Pre-Construction Manager /Lead Estimator

Compri Consulting; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Compri Consulting is seeking a Preconstruction Manager / Lead Estimator for our client in Phoenix. This direct-hire, onsite role leads estimating for a range of projects.

You will own bid processes, mentor staff, and partner with BD to win work statewide. The role requires strong takeoff, scope, and pricing discipline, with a focus on accuracy and defensible estimates.

Qualifications

• Experience leading preconstruction and estimation for mixed-use or large projects.
• Ability to interpret drawings and incomplete data into defensible scope.
• Strong collaboration with BD, design teams, and clients.

Responsibilities

• Partner with BD to nurture owner/developer relationships through conceptual estimates and early pursuit.
• Lead the company’s estimator for residential, commercial, and public projects statewide.
• Lead client-facing pricing discussions; present options with confidence.
• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs for tenant improvements, ground-up, residential, and commercial.
• Interpret incomplete drawings, notes, and observations into defensible scope assumptions.
• Maintain drawing/spec/addenda control; ensure pricing is current.
• Issue bid invites and scope packages (Procore / Sage 100).
• Develop bid leveling sheets; identify gaps and inconsistencies.
• Author proposals including scope narrative, inclusions/exclusions, pricing.
• Build and maintain cost-history database (actual costs, unit rates, drivers).
• Refine estimating tools, templates, checklists, and processes.
• Identify recurring gaps and implement process improvements.
• Develop conceptual budgets from job walks and limited drawings.
• Determine early-stage pricing strategy and escalate only strategic decisions.

Skills

Lead Estimator

Bid Management

Cost Estimation

Client Communication

Mentoring Estimators

Tools

Procore

Sage 100

Job description

Compri is looking for a Preconstruction Manager / Lead Estimator for our client in Phoenix. This is a direct-hire, onsite role.

This role owns:

• Pricing accuracy and overall estimate integrity
• Scope definition, coverage, and bid-leveling quality
• Early-stage scope clarity, risk visibility, and the estimating system
• The estimating standard and mentoring of estimating staff

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with Business Development to develop and sustain owner/developer relationships through conceptual estimates, pre-job walks, and early pursuit positioning.
• Serve as the company’s lead estimator for residential, commercial, and public projects statewide.
• Lead client-facing budget, value-engineering, and design-development discussions; present pricing and options with confidence.
• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs across all project types (tenant improvement, ground-up, residential, commercial).
• Interpret incomplete drawings, field notes, and job-walk observations into defensible scope assumptions.
• Maintain rigorous drawing, specification, and addenda control; ensure pricing is never based on outdated information.
• Issue bid invitations and scope packages (Procore / Sage 100).
• Develop and own bid leveling sheets; identify gaps, overlaps, exclusions, and inconsistencies.
• Author proposals including scope narrative, inclusions/exclusions, and pricing presentation.
• Build and maintain the cost-history database (actual costs, unit rates, project conditions, variance drivers).
• Refine estimating tools, templates, leveling sheets, scope sheets, and checklists.
• Identify recurring estimating gaps and implement process improvements.
• Develop conceptual budgets from job walks, limited drawings, and verbal scope descriptions.
• Determine early-stage pricing strategy and raise only true strategic decisions to ownership.