Pre-Construction Manager /Lead Estimator

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Phoenix, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Compri is hiring a Preconstruction Manager / Lead Estimator for a direct-hire, onsite role in Phoenix. The candidate will own pricing accuracy, scope, and bid-leveling, while mentoring the estimating staff and developing the estimating system.

The role requires leading client discussions, takingoffs across diverse project types, and maintaining control of drawings, addenda, and pricing. Proposals, cost-history data, and tools will be advanced to ensure competitive, defensible bids.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in construction estimating and preconstruction.
• Ability to interpret drawings and specs to develop defensible scope.
• Experience leading a team of estimators.
• Proficiency with Procore and Sage 100 for bid packages.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Business Development to build owner relationships through estimates.
• Serve as lead estimator for statewide residential, commercial, and public projects.
• Lead client-facing budget, value-engineering, and design-development discussions; present pricing and options with confidence.
• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs across tenant improvements, ground-up, residential, and commercial projects.
• Interpret incomplete drawings, field notes, and observations into defensible scope assumptions.
• Maintain drawing/spec/addenda control; ensure pricing isn’t based on outdated information.
• Issue bid invitations and scope packages (Procore / Sage 100).
• Develop and own bid leveling sheets; identify gaps and inconsistencies.
• Author proposals including scope narrative, inclusions/exclusions, and pricing presentation.
• Build and maintain the cost-history database (actual costs, unit rates, 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 and limited drawings.

Skills

Pricing accuracy

Bid management

Takeoffs

Client-facing

Mentoring

Procore

Tools

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 escalate only true strategic decisions to ownership.