Estimator/Project Manager

Synectics Inc.; Osseo (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Synectics Inc. is seeking an experienced Estimator/Project Manager in Minnesota to lead estimating, preconstruction, and project execution for deep foundation and geotechnical projects.

You will review plans, develop detailed estimates, prepare proposals, and manage awarded projects from contract through completion. The role requires strong technical knowledge of foundations, risk assessment, budgeting, and coordination with engineers, subcontractors, and field teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction estimating and/or project management experience.
• Experience with deep foundations, geotechnical construction, earth retention, ground improvement, or specialty foundation construction preferred.
• Strong ability to read construction plans, specifications, and geotechnical reports.

Responsibilities

• Estimating & Preconstruction: review plans, geotechnical reports, and bid documents; perform quantity takeoffs; develop costs.
• Project Management: manage budgets, coordinate manpower, equipment, materials, and submittals; monitor costs and schedules.
• Customer & Business Development: pursue new project opportunities and maintain relationships with customers and partners.
• Contract & Change Management: review contracts; prepare change orders and track commercial issues.
• Technical & Field Coordination: understand deep foundation and earth retention methods; resolve constructability issues; support field operations.

Skills

Estimating

Project management

Geotechnical construction

Deep foundations

Budget management

Bid/proposal development

Reading plans & specs

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Tools

Bluebeam

Estimating software

Job description

Estimating & Preconstruction

We are seeking an experienced Estimator / Project Manager

This position combines estimating, project management, technical construction knowledge, and customer relationship management. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying project opportunities, preparing accurate and competitive estimates, developing proposals, and managing awarded projects from contract award through final completion.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of deep foundation and specialty geotechnical construction, along with the ability to evaluate project risks, manage budgets, coordinate field operations, and communicate effectively with customers, engineers, subcontractors, vendors, and field teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Estimating & Preconstruction
• Review construction plans, specifications, geotechnical reports, soil borings, addenda, and bid documents.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Develop labor, equipment, material, subcontractor, and production-based costs.
• Evaluate soil conditions, groundwater, site access, utilities, existing structures, sequencing, logistics, and constructability.
• Determine appropriate construction methods, equipment, production rates, and project costs.
• Coordinate with engineering teams regarding foundation design, constructability, testing, and value-engineering opportunities.
• Identify scope gaps, risks, exclusions, assumptions, and potential cost exposures.
• Prepare detailed proposals including scope, pricing, assumptions, exclusions, unit rates, and schedule considerations.
• Participate in bid reviews and evaluate project risks before submission.

Project Management

• Manage projects from award through construction, completion, and closeout.
• Develop and manage project budgets.
• Coordinate manpower, equipment, materials, subcontractors, engineering, submittals, testing, and schedules.
• Monitor project costs, production, quantities, committed costs, and financial performance.
• Forecast project performance and identify potential cost or schedule issues.
• Communicate regularly with customers, field supervisors, and internal operations teams.
• Visit project sites as required.

Customer & Business Development

• Identify and pursue new project opportunities.
• Develop relationships with general contractors, owners, engineers, developers, vendors, and industry partners.
• Follow up on bids and help convert opportunities into awarded work.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing customers to generate repeat business.
• Attend customer meetings, pre-bid meetings, project meetings, and industry events.

Contract & Change Management

• Review contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, and commercial documents.
• Identify changed conditions, additional work, quantity variations, delays, and differing site conditions.
• Prepare pricing and documentation for change orders.
• Track commercial issues through resolution.
• Ensure proposal assumptions and exclusions are reflected in final contracts.

Technical & Field Coordination

• Understand deep foundation, earth retention, and ground improvement construction methods.
• Evaluate how soil and subsurface conditions affect installation methods, production, foundation depths, equipment selection, and project risk.
• Work with engineers and field personnel to resolve constructability and site-condition issues.
• Support field operations while considering safety, quality, schedule, cost, and contractual requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction estimating and/or project management experience.
• Experience with deep foundations, geotechnical construction, earth retention, ground improvement, or specialty foundation construction strongly preferred.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
• Driven piling
• Helical piles/piers
• Micropiles
• Drilled piers/foundations
• Sheet piling
• H-pile and lagging
• Earth retention systems
• Ground improvement
• Strong ability to read construction plans, specifications, and geotechnical reports.
• Understanding of soil conditions, groundwater, drivability, foundation depths, equipment selection, and construction risks.
• Strong quantity takeoff and estimating skills.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, procurement, submittals, billing, documentation, and change orders.
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, labor, equipment, materials, production, and project costs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Bluebeam, and construction estimating/project management software.
• Ability to travel to project sites and customer meetings; occasional overnight travel may be required.

Education

• A degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or a related field is preferred.
• Relevant industry experience may be considered in place of a degree.