Senior Estimator & Proposal Leader - Construction

Target Hospitality; The Woodlands (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Target Hospitality seeks a Senior Estimator and Proposal Manager to lead estimating, budgeting, and proposal development for construction pursuits from early opportunity review through final submission and project handoff.

You will coordinate proposal strategy, supervise estimating resources, analyze drawings and schedules, and ensure clear, client-ready proposals. This role requires deep construction knowledge and strong leadership.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of construction estimating, preconstruction, proposal development, project management, or related industry experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent field experience considered.
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, subcontractor scopes, labor productivity, equipment, materials, general conditions, logistics, and project risk factors.
• Proven ability to lead estimates and proposals for complex construction projects, including conceptual budgets, design-build pursuits, negotiated work, hard bids, and change order pricing.
• Experience reviewing drawings, specifications, contracts, schedules, bid documents, and owner requirements to identify scope, cost, schedule, and commercial risks.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple pursuits and deadlines while maintaining accuracy, quality, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with estimating, takeoff, scheduling, proposal, or construction management software such as Bluebeam, Excel, Procore, Sage, HCSS, BuildingConnected, or similar platforms is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, bid packages, proposals, and final pricing recommendations for construction projects.
• Manage the proposal process from kickoff through submission, including pursuit strategy, responsibility assignments, schedule management, content development, pricing coordination, and quality control.
• Analyze drawings, specifications, scopes of work, schedules, site conditions, subcontractor input, and project execution assumptions to develop complete and accurate cost estimates.
• Prepare and present budget analyses, estimate summaries, risk items, exclusions, clarifications, alternates, value engineering options, and pricing recommendations for executive review.
• Provide oversight, direction, and quality control for estimators, proposal contributors, subcontractor outreach, quantity takeoffs, bid leveling, and pricing documentation.
• Coordinate with operations, project management, procurement, business development, and leadership teams to align estimates and proposals with project delivery strategy.
• Lead scope of work and schedule of services development to ensure proposal deliverables clearly define responsibilities, assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, milestones, and commercial considerations.
• Support Sr. Director of Construction, sales, and business development activities by providing estimating leadership, proposal strategy, client-facing support, and pursuit recommendations.
• Oversee project handoff from estimating and proposal development to operations, ensuring project teams understand scope, budget basis, risks, assumptions, commitments, and client requirements.
• Develop and maintain estimating tools, templates, cost history, subcontractor/vendor relationships, proposal standards, and lessons learned to improve accuracy and competitiveness.
• Assist with Project Execution Plan, Scope of Work, and Scope of Supply, and scheduling development by contributing scope strategy, staffing assumptions, logistics considerations, procurement approach, schedule inputs, and risk mitigation items.

Skills

Leadership

Proposal development

Estimating

Cost analysis

Budgeting

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management / related field

Tools

Bluebeam

Excel

Procore

Sage

HCSS

BuildingConnected

Job description

Target Hospitality seeks a Senior Estimator and Proposal Manager to lead estimating, budgeting, and proposal development for construction pursuits from early opportunity review through final submission and project handoff.

You will coordinate proposal strategy, supervise estimating resources, analyze drawings and schedules, and ensure clear, client-ready proposals. This role requires deep construction knowledge and strong leadership.