Preconstruction Manager / Lead Estimator – Commercial Construction

Growth Solutions Team; Washington (District of Columbia); In loco; USD 100.000 - 165.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

401(k)

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Descrizione del lavoro

Growth Solutions Team is seeking a hands-on Preconstruction Manager / Lead Estimator in the Baltimore area. You will personally develop estimates and drive bid strategies, working with subcontractors and suppliers to produce accurate budgets and competitive proposals.

The role emphasizes leadership, ownership, and strategic input into how projects are pursued, priced, negotiated, and delivered. Strong experience with design-build and VE is highly valued.

Competenze

• 5–8 years of commercial construction estimating or preconstruction experience with a general contractor.
• Ability to independently prepare conceptual budgets, detailed takeoffs, and complete bid-level estimates.
• Experience soliciting, analyzing, and leveling subcontractor and supplier bids.
• Experience reviewing the work of or mentoring a junior estimator.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, subcontractor scopes, cost estimating, and commercial construction methods.
• Experience with design-build projects, value engineering, and cost management throughout design development.

Mansioni

• Develop conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, and competitive bids for commercial construction projects.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and analyze costs across labor, material, equipment, subcontractors, and general conditions.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier bidding, bid packages, pricing, and responses.
• Review and level subcontractor bids, resolve scope discrepancies, and qualify trade partners.
• Collaborate with architects/engineers to align design decisions with budgets.
• Identify value engineering opportunities to improve cost efficiency.

Conoscenze

Estimating leadership

Takeoffs & budgets

Bid package management

Subcontractor management

Design-build / value engineering

Analytical thinking

Communication with clients

Microsoft Excel

Formazione

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management/Engineering/Architecture

Strumenti

Bluebeam

PlanSwift

On-Screen Takeoff

Procore

Sage Estimating

Descrizione del lavoro

Baltimore, Maryland Area | Confidential Search

$100,000–$165,000 Base Salary | Full-Time | Direct Hire

Lead the Estimating Process. Shape Projects. Drive Results.

We have been engaged by an established Baltimore-area commercial construction company to identify an experienced Preconstruction Manager / Lead Estimator who combines strong hands-on estimating capabilities with leadership, strategic thinking, and relationship-building skills.

This is not a position where you simply oversee an estimating department. You will serve as the company's primary estimator, personally developing estimates, working directly with subcontractors and suppliers, and managing opportunities from initial evaluation through bid submission and project award.

The ideal candidate enjoys the technical aspects of estimating but also wants to influence how projects are pursued, priced, negotiated, and delivered. Experience with design-build construction and value engineering is particularly important.

This opportunity offers the chance to work directly with company leadership, exercise considerable ownership, and make a measurable impact on profitability and future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary estimator, developing conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, and competitive bids for commercial construction projects.


• Perform quantity takeoffs and analyze labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, general conditions, and markup costs.


• Personally manage subcontractor and supplier bidding, including developing bid packages, soliciting pricing, following up on proposals, and evaluating responses.


• Analyze and level subcontractor bids, resolve scope discrepancies, and qualify trade partners.


• Review construction drawings and specifications to identify scope gaps, constructability challenges, and potential cost risks.


• Work with architects, engineers, and project teams during design development to maintain alignment between design decisions and construction budgets.


• Identify value engineering opportunities, alternative materials, and construction methods that improve cost efficiency.


• Prepare proposals and clarifications, participate in preconstruction meetings, and present and defend estimates to clients.

Bid Strategy & Business Development

• Collaborate with company leadership to develop competitive bid strategies that support profitability objectives.


• Evaluate project opportunities, identify risks, and participate in go/no-go decisions.


• Coordinate with operations teams to ensure proposed projects can be successfully executed.


• Participate in post-bid reviews, client discussions, and negotiations.


• Monitor construction market conditions, subcontractor pricing, competitor activity, and industry trends.


• Build relationships with owners, developers, architects, subcontractors, and suppliers to support future project opportunities.


• Represent the company at industry networking events, trade association meetings, and other business development activities.

Estimating Leadership & Process Improvement

• Provide hands-on guidance, technical support, and mentoring to a junior estimator.


• Establish and maintain consistent estimating standards, templates, checklists, and review procedures.


• Review estimates for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with company profitability goals.


• Recommend improvements to estimating practices and preconstruction processes.


• Maintain visibility into all active project opportunities, including estimates prepared by project managers or other team members.


• Manage and maintain accurate records in Pipedrive CRM, including opportunity stages, projected values, bid deadlines, probabilities, and win/loss information.


• Lead monthly pipeline reviews with management to evaluate upcoming opportunities, estimate workload, bid deadlines, and go/no-go decisions.


• Prepare reports on bid volume, hit rates, backlog, and projected revenue.


• Track new contacts, business development activities, and follow-up commitments.

Project Handoff & Cost Management

• Coordinate with project management to ensure awarded projects transition smoothly from estimating into construction.


• Provide complete estimates, subcontractor bid information, and accurate budgets and cost codes for project setup.


• Maintain historical construction cost data and evaluate completed project costs against original estimates to improve future pricing accuracy.

Required Qualifications

• 5–8 years of commercial construction estimating or preconstruction experience with a general contractor, including direct responsibility for developing and completing estimates.


• Demonstrated ability to independently prepare conceptual budgets, detailed takeoffs, and complete bid-level estimates.


• Extensive experience soliciting, analyzing, and leveling subcontractor and supplier bids.


• Experience reviewing the work of or mentoring a junior estimator.


• Strong understanding of construction documents, subcontractor scopes, cost estimating, and commercial construction methods.


• Experience with design-build projects, value engineering, and cost management throughout design development.


• Proficiency with estimating and takeoff tools such as Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Screen Takeoff, Procore, Sage Estimating, or similar platforms.


• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.


• Ability to manage multiple concurrent estimates, deadlines, and project opportunities.


• Comfortable using CRM or pipeline management systems and maintaining accurate opportunity information.


• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with clients, architects, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal project teams.


• Willingness to participate in industry networking and relationship-development activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with a smaller or mid-sized commercial general contractor where estimating responsibilities are broad and hands‑on.


• Experience with pre‑engineered metal buildings (PEMB), structural steel, or related metal construction systems.


• Familiarity with commercial, institutional, government, or specialty construction projects.


• Working knowledge of public and private construction bidding in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, or Delaware.


• Established familiarity with regional subcontractors and suppliers.


• Experience administering Pipedrive or a similar CRM platform.


• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Hands-on leadership: Remain directly involved in estimating while mentoring another estimator and influencing company practices.


• Meaningful ownership: Manage the full preconstruction process rather than working on only one portion of larger projects.


• Direct leadership access: Work closely with decision-makers and have a voice in bid strategy, project selection, and business growth.


• Broader influence: Contribute beyond estimating through client relationships, market intelligence, process improvement, and pipeline management.


• Varied responsibilities: Combine technical estimating, design-build collaboration, strategic planning, and team development.


• Professional impact: Join an established commercial contractor where your experience can directly influence project success and profitability.

If you're an experienced construction estimator who enjoys taking ownership, leading preconstruction activities, and making a measurable impact on project profitability, we encourage you to apply.

• 401(k)


• Health insurance


• Paid time off


• Vision insurance