Lead Commercial Estimator — Own Bid Lifecycle & Preconstruction

Trueline Talent; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentives

Company vehicle

Fuel card

PTO & holidays

Laptop & phone

Direct access to ownership

Autonomy in estimating

Preconstruction development

Career progression

Job summary

Trueline Talent's client, a growing commercial general contractor in Richmond, Virginia, is seeking a Commercial Construction Estimator to own estimating and preconstruction efforts. This role runs the full bid cycle, collaborates with ownership, and helps build a preconstruction function with leadership opportunities.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of commercial estimating experience in a GC setting, strong takeoff skills, and the ability to develop complete bid packages and value engineering

Qualifications

• Must have 5+ years of commercial estimating experience in a GC setting.
• Ability to independently develop complete commercial construction estimates.
• Experience reading architectural, structural, civil, and MEP plans.

Responsibilities

• Own commercial estimates from bid invitation through submission and turnover.
• Review drawings, specs, addenda, and bid requirements.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and develop complete project estimates.
• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, negotiated, and hard-bid pricing.
• Solicit subcontractor and supplier proposals and build bid coverage.
• Develop clear scopes of work and bid packages.
• Level subcontractor proposals and identify gaps and risks.
• Estimate labor, materials, equipment, and general conditions costs.
• Identify value engineering and cost-saving opportunities.
• Attend pre-bid meetings and site walks; lead bid strategy with ownership.
• Maintain historical cost data and strengthen networks.
• Lead estimating-to-operations turnover for awarded projects.
• Support buyout, budgeting, change-order pricing, and cost management.

Skills

Estimating experience

Commercial GC environment

Independent estimating

Quantity takeoffs

Bid package development

Plan reading (A/E/MEP)

Communication & organization

Onsite Richmond work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or related

Job description

Trueline Talent's client, a growing commercial general contractor in Richmond, Virginia, is seeking a Commercial Construction Estimator to own estimating and preconstruction efforts. This role runs the full bid cycle, collaborates with ownership, and helps build a preconstruction function with leadership opportunities.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of commercial estimating experience in a GC setting, strong takeoff skills, and the ability to develop complete bid packages and value engineering