Estimating Manager, Architectural Specialties Job

Armstrong World Industries • Lancaster, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Arktura LLC, a subsidiary of Armstrong World Industries, is seeking an Estimating Manager for its Architectural Specialties division. This role is crucial for the company's profitable growth, focusing on leading and managing the estimating team to deliver accurate and high-quality bids. The position involves managing daily project intake and output, establishing department standards, and coordinating quoting activities with internal departments such as design/engineering, project management, and manufacturing operations. The company culture is supportive, recognizing employees as key players in Armstrong's future, offering a blend of large company resources with a local feel. Arktura LLC is a published company headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of façade systems, interior wall and ceiling systems, and custom art installations using state-of-the-art equipment in a 100,000 sq ft facility.

Requirements

• Expert ability to read blueprints and construction documents.
• Advanced knowledge of manufactured materials and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced knowledge of product assembly and product part-detailing.
• Advanced knowledge of AutoCAD/Rhino or other drafting software.
• Effective communication skills: Daily phone use with internal and external contacts, daily email formatting, writing, and use with internal and external contacts, daily office, intra and inter-departmental interactions.
• Strong general computer-based skills: File creation, formatting, and organization; navigating between various software fluidly and regularly; navigating websites and browser-based software/commands fluidly and regularly.
• Strong computer software & Microsoft Office skills: Basic understanding and use of Adobe PDF, Excel, Outlook, and Word creation, formatting, and editing.
• Software expertise: CRM, NetSuite, Brandfolder, and various other assigned or prescribed programs.
• Ability to model appropriate conduct.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• 5+ years’ AutoCAD experience.
• 2-5 years’ Rhino experience.
• 5+ years’ experience reading blueprint and/or construction documents.
• Experience in any aspect of the construction industry.
• Experience in any estimating management role.

Nice To Haves

• college degree preferred

Responsibilities

• Maintains internal databases designating standard/modified products with associated costs.
• Reviews inter-departmentally and provides guidance to Estimates Team.
• Manages, coordinates, and maintains accurate SKUs, Bom’s and sub-assemblies.
• Maintains, reviews, and coordinates costs/resources associated with project engineering levels and reports those back to the National Sales Director.
• Maintains CRM compatibility and process with current project portfolio.
• Reviews net price and costs on zero-dollar invoices.
• Processes recut costs.
• Reports to Finance and Production for re-work & quality evaluation.
• Reviews purchase orders and manages price increases to uphold acceptable margins.
• Coordinates with Production and Procurement; reports back to the National Sales Director.
• Maintains, creates, and tracks discount/promotion rates, reports to the National Sales Director.
• Registers and maintains SOPs for national discounts on distributor accounts.
• Maintains project status report for subcontractors, coordinates with Account Management & Design/Engineering Departments and reports to National Sales Director.
• Creates forecasts & plans based on sales forecast, historical usage, and product trends.
• Creates and maintains Estimates pricing guide including SKU organization.
• Creates and maintains “canned responses” for consistent external communications.
• Coordinates requests for quotes (RFQ) and other customer service requests from various platforms.
• Creates projects, leads, opportunities in CRM from RFQs.
• Creates and maintains project folder on company server by capturing essential project details and records of various formats.
• Conducts daily Initial Quote Review Meetings to qualify and register incoming projects.
• Processes daily RFQ’s into “ready to go” (R2G) formatted summarization for Estimates queue for assignment.
• Coordinates scope development meetings with the Architectural Project Management & Project Coordination Teams.
• Manages Quickship intake requests + POF’s.
• Maintains acceptable lead time for RFQ by prioritizing deadlines provided from Sales Representatives and 3rd Party clientele through coordination with Project Coordination & National Sales Director.
• Reviews and coordinates the prioritization of expediting requests for revisions (RFR).
• Maintains subcontractor and contact database for Sales Representatives.
• Reviews and creates sales distribution lists in conjunction with the National Sales Director.
• Reviews and maintains “can we do it” (CWDI) database; reports to the National Sales Director, Design/Engineering, Product Development, and Marketing.
• Coordinates the “need versus marketability” of new product requests based on market analysis for custom products and alternative specifications.
• Reviews new products before product launches with Product Development & Marketing.
• Creates and maintains accurate SOPs; trains/coordinates inter-departmentally.
• Manages and maintains the project hand-off process and standards between Estimates and Design Teams for optimal lead time; reports to Design Director and Vice President, AS Brand Companies.
• Participates in meetings for assigning account managers to Sales Representative territories; provides guidance on best overall relationships for the company and the Sales Representatives.
• Trains new Estimators through scheduled onboarding, role specific Udemy courses, Company policies and project processes.
• Trains all Estimators in revised or new company policies & processes.
• Train Sales Representatives on company project policies & processes.
• Creates, registers, and maintains SOPs for national standard accounts.
• Creates, reviews, and maintains AutoCAD automated drafting script (LISP) files.
• Creates and maintains project reports for individual employee’s estimating records.
• Manages Estimates Department schedule via scheduling/booking software & coordinating with Project Management, Sales Coordination, and Sales Representatives.
• Leads department discussions regarding policies and processes.
• Leads monthly “lunch/learn” sessions, highlighting continuing education topics & discussions.
• Mentors Estimate Team through their daily roles and tasks.
• Manages, reviews, and trains Sales Representatives in current Estimate processes.
• Trains visitors to headquarters and provides facility tours.
• Creates, reviews, and maintains external price list for Sales Representatives.
• Creates, reviews, and maintains internal price list including SKU updates.
• Creates an environment that encourages ethical behavior and open communication.
• Teach and empower our teams by ensuring that they have knowledge, training, and resources necessary to follow the law and the Code of Conduct.
• Prevents problems and reports issues within Estimates and other departments.
• Approves individual contributor paid time off for AS Estimating Supervisors.
• Oversees individual contributor goals and coordinate Estimates Team goals.
• Creates and maintain department goals.
• Creates and maintains department policies.
• Creates and maintains department standards of practice.
• Manages department announcements & changes of policies.
• Manages department expectations both internally & externally.
• Provides feedback on all Estimator documentation.
• Provides feedback and/or corrections to ALL projects via the internal Slack channels.
• Provides approval to ALL projects via the internal Slack channels.
• Provides feedback and answers to questions via the internal FAQ Slack channels.
• Provides inter-departmental guidance and feedback through internal Slack channels.

Benefits

• 401k with employee match
• robust health care options
• paid time off
• professional development
• casual dress code
• free snacks
• quarterly events
• community service activities
• access to 100’s of discounts, specialty savings and voluntary benefits through LifeMart such as car and hotel rentals and auto, home, and pet insurance, legal services, and childcare
• Employee Resource Groups

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED