Estimator - Concord

Lilesconstruction; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GW Liles Construction seeks a senior Estimator for commercial projects in North Carolina. The role leads bid and preconstruction activities, supports contract execution and buyout after award, and guides staff.

The ideal candidate has cost-estimation expertise for lump-sum public projects, strong leadership, and collaboration with PMs and executives to ensure profitability and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, construction management, or related field or equivalent education/experience.
• 5–8 years in commercial construction with at least 3 years in estimator role; field and project management preferred.
• Experience with conceptual budgeting using historical cost data and market trends.
• Experience with design assist and design-build delivery methods.
• Ability to evaluate plans, specs, and documents to understand scope and constraints.
• Proficiency with industry-standard take-off, costing, scopes, and deliverables.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, and meet tight deadlines in fast-paced environments.
• Clear communication with clients, stakeholders, subcontractors, and team members.
• Demonstrates Be Collaborative, Take Initiative, Go Beyond, hard-right decisions.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate project documents to define scope and components for accurate estimates.
• Conduct constructability reviews to ensure alignment with design intent.
• Collaborate with Construction Management to develop project strategy.
• Assist in up-front project setup for profitability and client satisfaction.
• Identify profitability, risks, constructability issues, and value-engineering options.
• Perform site visits to assess conditions and risks, relay findings to team.
• Source new subcontractors and vendors; assist with prequalification.

Skills

Conceptual budgeting

Design assist

Design build

Cost estimation

Take-offs

Preconstruction

Collaboration

Communication

Analytical thinking

Proj. management software

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, construction management, or related field

Tools

Digital take-off software

ITB management software

Microsoft 365

Excel

Word

OneDrive

Outlook

Project management software

Document management software

Scheduling software

Job description

Summary

GW Liles Construction is seeking a highly skilled and experienced individual to join our team as an Estimator of commercial construction. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of construction principles, excellent analytical abilities, and a proven track record of accurately estimating lump sum public projects within North Carolina and the upstate counties of South Carolina. The estimator will oversee the entire bid or preconstruction process and upon award of the project they'll assist the construction manager with contract execution and buyout.

The ideal candidate applies their expert knowledge of construction costs to develop complete, accurate cost estimates that are consistent with company objectives and that achieve profitability based on company requirements.

As a senior-level team member, this individual provides their expertise and leadership to encourage the development and growth of any assigned staff. This position will work closely with the Preconstruction, Construction, and Operations Managers and reports directly to the VP of Preconstruction.

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, construction management, or related field, or the equivalent education and experience.
• 5-8 years' experience within the commercial construction industry with at least 3 years in the role of estimator. Additionally, field and project management experience is preferred.
• Has experience with conceptual budgeting effectively using historical cost data and market trends to develop budget proposals.
• Has experience with design assist and design build delivery methods.
• Has the ability to evaluate project plans, specifications, and related documents to develop a comprehensive understanding of the scope, requirements, and constraints of each project.
• Must be able to utilize industry-standard methods and software to prepare detailed material take-offs, cost estimates, develop scopes of work, and execute complete and accurate project deliverables.
• Must have good analytical, observation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective and clear communication with clients, stakeholders, subcontractors, vendors, and team members is a must.
• Exemplifies company core values: Be Collaborative, Take Initiative, Go Beyond, Choose the hard right over the easy wrong.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Successful job performance is defined as performing at an above satisfactory level for all areas outlined for this position.
• Evaluate all project documents thoroughly to determine the scope of work and components required to compile a complete and accurate estimate.
• Knowledgeable in performing document constructability reviews to ensure the documents accurately reflect the stakeholders and design teams' intent.
• Work with Construction Management to develop a comprehensive understanding of the project and establish a project strategy.
• Collaborate with Construction Management in the up-front setup of projects to ensure profitability and client satisfaction.
• Identify and assess areas of profitability, construction risks, constructability issues, and value-engineering alternatives.
• Conduct site visits to assess and analyze site conditions determining potential risks and logistical challenges, communicating the findings to team members and subcontractors.
• Seek and identify new subcontractors and vendors to further enhance core subcontractor list; assist with prequalification of subcontractors to ensure compliance with both company and project expectations and requirements.
• Create and manage bid lists that fit the scope and complexity of the project, ensuring the best methods, subcontractors and vendors are invited and adequate coverage for each trade is provided.
• Effectively communicate project scope and requirements to subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors, review quotes for accuracy and scope.
• Compile and calculate statistical data (estimates, take-offs, material pricing, subcontractor, and labor costs, etc.) required to provide job costs.
• Prepare multiple budgets for all phases of preconstruction estimates (conceptual, schematic, design/development, final) and provide thorough reconciliation.
• Write scopes of work for purposes of bidding and vendor subcontracts.
• Write and compile project deliverables that include - proposal summaries, qualifications, clarifications, scopes of work, owner/client bid forms, etc.
• Understands and can execute the requirements for lump sum bidding of public projects within the states of North and South Carolina.
• Build, develop, and grow business relationships vital to the success of a project; work collaboratively with outside parties/design teams to achieve client goals.
• Assist in managing various areas of the preconstruction department such as and not limited to tracking current cost trends, unit price database, subcontractor/vendor/supplier database, estimator tools, etc.
• Technical Skills - must have proficiencies in the following:
  • Digital take-off and quantification software
  • ITB management software
  • Microsoft 365
  • Office proficiency (Excel, Word, OneDrive, Outlook)
  • Project management software
  • Document management software
  • Scheduling software

Work Ethic:

• Ensures that Integrity is delivered by working with honesty, unity, safety, and quality of work.
• Must be able to multi-task, be a Team Player, and have initiative to make yourself, team members, and the company better.
• Works with a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Instills a safety culture. Comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures.
• Report unsafe activities to supervisor and/or Safety Manager.
• Flexibility: Willing to modify plans and behavior when necessary to meet a goal.
• Cooperation: Works well with other people. Takes time to help co-workers, customers and others achieve their goals and assignments.
• Knows how to manage events to achieve goals, is a self-starter, works well without close supervision, and has a record of achieving aggressive goals.