Senior Director, Preconstruction & Estimating

Unify Recruit; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Unify Recruit is seeking an experienced Preconstruction & Estimating Director to lead our Central Florida preconstruction team within a growing mechanical and specialty contracting organization. The role oversees estimating operations, departmental strategy, team development, and preconstruction activities across a diverse portfolio of projects.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in mechanical construction estimating, strong commercial judgment, and a proven ability to lead

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in construction estimating and preconstruction.
• Experience leading an estimating department or team of 5+ estimators.
• Extensive experience with mechanical and specialty contracting estimates on large projects.
• Deep knowledge of HVACR systems and related utilities.
• Strong understanding of cost estimating, labor productivity, procurement, scheduling, and constructability.
• Experience with Trimble MEP estimating software.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specs, contracts, addenda, and schedules.
• Strong commercial acumen including risk, margin, escalation, and bid strategy.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to communicate with executives, clients, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 5+ estimators, overseeing workload distribution, performance management, training, and succession planning.
• Establish consistent estimating standards, processes, procedures, quality controls, and approval workflows across branches and project types.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Develop departmental goals, KPIs, and reporting to track bid performance, estimate accuracy, productivity, risk, backlog quality, and profitability.
• Direct all phases of estimating and preconstruction for conceptual, schematic, design development, negotiated, design-build, and plan-and-spec projects.
• Oversee quantity takeoffs, labor estimates, equipment and material pricing, subcontractor coverage, general conditions, escalation, contingencies, and final estimate reviews.
• Lead bid strategy meetings, risk assessments, go/no-go decisions, and executive presentations for major project pursuits.
• Ensure estimates are accurate, competitive, well-documented, and aligned with project scope, schedules, contract requirements, and margin objectives.
• Validate estimating assumptions and exclusions and ensure effective project handoffs to operations following contract award.
• Establish change-order pricing standards and support operational teams on significant scope, schedule, and commercial matters.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating leadership

Mechanical contracting

HVAC systems

Excel proficiency

Risk assessment

Bid strategy

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Project handoffs

Team development

Tools

Trimble MEP

ERP systems

CRM software

Scheduling software

Job description

Unify Recruit is seeking an experienced Preconstruction & Estimating Director to lead our Central Florida preconstruction team within a growing mechanical and specialty contracting organization. The role oversees estimating operations, departmental strategy, team development, and preconstruction activities across a diverse portfolio of projects.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in mechanical construction estimating, strong commercial judgment, and a proven ability to lead