Lead Estimator

Consolidated Contracting; San Clemente (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K plan

Paid vacations

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Gym membership

Bonus potential

Continuing education

Job summary

Consolidated Contracting is seeking a driven Lead Estimator to lead bid strategy, deliver accurate estimates, and help win high-value construction projects. You will coordinate teams, subcontractors, and stakeholders through the preconstruction process, ensuring comprehensive bid coverage and strong commercial decisions.

The role requires 5–7+ years of estimating experience with a GC, familiarity with construction documents, and leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 5–7+ years estimating or preconstruction experience with a GC or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned bids from start to finish, ensuring strong strategy, thorough coverage, and no last-minute emergencies.
• Prepare accurate, competitive estimates across multiple projects while managing deadlines and priorities.
• Review plans, specs, and contract documents to identify scope, risks, opportunities, and project requirements.
• Coordinate estimators, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure complete bid coverage (minimum 3 bids per major trade).
• Attend job walks, pre-bid meetings, and collaborate with project managers and superintendents.
• Negotiate scope, pricing, and coverage with subcontractors and vendors.
• Maintain historical cost data and continuously improve subcontractor database quality.
• Support a culture of accountability, urgency, and excellence within the estimating team.

Skills

Construction docs

Negotiation

Leadership

Excel

Microsoft Project

Primavera

Education

Construction Management degree

Civil Engineering / Architecture background

Tools

None

Job description

AbouttheCompany

We’re looking for a driven, detail oriented Lead Estimator to lead bid strategy, deliver accurate estimates, and help win high-value construction projects. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes initiative, and can confidently lead teams, subcontractors, and project stakeholders through the preconstruction process.

AbouttheRole

Leadassignedbidsfromstarttofinish,ensuringstrongstrategy,thoroughcoverage,andnolast-minuteemergencies.

Responsibilities

• Prepareaccurate,competitiveestimatesacrossmultipleprojectswhilemanagingdeadlinesandpriorities
• Reviewplans,specs,andcontractdocumentstoidentifyscope,risks,opportunities,andprojectrequirements
• Coordinateestimators,subcontractors,andvendorstoensurecompletebidcoverage(minimum3bidspermajortrade)
• Attendjobwalks,pre-bidmeetings,andcollaboratewithprojectmanagersandsuperintendents
• Negotiatescope,pricing,andcoveragewithsubcontractorsandvendors
• Maintainhistoricalcostdataandcontinuouslyimprovesubcontractordatabasequality
• Supportacultureofaccountability,urgency,andexcellencewithintheestimatingteam

Qualifications

• Bachelor’sdegreeinConstructionManagement,CivilEngineering,Architecture,orrelatedfieldpreferred
• 5–7+yearsofestimatingorpreconstructionexperiencewithaGeneralContractor(orequivalentexperience)

RequiredSkills

• Strongunderstandingofconstructiondocuments,contracts,scheduling,andcostmanagement
• Excellentcommunication,negotiation,andleadershipskills
• AdvancedMicrosoftExcelskills;experiencewithMicrosoftProjectorPrimaveraisaplus
• Highlyorganized,self-motivated,andabletoperformunderpressure

PreferredSkills

• Youleadwithintegrity,takeownership,andknowhowtobuildstrongrelationships
• You’reproactive,solutions-focused,andcommittedtodeliveringqualityworkwhilehelpingyourteamsucceed

OurCoreValues

Integrity.Safety.Dedication.Loyalty.Community.Family.Growth.Humility.

Payrangeandcompensationpackage

Thesalaryrangeis$140,000.00to$165,000annually(commensuratewithexperience)andbonuspotential.Inadditiontosalary,seethefollowing:

• PaidVacation–Youcanaccrueupto3weeks(120hours)ofpaidvacationtimeinayear(&accrueanadditional40hours,ifunused).
• PaidSickLeave–Whenyoustart,theCompany“deposits”5days(40hours)ofpaidsicktimeintoyoursickbank.Itresetsto40hoursonJanuary1ofthefollowingyear.
• HealthCareInsurance–Weofferhealthinsurance,whichcoversmedical,dentalandvision.
• 401KPlan–Weoffera401(k)planwithacompanymatchequalto3%ofyoureligiblecompensationfortheyear.
• PaidHolidays–Thereare8paidholidays–NewYear’sDay,MemorialDay,IndependenceDay,LaborDay,ThanksgivingDay+1,andChristmasDay+1.
• 24HourFitness–Youareeligibleforamembershipdiscount&otherbenefits.
• Bonuses–Asthecompanyachievestheiryearlyfinancialgoals,thereisyearlybonuspotential.
• ContinuingEducation –Wearehappytocoverthecostofmostcontinuingeducationcourses.