Director of Estimating & Pre-Construction

Private Not Disclosed; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading civil construction firm is seeking a Director of Estimating & Pre-construction in Northern Nevada. This senior leadership role involves overseeing estimating processes, managing teams, and ensuring accurate project bids. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in estimating for civil construction, superb leadership skills, and proficiency in estimating software. This position offers significant opportunities for growth and influence within the organization, as well as competitive compensation above $160,000 based on experience.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of estimating experience in civil construction, heavy earthwork, excavation, or underground utilities.
• Demonstrated experience leading estimating teams and takeoff functions.
• Proven collaboration with Operations and Project Management teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all estimating and pre-construction efforts.
• Establish a culture of accuracy and collaboration.
• Communicate major risks, assumptions, and cost drivers to senior leadership.
• Build strong relationships with clients and subcontractors.
• Support job kick-off meetings and ensure budget alignments.

Skills

Estimating experience

Leadership

Project Management collaboration

Communication skills

Tools

HCSS HeavyBid

Job description

Director of Estimating & Pre-construction

Northern Nevada | Civil Construction

Position Overview

A leading civil construction and site development firm in Northern Nevada is seeking a seasoned Director of Estimating & Pre-construction to lead and elevate its estimating organization.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the full pre-construction lifecycle — from early pursuit strategy through bid submission and turnover. The Director will lead a team of junior and senior estimators, partner closely with Operations and Project Management, and play a critical role in protecting margins, ensuring constructibility, and supporting the company’s continued growth.

This position offers the opportunity to own the estimating department, help shape future hiring and structure, and work collaboratively alongside other department leaders as the organization scales.

Reporting Structure

• Title: Director of Estimating & Pre-construction
• Reports To: Senior Leadership

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all estimating and pre-construction efforts across civil construction and site development projects
• Oversee junior and senior estimators, including takeoff and support functions
• Evaluate team capacity, workload distribution, and future staffing needs
• Mentor and develop internal talent through coaching, accountability, and performance standards
• Establish a culture of accuracy, professionalism, collaboration, and execution-focused estimating
• Direct all estimating activities from pursuit review through final proposal submission
• Review plans, specifications, and bid documents to ensure complete scope coverage
• Identify constructibility concerns, scope gaps, and design inconsistencies early
• Communicate major risks, assumptions, and cost drivers clearly to senior leadership
• Ensure pricing reflects real-world execution, logistics, and field conditions
• Identify, quantify, and mitigate project risks related to cost, schedule, and constructibility
• Review general conditions, site constraints, phasing, sequencing, and production assumptions
• Partner closely with Operations and Project Management to validate bid strategy and execution plans
• Support value engineering and alternative approaches during pre-construction

Project Management Coordination & Turnover

• Lead the transition of awarded projects from estimating to execution
• Support job kick-off meetings and alignment on scope, assumptions, and budgets
• Ensure estimates are converted into accurate, cost-code–level project budgets
• Assist with change pricing, scope clarifications, and pre-construction support during execution
• Participate in periodic project reviews and site visits to strengthen feedback loops

Systems, Process Improvement & Technology

• Own estimating systems and continuous improvement initiatives, including HCSS HeavyBid
• Maintain and enhance production models, labor and equipment costing, and material databases
• Standardize estimating processes, templates, and documentation
• Reduce reliance on fragmented spreadsheets and improve scalability of estimating operations

Client, Partner & Industry Relationships

• Build strong relationships with clients, design teams, subcontractors, and suppliers
• Represent the company professionally within the industry and local community
• Support a reputation built on responsiveness, integrity, and execution excellence

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Estimate accuracy and bid-to-job variance
• Quality of scope capture and risk identification
• Timeliness and consistency of bid execution
• Effectiveness of project turnover and startup alignment
• Adoption and optimization of HeavyBid systems
• Development and growth of the estimating team
• Contribution to margin protection and predictable project outcomes

Qualifications

Experience

• 8+ years of estimating experience in civil construction, heavy earthwork, excavation, or underground utilities
• Demonstrated experience leading estimating teams and takeoff functions
• Proven collaboration with Operations and Project Management teams

Technical Expertise

• Strong proficiency with estimating platforms, particularly HCSS HeavyBid
• Deep understanding of construction means, methods, and field execution
• Ability to interpret complex plans, specifications, schedules, and logistics requirements

Leadership & Communication

• Confident, accountable leader with strong judgment and executive-level communication skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally and influence decision-making at the leadership level
• Commitment to values centered on integrity, reputation, and resilience
• Base salary target range: approximately $160,000+, depending on experience
• Flexibility above range may be considered for a highly qualified leader who can fully own and elevate the estimating function
• Opportunity to help shape the future structure and growth of the pre-construction team, with potential to expand leadership capacity as workload increases

Why This Role Matters

This is a cornerstone leadership position within a growing civil construction organization. The Director of Estimating & Preconstruction plays a direct role in determining which projects are pursued, how they are priced, and how successfully they are executed.

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to step into a high-impact, department-owning role with visibility, influence, and long-term growth potential.