Lead Estimator – Heavy Civil / Roadway

Hatched Recruitment Group; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Hatched Recruitment Group in Houston seeks a senior estimating leader to establish the local function, lead complex hard-bid estimates and develop the Houston team under the VP of Estimating. This role emphasizes ownership of bid activity and strategic growth within Texas heavy civil markets.

You’ll own bid activity from opportunity through submission, build processes, recruit staff, and drive market expansion across roadways, bridges, utilities and drainage, while applying rigorous cost

Qualifications

• Significant experience in heavy civil, heavy highway or infrastructure estimating
• Strong hard-bid estimating experience
• Proven experience estimating roadway and highway projects
• Experience with projects involving several of the following:
• Roadway construction and reconstruction
• Concrete and asphalt paving
• Bridges and structures
• Drainage and underground utilities
• Earthwork and excavation
• Water infrastructure
• Strong quantity takeoff, cost analysis and pricing skills
• A detailed understanding of construction production rates, labor, equipment and material costs
• Experience reviewing plans, specifications and contract documents
• Experience obtaining and evaluating subcontractor and supplier pricing
• Strong understanding of project risks, constructability and means and methods
• Experience working with operations and project management teams during the estimating process
• Strong computer and estimating software skills
• The leadership ability to mentor existing staff and build a high-performing estimating team
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of the Houston estimating function and local bid activity
• Preparing and leading detailed hard-bid estimates for heavy civil and roadway projects
• Leading estimates from initial review and quantity takeoff through final bid submission
• Developing estimates for roadway, highway, bridge, concrete, asphalt, drainage, utilities and earthwork projects
• Reviewing plans, specifications, quantities, bid documents and project requirements
• Developing labor, material, equipment and production costs
• Soliciting and evaluating subcontractor and supplier pricing
• Reviewing production rates and construction methodologies to ensure estimates reflect realistic project costs
• Identifying project risks, opportunities and value-engineering options
• Working closely with operations, project management and senior leadership to develop bid strategy
• Attending pre-bid meetings, site visits and client meetings as required
• Supporting post-bid reviews and maintaining accurate estimating records and historical cost information
• Helping establish consistent estimating processes, standards and best practices within the Houston office
• Recruiting, developing and mentoring additional estimating staff as the Houston team grows
• Building relationships with subcontractors, suppliers and other market participants across the Houston market
• Working closely with the VP of Estimating on overall estimating strategy and workload

Job description

This is more than a senior estimating position. You’ll have the opportunity to establish yourself as the Houston estimating lead, working directly with the VP of Estimating and taking responsibility for developing the local team, identifying opportunities and leading complex hard-bid estimates.

This would suit someone who is an experienced Senior Estimator, Lead Estimator or Estimating Manager who is ready to take ownership of a Houston operation.

You’ll need to be comfortable remaining hands-on with complex estimates while also being capable of building a team, establishing processes and developing the Houston market.

For the right person, this represents an opportunity to have a much greater influence on the direction of an estimating function rather than simply joining an established team in an individual contributor capacity.

The company delivers major infrastructure projects across Texas, with capabilities spanning roadway and highway construction, bridges and structures, underground utilities and drainage, water transmission, concrete and asphalt paving, aviation, ports and federal work.

The Role

You will take the lead on estimating activities from opportunity identification through bid submission, while developing the people, processes and relationships needed to establish a strong Houston estimating function.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of the Houston estimating function and local bid activity
• Preparing and leading detailed hard-bid estimates for heavy civil and roadway projects
• Leading estimates from initial review and quantity takeoff through final bid submission
• Developing estimates for roadway, highway, bridge, concrete, asphalt, drainage, utilities and earthwork projects
• Reviewing plans, specifications, quantities, bid documents and project requirements
• Developing labor, material, equipment and production costs
• Soliciting and evaluating subcontractor and supplier pricing
• Reviewing production rates and construction methodologies to ensure estimates reflect realistic project costs
• Identifying project risks, opportunities and value-engineering options
• Working closely with operations, project management and senior leadership to develop bid strategy
• Attending pre-bid meetings, site visits and client meetings as required
• Supporting post-bid reviews and maintaining accurate estimating records and historical cost information
• Helping establish consistent estimating processes, standards and best practices within the Houston office
• Recruiting, developing and mentoring additional estimating staff as the Houston team grows
• Building relationships with subcontractors, suppliers and other market participants across the Houston market
• Working closely with the VP of Estimating on overall estimating strategy and workload

You’ll Get to Expand Your Experience In

• Taking ownership of a regional estimating function
• Building and developing an estimating team from the ground up
• Leading major Texas transportation and heavy civil bids
• Highway and roadway construction
• Bridge and structural concrete projects
• Concrete and asphalt paving
• Drainage and underground utilities
• Water transmission infrastructure
• Earthwork and excavation
• Self-performed heavy civil construction
• Developing local subcontractor and supplier relationships
• Influencing bid strategy, pricing, risk and project selection
• Working directly with senior estimating and operational leadership

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience in heavy civil, heavy highway or infrastructure estimating
• Strong hard-bid estimating experience
• Proven experience estimating roadway and highway projects
• Experience with projects involving several of the following:
• Roadway construction and reconstruction
• Concrete and asphalt paving
• Bridges and structures
• Drainage and underground utilities
• Earthwork and excavation
• Water infrastructure
• Strong quantity takeoff, cost analysis and pricing skills
• A detailed understanding of construction production rates, labor, equipment and material costs
• Experience reviewing plans, specifications and contract documents
• Experience obtaining and evaluating subcontractor and supplier pricing
• Strong understanding of project risks, constructability and means and methods
• Experience working with operations and project management teams during the estimating process
• Strong computer and estimating software skills
• The leadership ability to mentor existing staff and build a high-performing estimating team
• Strong communication and presentation skills