Lead Estimator - Commercial Construction

London Approach; Frederick (MD); Presencial; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

London Approach is seeking an experienced Lead Estimator to oversee estimating and preconstruction for a diverse range of commercial projects across the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. You will lead bid efforts, develop budgets, and build strong relationships with trade partners to drive profitable wins.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in commercial estimating, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and a proven ability to manage multiple pursuits, read complex drawings, and

Formación

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent construction experience.
• 8+ years of progressive commercial estimating and preconstruction experience including leadership.
• Experience estimating commercial work in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
• Strong relationships with regional subcontractors, suppliers, owners, architects, and engineers.
• Experience with hard-bid, negotiated, GMP, design-build and other delivery methods.
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze drawings, specs, scopes of work, contracts, and schedules.
• Ability to develop detailed estimates and conceptual budgets from evolving designs.
• Proficient with estimating, bid-management, takeoff, spreadsheets, and project-management software.
• Strong analytical, financial, organizational, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to present budgets and risk assessments to leadership and teams.
• Ability to manage multiple pursuits with tight deadlines.

Responsabilidades

• Lead the preparation of accurate estimates, budgets, GMPs, proposals, and bid submissions for commercial construction projects.
• Manage the full estimating process from pursuit to turnover to operations.
• Perform quantity takeoffs, scope development, cost analysis, subcontractor solicitation, bid leveling, and final estimate reviews.
• Develop conceptual estimates and detailed budgets at all design stages.
• Review drawings, specs, bid documents, and contract requirements to identify scope gaps, risks, and pricing considerations.
• Evaluate opportunities based on strategic fit, market conditions, staffing, risk, and profitability.
• Identify and mitigate estimating, scope, contractual, scheduling, procurement, and financial risks during preconstruction.
• Build relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, owners, developers, consultants.
• Strengthen trade-partner participation and bid coverage with complete scope alignment.
• Monitor regional market conditions: subcontractor availability, labor, pricing, and opportunities.
• Maintain historical cost data, unit pricing, and post-bid lessons learned.
• Collaborate with leadership and teams to support pursuits and growth.
• Lead and mentor estimators and junior team members; share best practices.
• Promote accountability and continuous improvement across estimating.

Conocimientos

Estimating

Leadership

Bid management

Communication

Educación

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Herramientas

Spreadsheet software

Estimating software

Bid-management software

Project management software

Descripción del empleo

A growing, relationship-driven commercial general contractor is seeking an experienced Lead Estimator to oversee estimating and preconstruction efforts for a diverse portfolio of commercial construction projects throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.

This individual will be a senior member of the preconstruction team, responsible for evaluating opportunities, developing competitive budgets and proposals, leading bid efforts, strengthening trade-partner relationships, and helping drive profitable growth. The ideal candidate has deep familiarity with the regional commercial construction market and a proven ability to pursue, win, and successfully transition projects into operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of accurate, competitive estimates, budgets, GMPs, proposals, and bid submissions for commercial construction projects.
• Manage the full estimating process, from initial project pursuit and document review through final pricing, proposal submission, and turnover to operations.
• Perform quantity takeoffs, scope development, cost analysis, subcontractor solicitation, bid leveling, proposal comparisons, and final estimate reviews.
• Develop conceptual estimates and detailed budgets at all design stages, including preliminary, schematic, design-development, construction-document, negotiated, and hard-bid phases.
• Review drawings, specifications, bid documents, contract requirements, alternates, allowances, and clarifications to identify scope gaps, exclusions, risks, and pricing considerations.
• Evaluate potential project opportunities based on strategic fit, market conditions, staffing and operational capacity, risk profile, anticipated profitability, and probability of award.
• Identify and help mitigate estimating, scope, contractual, scheduling, procurement, and financial risks during preconstruction.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, owners, developers, consultants, and other industry partners.
• Strengthen trade-partner participation and bid coverage while ensuring competitive pricing and complete scope alignment.
• Monitor regional construction-market conditions, including subcontractor availability, labor trends, material pricing, competitive activity, and upcoming project opportunities.
• Maintain and improve historical cost data, subcontractor and supplier databases, unit-pricing information, labor-productivity data, and post-bid lessons learned.
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership, business development, operations, project management, and design-build teams to support strategic pursuits and growth initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and mentor estimators and junior team members; provide technical direction, review work product, and share best practices.
• Promote consistency, accountability, efficiency, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the estimating function.
• Support a thorough handoff of awarded projects to project management and field operations teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred; equivalent, relevant construction experience will be considered.
• 8+ years of progressive commercial construction estimating and preconstruction experience, including leadership responsibility on complex projects.
• Demonstrated experience estimating commercial construction work in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia market.
• Strong, established relationships with regional subcontractors, suppliers, developers, owners, architects, engineers, and other commercial construction professionals preferred.
• Proven knowledge of local construction practices, subcontractor capabilities, labor conditions, material costs, procurement challenges, and competitive market dynamics.
• Experience with hard-bid, negotiated, GMP, design-build, and other collaborative commercial construction delivery methods.
• Strong ability to read, interpret, and analyze construction drawings, specifications, scopes of work, bid instructions, contract documents, and project schedules.
• Demonstrated ability to develop both detailed estimates and conceptual budgets using incomplete, evolving, or early-stage design documents.
• Proficiency with construction estimating, bid-management, takeoff, spreadsheet, and project-management software.
• Strong analytical, financial, organizational, negotiation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to clearly present budgets, estimates, assumptions, recommendations, value-engineering options, and risk assessments to senior leadership, clients, and project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple active pursuits and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Professional Expectations

• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, sound judgment, and exceptional attention to detail.
• Maintain the confidentiality of company, client, subcontractor, and project information.
• Build positive and productive relationships with internal teams, trade partners, vendors, clients, and other external stakeholders.
• Take a proactive approach to risk identification, problem-solving, process improvement, and pursuit strategy.
• Follow all company safety requirements, ethical standards, policies, and procedures.
• Contribute to a culture focused on teamwork, quality, client service, and long-term business relationships.