Department Lead – Estimating & Project Manager (Civil Contractor)

Jobot; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Advancement opportunities

Exposure to high-profile projects

People-first culture

Job summary

Jobot is seeking a Department Lead – Estimating & Project Manager in Minneapolis, MN. You will lead the estimating and PM function, pursuing and winning bids while guiding projects from pursuit through completion.

You will shape cost development, constructability, and handoffs, while mentoring a team and ensuring safety, quality, and delivery on complex civil infrastructure programs.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in civil construction estimating/project management or both.
• Proven department leadership experience and staff development.
• Strong civil methods, production rates, and subcontractor understanding.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specs, contracts and tenders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating and PM department with clear priorities and accountability.
• Coach and develop estimators and PMs in a collaborative safety-focused team.
• Prepare and review accurate, competitive civil project estimates.
• Evaluate drawings, site conditions, and contract requirements for scope and risks.
• Manage bid schedules, pricing, and tender submissions.
• Direct projects from award to closeout with planning and cost control.
• Coordinate with field leaders on labor, equipment, and subcontractors.
• Monitor budgets, cash flow, variations, and project performance.
• Build relationships with clients, consultants, and suppliers.
• Oversee contract admin, change orders, and progress claims.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating

Project management

Budgeting

Risk assessment

Negotiation

Stakeholder mgmt

Construction plans interpretation

Safety compliance

Team development

Education

Civil engineering or related degree preferred

Tools

Estimating software

Scheduling software

Spreadsheet software (Excel, etc.)

Job description

Department Lead – Estimating & Project Manager (Civil Contractor)

$140000 - $180000 per year | Minneapolis, MN | On-site | Permanent

Established General Contractor, Heavy-Civil Construction, High Profile Projects, Above Market Compensation

Our client is an established heavy civil and industrial contractor specializing in complex infrastructure projects across both public and private markets. Their project portfolio includes work involving highways and bridges, rail, industrial facilities, mining, environmental projects, water resources, utilities, and other large-scale civil infrastructure.

This company combines extensive self-perform capabilities with a strong focus on safety, quality, teamwork, and consistent project delivery.

They are seeking an experienced Department Lead – Estimating & Project Manager who can provide leadership within the estimating function while also supporting projects from preconstruction through successful completion.

This general contractor has a history to promote from within and experiences one of the lowest turnover rates across the entire civil construction industry. They have developed a comprehensive career growth plan that allows you to take control of your career.

Why join us?

This company offers the opportunity to take on a high-impact leadership position with visibility across both preconstruction and operations. Rather than being limited strictly to estimating or project management, you'll have the opportunity to influence projects from the initial pursuit and estimating stages through award, handoff, execution, and completion.

You'll work within an organization capable of self-performing major components of complex civil and infrastructure projects, giving you deeper exposure to labor, equipment, production, means and methods, constructability, and the true costs associated with performing the work. You'll join a company that publicly emphasizes putting its people first while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, consistency, teamwork, and tackling complex construction challenges.

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunities for advancement and mentorship
• Exposure to high-profile and complex construction projects
• A people-first culture that emphasizes safety, communication, and excellence

Job Details

As a Department Lead – Estimating & Project Manager, you'll take on a unique leadership role combining estimating, preconstruction, project management, and team development. You'll help lead the estimating department while remaining actively involved in project pursuits, bid strategy, cost development, constructability, project buyout, and execution. This position is ideal for someone who understands both how to successfully pursue heavy civil work and how to successfully build it.

You’ll guide estimating strategy, strengthen project delivery, and help turn opportunities into successful construction projects. If you bring sound judgment, hands‑on civil construction knowledge, and a passion for developing people, this is your chance to make a lasting impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating and project management department, setting clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Coach and develop estimators and project managers while building a collaborative, safety-focused, results-driven team.
• Oversee the preparation and review of accurate, competitive estimates for civil construction projects, including earthworks, drainage, utilities, roadworks, and site development.
• Evaluate drawings, specifications, site conditions, and contract requirements to identify scope, risks, opportunities, and resource needs.
• Manage bid schedules, subcontractor and supplier pricing, quantity takeoffs, cost analysis, and tender submissions.
• Support bid/no‑bid decisions and establish pricing strategies that balance competitiveness, risk, and profitability.
• Direct projects from award through closeout, ensuring effective handovers, planning, procurement, scheduling, and cost control.
• Work closely with field leaders to align labor, equipment, materials, and subcontractors with project requirements.
• Monitor budgets, forecasts, cash flow, variations, and project performance; take timely action to address issues.
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Oversee contract administration, change orders, progress claims, and project documentation.
• Promote compliance with contractual obligations, quality standards, safety requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Improve departmental systems, reporting, estimating accuracy, and project delivery processes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in civil construction estimating, project management, or a combination of both.
• Demonstrated department leadership experience or equivalent experience leading teams, managing workloads, and developing staff.
• Strong understanding of civil construction methods, production rates, equipment requirements, subcontractor scopes, and project sequencing.
• Proven ability to prepare and review estimates, assess commercial risk, and manage project budgets and schedules.
• Experience delivering civil infrastructure or site development projects with accountability for cost, quality, and timely completion.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, contracts, and tender documentation.
• Strong negotiation, communication, decision‑making, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency with estimating, project management, scheduling, and spreadsheet software.
• A proactive, commercially minded approach with the ability to balance strategic leadership and day-to-day delivery.
• A qualification in civil engineering, construction management, quantity surveying, or a related discipline is preferred; equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot's policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.