Construction Estimator

Vaco; Sarasota (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring in Sarasota, FL is seeking an Estimator to join its growing preconstruction team on a diverse portfolio of retail, industrial, and commercial projects across Florida. You will budget, perform takeoffs, analyze drawings, and partner with development, construction, leasing, and design teams to support strategic project decisions.

This role offers exposure from initial concept through construction and the opportunity to grow within a stable, expanding organization with a

Qualifications

• Experience working for a general contractor, commercial developer, or owner/developer organization.
• Strong understanding of construction costs, quantity takeoffs, budgeting, and subcontractor pricing.
• Experience reviewing construction drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency with estimating software, Microsoft Excel, and construction-related technology platforms.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed cost estimates for ground-up commercial construction, tenant improvements, redevelopments, and capital projects.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop comprehensive project budgets using historical cost data, subcontractor pricing, and market intelligence.
• Analyze project drawings, specifications, and site conditions to identify cost drivers, project risks, and value engineering opportunities.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to support budgeting, feasibility analysis, and project planning efforts.
• Solicit, evaluate, and maintain relationships with subcontractors and vendors to ensure competitive pricing and reliable project execution.
• Manage distribution and review of plans, specifications, and estimating documents throughout the preconstruction process.
• Maintain and update unit pricing databases, estimating templates, and market cost assumptions.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate existing conditions and incorporate findings into project estimates and budgets.

Skills

Cost estimation

Takeoffs

Budgeting

Data analysis

Communication

Organization

Tools

Estimating software

Microsoft Excel

Construction tech platforms

Job description

A leading commercial real estate development organization is seeking an Estimator to join its growing preconstruction team. This role offers the opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of retail, industrial, and commercial development projects throughout Florida. The Estimator will play a critical role in budgeting, cost analysis, and preconstruction planning while partnering closely with development, construction, leasing, and design teams to support strategic project decisions. This is an excellent opportunity for an estimator looking to move beyond traditional bid work and gain exposure to projects from initial concept through construction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare detailed cost estimates for ground-up commercial construction, tenant improvements, redevelopments, and capital projects.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop comprehensive project budgets using historical cost data, subcontractor pricing, and market intelligence.
• Analyze project drawings, specifications, and site conditions to identify cost drivers, project risks, and value engineering opportunities.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to support budgeting, feasibility analysis, and project planning efforts.
• Solicit, evaluate, and maintain relationships with subcontractors and vendors to ensure competitive pricing and reliable project execution.
• Manage distribution and review of plans, specifications, and estimating documents throughout the preconstruction process.
• Maintain and update unit pricing databases, estimating templates, and market cost assumptions.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate existing conditions and incorporate findings into project estimates and budgets.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience working for a general contractor, commercial developer, or owner/developer organization.
• Strong understanding of construction costs, quantity takeoffs, budgeting, and subcontractor pricing.
• Experience reviewing construction drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency with estimating software, Microsoft Excel, and construction-related technology platforms.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience estimating retail, industrial, or commercial projects.
• Exposure to both site development and vertical construction estimating.
• Experience supporting ground-up construction projects.
• Background working within a developer or integrated developer/general contractor environment.

Why Join?

• Work on a long-term pipeline of retail and industrial development projects.
• Partner directly with development, design, construction, and executive leadership teams.
• Gain visibility into projects from concept through completion.
• Join a stable and growing organization with an active development portfolio.
• Opportunity to continue growing within a collaborative preconstruction and construction leadership team.

Title: Construction Estimator

Location: Sarasota, Florida

Compensation: $110,000-$130,000

A leading commercial real estate development organization is seeking an Estimator to join its growing preconstruction team. This role offers the opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of retail, industrial, and commercial development projects throughout Florida. The Estimator will play a critical role in budgeting, cost analysis, and preconstruction planning while partnering closely with development, construction, leasing, and design teams to support strategic project decisions. This is an excellent opportunity for an estimator looking to move beyond traditional bid work and gain exposure to projects from initial concept through construction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare detailed cost estimates for ground-up commercial construction, tenant improvements, redevelopments, and capital projects.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop comprehensive project budgets using historical cost data, subcontractor pricing, and market intelligence.
• Analyze project drawings, specifications, and site conditions to identify cost drivers, project risks, and value engineering opportunities.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to support budgeting, feasibility analysis, and project planning efforts.
• Solicit, evaluate, and maintain relationships with subcontractors and vendors to ensure competitive pricing and reliable project execution.
• Manage distribution and review of plans, specifications, and estimating documents throughout the preconstruction process.
• Maintain and update unit pricing databases, estimating templates, and market cost assumptions.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate existing conditions and incorporate findings into project estimates and budgets.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience working for a general contractor, commercial developer, or owner/developer organization.
• Strong understanding of construction costs, quantity takeoffs, budgeting, and subcontractor pricing.
• Experience reviewing construction drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency with estimating software, Microsoft Excel, and construction-related technology platforms.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience estimating retail, industrial, or commercial projects.
• Exposure to both site development and vertical construction estimating.
• Experience supporting ground-up construction projects.
• Background working within a developer or integrated developer/general contractor environment.

Why Join?

• Work on a long-term pipeline of retail and industrial development projects.
• Partner directly with development, design, construction, and executive leadership teams.
• Gain visibility into projects from concept through completion.
• Join a stable and growing organization with an active development portfolio.
• Opportunity to continue growing within a collaborative preconstruction and construction leadership team.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

· licensure and certification requirements;

· office location and other geographic considerations; and

· other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).