Chief Estimator/Preconstruction Manager
About The Position
Riddle Recruitment has partnered directly with a well-established, highly respected commercial general contractor in Southern California to find their next Chief Estimator / Preconstruction Manager. This is a confidential, direct-hire search. Our client is known throughout the region for consistency, reliability, and delivering high-quality, profitable projects on time and within budget across Healthcare, Commercial, Laboratory/Technical, Industrial, Educational, Automotive, Corporate Office, and Tenant Improvement construction. This leadership role owns the estimating and preconstruction process end-to-end; from conceptual budgeting and value engineering through final bid submission and contract award - while mentoring estimating staff, strengthening subcontractor and client relationships, and helping pursue new business. We're looking for a collaborative, hands-on leader with sharp technical skills, strong business acumen, and a passion for profitable, high-quality projects.
Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of commercial construction estimating experience, including at least 5 years in a senior estimating leadership role.
- Extensive experience estimating Healthcare, Commercial, Laboratory, Educational, Corporate Office, Tenant Improvement, and other commercial construction projects.
- Expert knowledge of blueprint reading, specifications, quantity take-offs, constructability reviews, and commercial construction means and methods.
- Advanced proficiency with ProEst, Bluebeam, Building Connected, and Microsoft Excel.
- Strong understanding of conceptual estimating, GMP development, negotiated work, design-build delivery, and hard-bid procurement, with a proven track record of winning bid strategies and managing multiple high-value pursuits at once.
- Demonstrated success in cost control, value engineering, budgeting, pricing strategy, and risk analysis, backed by excellent negotiation, leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
- Ability to build lasting relationships with clients, design teams, subcontractors, and internal teams, with exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, and the composure to perform under tight deadlines.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud is a plus.
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred (or equivalent industry experience).
Responsibilities
- Lead, manage, mentor, and develop the estimating team through coaching, training, and performance feedback, with a collaborative leadership style.
- Establish estimating standards, procedures, and quality-control measures; assign workload and priorities across multiple concurrent pursuits to meet critical bid deadlines.
- Conduct estimate review meetings and give final approval on all estimates prior to submission.
- Continuously improve estimating processes, cost databases, historical cost information, and subcontractor relationships to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.
- Lead the complete estimating process - conceptual, schematic, design-development, GMP, and lump-sum estimates - reviewing drawings, specs, and contract documents to interpret scope and identify risk.
- Develop comprehensive cost estimates and detailed quantity take-offs using ProEst, Bluebeam, Building Connected, Excel, and other industry-standard tools.
- Develop competitive, profitable bid strategies; lead constructability reviews and value-engineering analyses to find cost savings without compromising quality.
- Evaluate project risks, recommend contingencies, identify pricing opportunities, and assist with early procurement planning for long-lead materials.
- Participate in pre-bid meetings and job walks; create CSI bid-package scoping documents; issue and manage RFIs to resolve plan discrepancies and scheduling issues.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, owners, and consultants.
- Solicit, evaluate, and negotiate proposals for the best overall value; review scopes, qualifications, and exclusions to ensure complete bid coverage and quickly diagnose errors.
- Participate in client interviews, project presentations, preconstruction meetings, and industry events, clarifying project requirements, budgets, and expectations along the way.
- Collaborate with Project Managers, Operations, Marketing, and Executive Leadership on RFQs, RFPs, design-build, negotiated, and hard-bid pursuits.
- Support post-bid buyouts and a seamless project turnover to operations, and analyze completed-project costs to sharpen future estimating accuracy.
- Ensure all estimates align with company profitability goals; monitor market trends, labor rates, and material pricing.
- Evaluate contract terms, insurance, and bonding requirements; support change-order pricing and budget updates throughout the project lifecycle.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable codes, regulations, and company standards.
Benefits
- 401(k) matching
- Health, Dental, Vision insurance
- Paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
