Manager, Commercial Estimating, LVS

Vertiv; Anderson (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv is seeking a Commercial Estimating Manager to lead the estimating team through quotation and sales, focusing on Low Voltage Switchgear, Switchboards, Panelboards, and Busway. You will guide cost engineering, coach engineers, and ensure timely, accurate estimates that support competitive pricing and strong proposals.

The role collaborates across Sales, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to improve estimating accuracy, tools, and processes while maintaining customer-focused quote

Qualifications

• 10+ years in electrical power distribution, including estimating and cost engineering.
• 3+ years of people management experience leading managers or multiple technical teams.
• Experience with low voltage/medium voltage switchgear, switchboards, busway.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Commercial Estimating team to deliver clear, concise estimates aligned with RFPs and customer requirements.
• Oversee cost estimating, equipment selections, and technical calculations for LV/MV switchgear and busway.
• Ensure consistent use of the Quote Configurator and estimating tools to provide accurate quote support.
• Assist in hiring, interviewing, onboarding, and developing Cost Engineers.
• Coach and mentor Cost Engineers to improve technical development, workload prioritization, and productivity.
• Participate in performance reviews and provide feedback on estimating accuracy and customer responsiveness.
• Review customer specs and scope documents to align estimates with profitability and schedules.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to resolve costing questions during quotation.
• Drive continuous improvement of estimating standards, tools, and process documentation.
• Maintain a positive team culture aligned with safety, integrity, quality, and productivity.

Skills

Leadership

Cost analysis

Technical guidance

Communication

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

Estimating software

Cost models

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Commercial Estimating Manager provides leadership, technical guidance, and cost analysis support to the Commercial Estimating team throughout the quotation and sales process, with a focus on Low Voltage Switchgear, Switchboards, Panelboards, and Busway. This position is responsible for managing Commercial Estimating activities, ensuring accurate and timely estimates, supporting competitive pricing, and maintaining technically sound proposals that meet customer requirements. The Commercial Estimating Manager assists with hiring new Cost Engineers, supports onboarding and training, provides ongoing coaching and mentoring, and participates in performance reviews and evaluations. This role collaborates with Sales, Application Engineering, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to improve estimating accuracy, strengthen cost tools and processes, support team development, and drive consistent, customer-focused quote execution.

Position Summary

The Commercial Estimating Manager provides leadership, technical guidance, and cost analysis support to the Commercial Estimating team throughout the quotation and sales process, with a focus on Low Voltage Switchgear, Switchboards, Panelboards, and Busway. This position is responsible for managing Commercial Estimating activities, ensuring accurate and timely estimates, supporting competitive pricing, and maintaining technically sound proposals that meet customer requirements. The Commercial Estimating Manager assists with hiring new Cost Engineers, supports onboarding and training, provides ongoing coaching and mentoring, and participates in performance reviews and evaluations. This role collaborates with Sales, Application Engineering, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to improve estimating accuracy, strengthen cost tools and processes, support team development, and drive consistent, customer-focused quote execution.

Responsibilities

• Manage and guide the Commercial Estimating team in developing clear, concise, technically sound, and cost-effective solutions for customer review and acceptance based on customer requirements and RFPs.
• Oversee cost estimating activities, equipment selections, and technical calculations to support Low Voltage Switchgear, Switchboards, Panelboards, and Busway applications.
• Ensure the Quote Configurator and related estimating tools are applied consistently to provide accurate, complete, and timely quote support.
• Assist in the hiring process for new Cost Engineers, including candidate evaluation, interview support, and selection recommendations.
• Lead onboarding and training for new Cost Engineers to ensure proper understanding of products, estimating processes, tools, customer requirements, and internal workflows.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and day-to-day guidance to Cost Engineers to support technical development, workload prioritization, quality, accountability, and productivity.
• Participate in performance reviews and evaluations for Cost Engineers, providing feedback on technical performance, estimating accuracy, customer responsiveness, teamwork, and professional development.
• Review customer technical specifications, one-lines, scope documents, and project requirements to ensure cost estimates align with customer expectations while optimizing profitability and schedule commitments.
• Collaborate with Sales, Application Engineering, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and customers to resolve cost, scope, pricing, and technical questions throughout the quotation process.
• Drive continuous improvement of Commercial Estimating standards, estimating practices, quote tools, and process documentation.
• Maintain a positive, progressive, and productive team culture aligned with reliability, accountability, safety, integrity, quality, and productivity objectives; perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 10+ years of experience in electrical power distribution, including commercial estimating, cost engineering, application engineering, or technical proposals.
• 3+ years of people management experience, including experience leading managers or multiple technical teams.
• Working knowledge of medium voltage and low voltage switchgear, switchboards, panelboards, busway, or related power distribution equipment.
• Ability to interpret one-line diagrams, technical specifications, RFPs, and project scope documents and translate them into complete, accurate cost estimates.
• Experience managing estimating priorities, quote quality, and turnaround times across multiple product lines and customer opportunities.
• Strong understanding of equipment costs, labor assumptions, supplier quotations, and the factors that affect proposal profitability and delivery commitments.
• Demonstrated ability to coach technical leaders, develop team capability, and work effectively with Sales, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience estimating engineered-to-order switchgear, busway, or integrated skid solutions for data center or industrial applications.
• Familiarity with UL 1558, UL 891, UL 67 equipment standards.
• Experience improving quote configurators, cost models, estimating data, or quotation processes.
• Experience supporting high-volume quotation activity across multiple manufacturing locations.

Preferred

PHYSICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

• No specific demands.

Time Travel Required

• 5-10%

About Us

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv’s Core Principles & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES:

Safety. Integrity. Respect . Teamwork. Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• High-Performance Culture
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS

• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer-first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 34,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to [e-mail]