estimating experience in civil/heavy construction
• Prior leadership or senior‑level estimating responsibility strongly preferred
• Hands‑on experience with HeavyBid and HeavyJob required
• Strong command of civil construction means and methods
• Deep understanding of contracts, scope development, production assumptions, cost drivers, and construction risk
• Strong Microsoft Excel and estimating‑software proficiency
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field preferred

Leadership & Business Judgment

You can move comfortably between detailed estimating work and big‑picture business decisions.

You know when aggressive pricing is strategic—and when it's just unnecessary risk.

You can defend your assumptions, change your position when better information emerges, and make decisions without hiding behind a spreadsheet.

You communicate clearly with executives, estimators, operations leaders, clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.

And you understand that accountability goes both ways: you expect it from your team because you model it yourself.

Who Will Thrive Here

You're probably already successful.

That's the point.

We're looking for someone who wants more ownership, more influence, and a bigger scoreboard—someone who gets energized by building the estimating engine behind a growing Hawai?i contractor.

You don't need someone standing over you telling you what to do next.

You ask hard questions before they become expensive problems.

You care about winning—but you care just as much about winning the right work.

And when a bid doesn't go our way, you don't shrug and move on.

You find out why.

You learn.

You adjust.

Why Alpha?

Alpha Inc. isn't interested in growth for growth's sake.

We're building a company capable of making a lasting impact on Hawai?i's communities through critical infrastructure, construction, drilling, concrete, and renewable‑energy work. Alpha describes its commitment as becoming the most impactful builder of Hawai?i's communities through innovation, collaboration, excellence, and responsible construction.

You'll have the opportunity to influence what we build, what we pursue, how we price it, and how we get better.

That's a meaningful seat at the table.

Requirements

Alpha Inc. offers a competitive benefits package designed to support you and your family, including:

• 100% company‑paid Medical/Dental/Vision (family coverage)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) (vacation, personal, and sick time) that increases with tenure
• Paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Eligible after 1 month of service (age 18+), with a Safe Harbor match (100% on the first 3%, 50% on the next 2%) with immediate vesting.
• Life & AD&D insurance (company‑paid, with family coverage)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (24/7 confidential support)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $500/year)
• Company‑provided equipment (role dependent)
• Additional perks (Aflac supplemental coverage + employee discounts)
• Employee Ambassador Program: A dedicated, real‑human support resource to help you navigate life’s challenges—personal or professional—by connecting you to guidance, resources, and solutions when you need them most.

Benefits eligibility may vary based on role and employment status.

Requirements (Conditions of Employment)

Employment at Alpha Inc. is contingent upon:

• Completion of standard pre‑employment screening.
• Successful completion of a background check conducted after a conditional offer; any prior issues will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis consistent with Hawai?i and federal law.
• Passing a drug test (for both full‑time and part‑time hires) conducted in line with Hawai?i statutory requirements.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; we are unable to sponsor employment visas. Employment eligibility will be verified upon hire.

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

Equal Opportunity Employer

Alpha Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on any protected status under federal or Hawai?i law, and we provide equal opportunity in all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, and training.

If you know the difference between winning a bid and winning the right bid—and you can build a team that knows it too—bring your Alpha Mentality.