Estimator, Cost

Gray Ohio Valley•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Gray Ohio Valley is looking to hire a Cost Estimator for their Versailles, KY office. Gray is a fully integrated design-builder delivering end-to-end solutions across construction, professional services, specialty equipment, and real estate. Since 1960, Gray has grown from a regional contractor to a nationally ranked industry leader, serving top domestic and international companies in the Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Data Centers, Advanced Technology, and Distribution markets. Their integrated approach allows them to deliver value at every phase of a project. The company culture is built on teamwork, accountability, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, with a focus on personal growth preceding company growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, Building Science, or a related field, combined with a minimum of 5–10 years of dedicated pre-construction and estimating experience. An equivalent blend of extensive field experience and technical training will also be considered.
Proven track record of successfully estimating large-scale commercial or industrial projects (ideally ranging from $10M to $50M+), with specific experience in Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, and Distribution sectors.
Deep understanding of the design-build delivery method, with the ability to build accurate conceptual budgets from napkin sketches or minimal schematic design information.
Proficient mastery of industry-standard pre-construction tools, including: Bluebeam Revu, Timberline/Sage, and OnScreen Takeoff for takeoff and estimating.
Advanced utilization of MS Excel for complex data analysis, pricing models, and historical benchmarking.
Experience with Autodesk Suite, BuildingConnected, or similar bid solicitation and project management ecosystems.
Strong situational leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to functionally guide junior estimators, coordinate cross-functional design and procurement teams, and confidently present estimates to executive leadership and clients.
An energetic, analytical problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment and possesses a sharp eye for identifying project risks and value-engineering opportunities.

Responsibilities

Drive the day-to-day pre-construction process for assigned major pursuits, seamlessly integrating inputs from design, scheduling, procurement, and operations to deliver competitive final pricing.
Develop multi-tiered estimates—ranging from early-stage conceptual budgets to highly detailed, quantitative GMP and lump-sum bids—ensuring total accuracy in scope, quantities, and market-adjusted pricing.
Conduct robust estimate analyses and value engineering to optimize project costs, support strategic pursuit positioning, and guide client-facing budget discussions.
Partner closely with design managers, project operations, and schedulers to evaluate constructability, design evolution, project phasing, and site logistics, ensuring a flawless handoff to the field execution team.
Act as a primary pre-construction point of contact for clients, design partners, and vendors to validate project assumptions, clarify scope anomalies, and secure reliable regional pricing.
Perform rigorous technical reviews and de-scoping of trade partner proposals to verify absolute compliance, uncover hidden gaps, eliminate risk, and build bulletproof, defensible budgets.
Identify, quantify, and document critical cost drivers, supply chain constraints, and project risks, escalating strategic vulnerabilities to senior pre-construction leadership with actionable mitigation plans.
Formally guide and review the work of junior estimating staff or specialized technicians assigned to your projects, ensuring quality control while actively coaching them to elevate their skills.
Maintain and leverage Gray’s historical cost databases, benchmarking tools, and pre-construction best practices to drive consistency and continuous improvement across the national team.