Senior Estimator

Foster Lawson; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Foster Lawson is seeking an experienced estimator/preconstruction professional to develop and implement project and bid strategies for healthcare, residential, and other complex construction projects across the Bay Area. You will work with project teams, owners, architects, and subcontractors to create competitive estimates and identify opportunities and risks to drive growth.

Key responsibilities include leading bid strategy meetings, preparing budgets and estimates, and analyzing project

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• Experience estimating construction projects or relevant preconstruction experience.
• Experience with a General Contractor preferred.
• Healthcare, residential, commercial, or other complex construction projects experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, subcontractor scopes, labor, materials, general conditions, and project logistics.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Familiarity with Bay Area costs, subcontractor markets, and California construction requirements preferred.
• Healthcare construction experience including occupied facilities, phasing, infection control, and shutdown coordination.
• Proficiency with estimating and construction software such as Bluebeam, Procore, Sage Estimating, or similar platforms preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with owners, architects, subcontractors, and internal project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Attend project and bid meetings and develop and execute comprehensive bid strategies.
• Prepare accurate, thorough, and timely conceptual, budget, and hard-bid cost estimates.
• Analyze project proposals, drawings, specifications, and other bid documents to develop detailed budgets and estimates.
• Solicit, level, and analyze subcontractor and vendor proposals and identify scope gaps, exclusions, and cost risk.
• Develop and maintain detailed historical cost data to improve estimating accuracy and support future project pursuits.
• Evaluate project scope, schedule, phasing, logistics, and general conditions to identify key cost drivers and potential risk.
• Collaborate with project management and operations teams to incorporate lessons learned and historical project performance into future estimates.
• Support the development of value engineering and cost-saving opportunities while maintaining project quality and client objectives.
• Participate in client, architect, and subcontractor meetings throughout the preconstruction and bidding process.
• Assist in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities within the Bay Area healthcare and residential construction market.

Skills

Estimating proficiency

Reading drawings

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Project coordination

Time management

Problem solving

Bay Area cost awareness

Healthcare construction understanding

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture

Tools

Bluebeam

Procore

Sage Estimating

Job description

The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing project and bid strategies for healthcare, residential, and other complex construction projects throughout the Bay Area. This role will work closely with project teams, owners, architects, and subcontractors to develop competitive and accurate estimates while identifying opportunities and risks that support successful project pursuits and company growth.

Responsibilitie

• sAttend project and bid meetings and develop and execute comprehensive bid strategie
• sPrepare accurate, thorough, and timely conceptual, budget, and hard-bid cost estimate
• sAnalyze project proposals, drawings, specifications, and other bid documents to develop detailed budgets and estimate
• sSolicit, level, and analyze subcontractor and vendor proposals and identify scope gaps, exclusions, and cost risk
• sDevelop and maintain detailed historical cost data to improve estimating accuracy and support future project pursuit
• sEvaluate project scope, schedule, phasing, logistics, and general conditions to identify key cost drivers and potential risk
• sCollaborate with project management and operations teams to incorporate lessons learned and historical project performance into future estimate
• sSupport the development of value engineering and cost-saving opportunities while maintaining project quality and client objective
• sParticipate in client, architect, and subcontractor meetings throughout the preconstruction and bidding proces
• sAssist in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities within the Bay Area healthcare and residential construction market

Qualificatio

• nsBachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related fie
• ldExperience estimating construction projects or relevant engineering/preconstruction experien
• ceExperience with a General Contractor preferr
• edExperience with healthcare, residential, commercial, or other complex construction projects strongly preferr
• edStrong understanding of construction means and methods, subcontractor scopes, labor, materials, general conditions, and project logisti
• csAbility to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contract documen
• tsStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to deta
• ilFamiliarity with Bay Area construction costs, subcontractor markets, and California construction requirements preferr
• edHealthcare construction experience, including occupied facilities, phasing, infection control, and shutdown coordination, is a pl
• usProficiency with estimating and construction software such as Bluebeam, Procore, Sage Estimating, or similar platforms is preferr
• edStrong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with owners, architects, subcontractors, and internal project tea
• msAbility to manage multiple estimates and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environme