Civil Estimator - Mass Earthwork / Utilities

Gillett Excavating•Port Huron, MI

About The Position

In just ten years, we’ve grown from a small residential startup into a company trusted to build the infrastructure that millions of people rely on every day, most of it buried underground, unseen but essential. We started by building assets; now we’re focused on building people. We believe hard work should lead to real rewards, accountability should create opportunity, and every project is a chance to raise the standard for what this industry can be. We’ve grown to a point where bidding, training, and managing the field can’t all live on one plate anymore. As our first Estimator hire, you'll take ownership so we can stay accurate, responsive, and focused on building the people side of the company. You’ll handle customer communication, review plans and specs, and price work in a way that supports project success and profitability.

Requirements

You understand the whole site package, from erosion control and demo through grading, pipe, paving, and finish work. You see how each step ties into the next and know how to apply real production rates so the numbers you bid hold up in the field.
You’re not a spreadsheet Estimator; you like to ground your numbers in the dirt. You’d rather see how production actually runs than guess from behind a screen.
You have a strong grasp of large-scale financial job costing (direct vs indirect costs, markup, overhead), and know how to price a job so it’s buildable and profitable.
You know how to read plans, interpret specs, and perform accurate takeoffs that produce quantities the field can trust.

Nice To Haves

Excel skills
Finance experience
Familiarity with Insite Elevation Pro, Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Trimble GPS, B2W, GanttPro, and/or CloudRig

Responsibilities

Ensure bids for $.5M-$6M projects in commercial and subdivision soil erosion control, demolition, mass grading, utilities, paving, and restoration are clearly defined.
Deliver realistic production goals and consistent margins with accurate quantities that translate directly to the field.
Prevent cost and constructability surprises through careful review of plans and specs to align bids with developer and municipal standards.
Compile bids through B2W, presenting clear, well-supported proposals that reflect true project value, not just the lowest price.
Sharpen future pricing, build relationships, and improve win rates through bid follow-ups and debriefs to learn how bids performed in the market.
Tighten future estimates and align field expectations by reconciling production data with bid assumptions.
Create plans that match how the work is actually built by collaborating with the PM on schedule development.
Work with a team of high performers who are hungry to grow, proud of the work they put in, and care about doing things right, not just fast. A crew that talks openly about what went wrong as often as what went right, learning from the "bummers" instead of burying them.

Benefits

Company Truck
Performance Bonus
Semi-flexible hours and days off with year-round work
A culture built on accountability, consistency, and open feedback
The owner works alongside the team, leading from the field as much as the office
A company mindset focused on growth, constantly learning, improving, and evolving together
Modern estimating and project management tools: Insite Elevation Pro, Bluebeam, PlanSwift, B2W, and GanttPro
High-end computers and software to keep performance fast and reliable
A tech-forward team that’s always looking for smarter, more efficient ways to bid and build
401(k) with 4% company match
100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees, and 50% for family
Paid bonus program tied to company and individual performance
Two weeks of paid time off