Estimator, Cost

Gray; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Competitive Salary

Performance Bonuses

Retirement Planning

Comprehensive Healthcare

Tax-Advantaged Accounts

Wellness & Career Mobility

Job summary

Gray is seeking a Cost Estimator in the Versailles, KY area to lead pre-construction estimating for large-scale commercial and industrial projects. You will develop budgets from napkin sketches to detailed GMP and lump-sum bids, applying your design-build expertise and market knowledge.

You will guide junior estimators, collaborate with design, procurement and operations teams, and present defensible, client-ready estimates while maximizing value engineering opportunities and risk mitigation for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction-related field with 5–10 years pre-construction/estimating experience.
• Proven track record estimating large-scale commercial/industrial projects ($10M–$50M+) in Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, and Distribution sectors.
• Deep understanding of design-build delivery and ability to build budgets from minimal design information.

Responsibilities

• Lead pursuit execution: drive day-to-day pre-construction inputs to deliver competitive final pricing.
• Develop multi-tiered estimates from concept budgets to GMP and lump-sum bids.
• Value engineering and market analysis to optimize costs and support budget discussions.
• Collaborate with design managers, operations, and schedulers to evaluate constructability and handoffs.
• Act as primary pre-construction contact for clients, design partners, and vendors to validate scope and pricing.
• Perform de-scoping of trade proposals to verify compliance and defend budgets.
• Identify cost drivers and risks; escalate with mitigations to senior leadership.
• Mentor junior estimators and leverage Gray’s cost databases and benchmarking.

Skills

Estimating

Leadership

Collaboration

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management/Civil-Engineering/Building Science

Tools

Bluebeam Revu

Timberline/Sage

OnScreen Takeoff

MS Excel

Autodesk Suite

BuildingConnected

Job description

Gray Ohio Valley looking to hire a Cost Estimator. This position is based in Versailles, KY office.

Responsibilities

Why Gray?

Gray is a fully integrated design-builder delivering end-to-end solutions across construction, professional services, specialty equipment, and real estate. Since 1960, Gray has grown from a regional contractor to a nationally ranked industry leader, serving top domestic and international companies in the following markets: Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Data Centers, Advanced Technology, and Distribution.

Our integrated approach allows us to deliver value at every phase of a project – from designing and building state-of-the-art facilities to fabricating custom process equipment and implementing advanced automation.

But what truly defines Gray is our people. Our success is driven by passionate, collaborative team members who take pride in their work, value strong relationships, and are committed to doing the right thing for our customers and one another. At Gray, you’ll find a culture built on teamwork, accountability, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

"Personal growth precedes Gray’s growth." – Stephen Gray, President & CEO, Gray, Inc.

Who We Want… (Requirements)

• Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, Building Science, or a related field, combined with a minimum of 5–10 years of dedicated pre-construction and estimating experience. An equivalent blend of extensive field experience and technical training will also be considered.
• Market Expertise: Proven track record of successfully estimating large-scale commercial or industrial projects (ideally ranging from $10M to $50M+), with specific experience in Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, and Distribution sectors.
• Design-Build Familiarity: Deep understanding of the design-build delivery method, with the ability to build accurate conceptual budgets from napkin sketches or minimal schematic design information.
• Technical Software Stack: Proficient mastery of industry-standard pre-construction tools, including:
• Takeoff & Estimating: Expert-level use of tools like Bluebeam Revu, Timberline/Sage, and OnScreen Takeoff.
• Data & Analytics: Advanced utilization of MS Excel for complex data analysis, pricing models, and historical benchmarking.
• Collaboration: Experience with Autodesk Suite, BuildingConnected, or similar bid solicitation and project management ecosystems.
• Leadership & Team Mechanics: Strong situational leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to functionally guide junior estimators, coordinate cross-functional design and procurement teams, and confidently present estimates to executive leadership and clients.
• Core Traits: An energetic, analytical problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment and possesses a sharp eye for identifying project risks and value-engineering opportunities.

The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications

What we expect… (Essential Functions)

• Lead Pursuit Execution: Drive the day-to-day pre-construction process for assigned major pursuits, seamlessly integrating inputs from design, scheduling, procurement, and operations to deliver competitive final pricing.
• Conceptual & Detailed Estimating: Develop multi-tiered estimates—ranging from early-stage conceptual budgets to highly detailed, quantitative GMP and lump-sum bids—ensuring total accuracy in scope, quantities, and market-adjusted pricing.
• Value Engineering & Market Analysis: Conduct robust estimate analyses and value engineering to optimize project costs, support strategic pursuit positioning, and guide client-facing budget discussions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with design managers, project operations, and schedulers to evaluate constructability, design evolution, project phasing, and site logistics, ensuring a flawless handoff to the field execution team.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a primary pre-construction point of contact for clients, design partners, and vendors to validate project assumptions, clarify scope anomalies, and secure reliable regional pricing.
• Subcontractor De-scoping: Perform rigorous technical reviews and de-scoping of trade partner proposals to verify absolute compliance, uncover hidden gaps, eliminate risk, and build bulletproof, defensible budgets.
• Risk & Opportunity Management: Identify, quantify, and document critical cost drivers, supply chain constraints, and project risks, escalating strategic vulnerabilities to senior pre-construction leadership with actionable mitigation plans.
• Functional Mentorship: Formally guide and review the work of junior estimating staff or specialized technicians assigned to your projects, ensuring quality control while actively coaching them to elevate their skills.
• Data & Benchmarking Stewardship: Maintain and leverage Gray’s historical cost databases, benchmarking tools, and pre-construction best practices to drive consistency and continuous improvement across the national team.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervisory Responsibilities: This position does not have direct administrative supervisory responsibilities (such as hiring, firing, or performance reviews). However, it requires strong project-level leadership, functional direction, and active mentorship of junior estimators and pre-construction staff assigned to your project teams.

What We Offer (Compensation & Perks)

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): True ownership culture where Gray automatically allocates company stock to team members on an annual basis, allowing you to build real wealth alongside the firm's growth.
• Competitive Salary: Highly competitive base pay tailored directly to your years of estimating experience and specialized market expertise.
• Performance Bonuses: Annual performance-based bonus opportunities aligned with project milestones and overall company success.
• Retirement Planning: Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Comprehensive Healthcare: Flexible medical, dental, and vision insurance packages designed to protect you and your dependents.
• Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Available Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) choices.
• Wellness & Career Mobility: Access to corporate total-wellness initiatives, mental health resources, continued technical training, and advanced professional development tracks

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EEO Disclaimer

Gray is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes everyone to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.