Senior Estimator

Canient Search Partners; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Fort Worth area general contractor, partnered with Canient Search Partners, is seeking a Senior Estimator to own major commercial pursuits from conceptual budgeting to final bid. You will collaborate with preconstruction leadership, operations, owners, architects, and subcontractors to craft competitive strategies that position the company to win.

This role requires deep experience in ground-up commercial projects, risk assessment, and value engineering, with a track record of guiding pursuits

Qualifications

• 4+ years of commercial construction estimating/preconstruction experience.
• Strong experience estimating ground-up commercial projects.
• Demonstrated success leading significant project pursuits.
• Strong conceptual estimating and cost-modeling capabilities.
• Excellent understanding of subcontractor markets and current construction costs.
• Strong knowledge of constructability, scheduling, procurement, and value engineering.
• Ability to evaluate risk rather than simply price what's shown on the drawings.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Leadership ability and willingness to mentor less-experienced estimators.

Responsibilities

• Lead estimating efforts for large and complex commercial projects.
• Develop conceptual and detailed estimates from early design through construction documents.
• Establish pursuit and bidding strategies.
• Analyze drawings, specifications, subcontractor coverage, and market conditions.
• Lead bid reviews and present recommendations to company leadership.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability issues, cost exposure, and schedule risks.
• Develop value-engineering alternatives that provide meaningful solutions to clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors and suppliers.
• Partner closely with operations to ensure a smooth transition from preconstruction into construction.
• Participate in owner and architect meetings, presentations, and project interviews.
• Assist with procurement and buyout strategies.
• Mentor and develop junior estimators.
• Help improve estimating systems, processes, and best practices.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Preconstruction

Bid strategy

Risk assessment

Mentoring

Stakeholder communication

Ground-up construction

Job description

We are partnering with a well-established, highly respected Texas general contractor to identify an experienced Senior Estimator for its Fort Worth team.

This is an opportunity to join a contractor with a strong reputation, long-standing client relationships, and a healthy pipeline of commercial work throughout North Texas. The company has built its success around doing quality work, maintaining its relationships, and creating an environment where employees can build long-term careers.

Unlike larger corporate contractors where estimators can become just another number, this position offers direct access to senior leadership and meaningful influence over which projects the company pursues and how they are won.

The Opportunity

The Senior Estimator will take ownership of significant commercial pursuits from early conceptual budgeting through final bid. You will work closely with preconstruction leadership, operations, owners, architects, subcontractors, and business development to develop competitive strategies and position the company to win the right projects.

This is more than a quantity takeoff role. We are looking for someone who understands how to win work while protecting margin and identifying risk.

What You'll Do

• Lead estimating efforts for large and complex commercial projects
• Develop conceptual and detailed estimates from early design through construction documents
• Establish pursuit and bidding strategies
• Analyze drawings, specifications, subcontractor coverage, and market conditions
• Lead bid reviews and present recommendations to company leadership
• Identify scope gaps, constructability issues, cost exposure, and schedule risks
• Develop value-engineering alternatives that provide meaningful solutions to clients
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors and suppliers
• Partner closely with operations to ensure a smooth transition from preconstruction into construction
• Participate in owner and architect meetings, presentations, and project interviews
• Assist with procurement and buyout strategiesMentor and develop junior estimators
• Help improve estimating systems, processes, and best practices

What We're Looking For

• 4+ years of commercial construction estimating/preconstruction experience
• Strong experience estimating ground-up commercial projects
• Demonstrated success leading significant project pursuits
• Strong conceptual estimating and cost-modeling capabilities
• Excellent understanding of subcontractor markets and current construction costs
• Strong knowledge of constructability, scheduling, procurement, and value engineering
• Ability to evaluate risk rather than simply price what's shown on the drawings
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Leadership ability and willingness to mentor less-experienced estimators

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Strong North Texas Presence - Join an established contractor with deep relationships and a recognizable reputation in the DFW construction market.

Quality Project Pipeline - Work on meaningful commercial projects rather than chasing every opportunity that hits the street.

Access to Leadership - Senior estimators have a voice in pursuit strategy and work directly with company decision-makers.

Career Stability - This is an organization focused on long-term relationships with its employees, clients, architects, and subcontractors.

Opportunity to Lead - You'll have the ability to influence estimating strategy, mentor others, and help shape the continued growth of the preconstruction department.

Operations Partnership - Estimating and operations work together from pursuit through turnover, giving you visibility into how projects actually perform after award.

We are interested in speaking with estimators who know the DFW commercial construction market, enjoy pursuing challenging projects, and want to play an important role in helping a respected contractor continue to grow.