Estimating Manager

Signal Energy LLC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Signal Energy LLC is seeking a Manager of Estimating to lead the estimating team for utility-scale solar and battery storage projects across North America. You will develop templates, coach staff, and ensure high-quality proposals while aligning with safety, schedule, and budget objectives.

The role requires collaboration with leadership, operations, engineering, procurement, and business development; travel is required for site visits and client meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related field.
• Experience in subcontract tendering and evaluation.
• Experience with solar and/or battery storage.
• Prior self-perform construction experience preferred.
• Experience with B2W estimating software preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop estimating team and manage proposal capacity.
• Take ownership of departmental templates and processes.
• Provide coaching to team members and align with Signal’s principles.
• Contribute to winning future work by developing competitive project budgets in response to RFPs.
• Develop subcontractor bid packages and price them, plus manage RFIs and bid evaluations.
• Facilitate collaboration between Estimating and Operations for cost estimates and execution.
• Support value-engineering opportunities with other departments.

Skills

Coordination

Communication

Analytical thinking

Excel skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management

Tools

MS Project

Procore

B2W Estimating

Job description

CoVolt Energy is a full-service design/build contractor providing Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for renewable energy projects across North America. We are a Values based company and are guided by a set of Core Principles. We are proud of the pervasive culture here at Signal where we prosper people and resources, live with integrity, respect one another, and continuously strive to be elite. Every action we take, every decision we make, is guided by our Core Principles and Mission to Harness Creative Energy.

We are searching for a Manager of Estimating for utility scale solar projects and battery storage projects. We are looking for leaders with proven track records. We need talented individuals who can rise to the challenge of building the energy of the future in the competitive and exciting industry of solar and battery storage. This position does not require relocation but will require periodic travel for site visits, client meetings, industry events, and team building functions. Experience with self-perform construction/estimating, utility-scale solar, and/or battery storage systems is required.

Works closely with: Signal Leadership, Estimating Team, Pre-Construction Team, Business Development, Operations, Procurement, Customers, Third Party Engineers, Vendor and Trade Partners for all PV and BESS estimates.

Responsibilities

• Work with Estimating Leadership to develop estimating team, manage department proposal capacity, and ensure quality of all proposals
• Support Estimating Leadership by taking ownership of select departmental templates and processes
• Provides coaching and guidance to team members for professional and personal growth while exemplifying Signal’s core principles.

Bid Phase

• Contribute to winning future work by managing development of competitive and precise project budgets in response to client RFPs
• Review and manage the review of client RFP documents to determine scope, schedule, and design criteria, perform/review detailed material takeoffs from design documents and drawings, and manage the development of proposal documents for submission to Customers
• Develop and manage the development of subcontractor bid packages, strategically solicit pricing and drive competitive and innovative solutions
• Answer subcontractor RFIs, manage evaluation and statistical normalization of received bids, make tactful selections and cost recommendations
• Facilitate collaborative relationship between Estimating and Operations to ensure optimal alignment of cost estimation and operational execution.
• Compile and manage the pricing efforts for detailed and indicative utility scale solar and storage opportunities
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of estimates prior to review by Preconstruction Leadership Team
• Work closely with Business Development, Engineering, Procurement, and Operations to determine and implement value-engineering opportunities resulting in strategic and successful proposals
• Perform other Estimating Department tasks as assigned

Pre-Construction Phase

• Support contract negotiations for the client and subcontractor scopes and updates to project pricing
• Support Procurement to finalize subcontractor scopes, schedules, and budgets to align with bid phase commitments - this will require leveraging partnership-driven discussions and negotiation with subcontractors
• Complete budget tracking and cost variance analysis for all prepared project estimates

Construction Phase

• Support projects teams with response to change orders and other construction related issues
• Support projects teams by providing historical context to design decisions and vendor/subcontractor selections

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strong coordination skills to support a cross-functional team as well as time management, active listening, verbal and written communication, critical thinking, analytic and reasoning skills
• Superior attention to and appreciation for detail, self-motivated but driven by team success, ability to learn quickly and independently
• Must be dedicated to the growth and development of the team and individual team members, determine staffing needs, and allocate team resources in accordance with direction from Signal Leadership
• Sensitivity to problems, ability to tell when something is wrong, and able to revise and adapt as necessary
• Excellent mathematical skills, including application and use in problem solving
• Computer literacy, MS Office proficiency (strong Excel skills a must, MS Project skills preferred), Procore experience a plus
• Driven by natural curiosity and a results-driven, problem-solving mentality; asking and getting answers to the right questions

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related areas
• Experience in subcontract tendering and response evaluation required
• Experience with solar and/or battery storage required
• Prior self-perform construction experience preferred
• Experience with B2W estimating software preferred, but not a must

Important Interview Policy: To ensure a focused conversation and protect the privacy of both our candidates and team members, the use of AI note-takers, recording devices, or real-time transcription software is strictly prohibited during this Interview. If an unauthorized bot joins the meeting, our team will ask for it to be removed before beginning the Interview. Thank you for your cooperation!

CoVolt Power is an Equal Opportunity Employer and uses E-Verify.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.