Senior Estimator (Vertical Construction)

Trueline; Lisbon (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

PTO

WFH flexibility

Job summary

Trueline in Maryland is seeking a Senior Estimator - General Contracting to own the complete GC estimating process from early budgeting through final bid.

You will develop conceptual, schematic, design-development, and hard-bid estimates, perform detailed takeoffs, review drawings and contracts, and build strong subcontractor relationships across Maryland, DC, and Virginia while helping shape preconstruction workflows.

Qualifications

• Strong GC estimating experience.
• Independent estimator able to own proposals.
• Understanding of means, methods, and pricing.
• Experience soliciting subcontractor bids.

Responsibilities

• Own GC estimates from budgeting through final bid.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and pricing.
• Review drawings, specifications, contracts, addenda.
• Solicit, review, level, and negotiate subcontractor bids.
• Develop clear scopes, exclusions, and clarifications.

Skills

Estimator experience

Excel proficiency

Takeoff capability

Bid management

Communication skills

Autonomy

On-site work

Tools

Bluebeam

Vista Viewpoint

ProContractor

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Estimator - General Contracting to join the team in Maryland. This is a hands‑on opportunity to become the company's primary dedicated estimator, take ownership of complete GC estimates, and help build a more formal preconstruction function as the business continues to grow.

What You'll Do as the Senior Estimator - General Contracting:

• Own General Contracting estimates from early budgeting through final bid
• Develop conceptual, schematic, design-development, negotiated, GMP, and hard-bid estimates
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and pricing
• Review drawings, specifications, contracts, addenda, and bid documents
• Solicit, review, level, and negotiate subcontractor and vendor proposals
• Develop clear scopes, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications
• Evaluate labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor costs, and general conditions
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, project risks, and value-engineering opportunities
• Support bid strategy and go/no-go decisions
• Participate in project turnover from preconstruction to Operations after award
• Maintain and improve historical pricing and cost information
• Build repeatable estimating workflows and standards
• Improve estimating consistency, accuracy, and internal communication
• Develop and maintain cost databases
• Conduct bid post-mortems and evaluate estimating performance
• Recommend improvements to estimating technology and process
• Help establish stronger preconstruction meetings and handoff procedures
• Build and maintain strong subcontractor and supplier relationships throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia
• Expand the company's trade‑partner network
• Maintain awareness of local pricing, market conditions, and subcontractor capacity
• Support smaller metal fabrication estimates during lighter GC bid periods when appropriate
• Contribute to light business-development and market outreach as needed
• Help determine future estimating and preconstruction staffing needs as the department grows

Must-Haves as the Senior Estimator - General Contracting:

• Strong commercial General Contractor estimating experience
• Ability to independently produce complete estimates without relying on a Chief Estimator
• Strong understanding of construction means, methods, sequencing, scopes, and pricing
• Experience soliciting and leveling subcontractor bids
• Ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines simultaneously
• Strong Excel skills
• Hands‑on takeoff and estimating capability
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills
• Ability to work autonomously in a smaller contractor environment
• Comfort working in an organization where every process may not already be formalized
• Willingness to challenge and improve existing processes constructively
• Ability to work primarily onsite in Woodbine, Maryland

Nice-to-Haves as the Senior Estimator - General Contracting:

• 7-15+ years of GC estimating or preconstruction experience
• Maryland, DC, or Northern Virginia market experience
• Existing local subcontractor relationships
• Government or federal estimating experience
• Davis‑Bacon or prevailing wage experience
• Commercial tenant improvement experience
• Commercial fit‑out experience
• Occupied renovation experience
• Historic renovation experience
• Higher education or institutional construction experience
• Secure facility experience
• Healthcare experience
• Gaming or hospitality construction experience
• Sacred‑space or church construction experience
• Design‑build experience
• Negotiated work experience
• Conceptual budgeting experience
• Experience improving estimating systems or processes
• Structural steel or miscellaneous metals estimating exposure
• Vista Viewpoint experience
• ProContractor experience
• Bluebeam experience

Benefits Offered:

• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Senior‑level discretionary bonuses have historically ranged approximately $5,000-$20,000 depending on contribution and performance
• Medical insurance with approximately 80% of employee‑only premium currently paid by the company
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
401(k) with company match
• PTO with flexibility for senior hires
• Professional hires often start around three weeks of PTO
• Situational work‑from‑home flexibility
• Potential car allowance or company vehicle under consideration
• Direct access to executive leadership
• High level of autonomy and visibility
• Opportunity to become the company's primary dedicated estimator
• Ability to shape estimating and preconstruction processes
• Opportunity to influence technology selection and workflow
• Potential to build and eventually lead a larger estimating team
• Established family‑owned company with strong recurring client relationships
• Small‑company environment with meaningful impact and limited bureaucracy

Trueline and its clients are unabashed equal‑opportunity employers committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome smart and ambitious applicants and recruit, refer, hire, place, and promote without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.