Estimator I

41 North Contractors • Lisle, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

41 North Contractors is a general contracting company serving the Chicago, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona, markets, with experience in retail, restaurant, and commercial development. The company emphasizes quality, value, on-schedule and on-budget delivery, value engineering, and personal client relationships.

The Estimator I prices project work, assesses potential project costs, and prepares timely, competitive, cost-efficient, and profitable bids. The role supports compliance with project designs and maintenance of project budgets and schedules. It involves reviewing project documents, developing estimates and preliminary schedules, coordinating subcontractor and supplier pricing, and working with clients and internal teams through bidding and project turnover.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent construction management experience within the construction industry.
• At least 3 years of commercial construction estimating experience, including conceptual estimating, negotiated cost estimating, and hard bidding.
• Ability to work closely with architects, developers, and business owners as required.
• Knowledge of commercial construction means and methods.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Familiarity with building construction, market conditions, means and methods, and trade practices.
• Extensive experience with construction documents, drawings, and specifications.
• Knowledge of construction materials and labor costing and basic accounting principles.
• Strong understanding of standard estimating practices and procedures.
• Strong relationships with the local subcontractor base.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with subcontractors, vendors, architects, engineers, designers, other professionals, and colleagues across departments.
• Self-motivated, organized, and disciplined, with the ability to prioritize workloads and complete tasks.
• Ability to train people on estimating forms and documents and provide feedback on team members’ abilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication and effective presentation skills.
• Computer skills including critical-path scheduling, Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Project), and quantity take-offs using PlanSwift, Bluebeam, or similar estimating software.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or equivalent construction management experience within the construction industry.
• 5 or more years of commercial construction estimating experience, including conceptual estimating, negotiated cost estimating, and hard bidding.
• Procore experience.

Responsibilities

• Review RFP documents, drawings, and specifications; attend pre-bid meetings and coordinate walkthroughs to determine project scope and estimate deliverables.
• Work with clients and their representatives to establish preliminary construction budgets.
• Conduct hard-bid solicitations and prepare bid packages.
• Solicit and coordinate subcontractor bids and supplier quotes for labor, materials, and equipment.
• Perform quantity take-offs and develop estimates before receiving subcontractor input.
• Compare and level subcontractor bids against the in-house budget.
• Maintain working-document files supporting estimate figures.
• Develop preliminary construction schedules as required.
• Work with Sales and Administrative personnel to validate information going into contracts.
• Participate in project turnover meetings with Directors, Project Managers, and Superintendents.
• Assist Operations with subcontractor buyouts for negotiated projects when needed.
• Complete post-bid analyses of unsuccessful bids with the Sales team.
• Participate in training and mentoring new Estimating Department personnel.
• Assist with routine maintenance and upkeep of internal estimating templates.
• Complete additional assignments as directed by a supervisor.

Benefits

• Auto/cell stipend.
• Company expense card.
• Medical insurance with a 70/30 employer split, starting the first of the month after the first 60 days.
• Life, dental, and vision coverage that is 100% employer-covered, starting the first of the month after the first 60 days.
• 5 sick days.
• 10 accrued vacation days through the year.
• 8 paid holidays.
• 401(k) match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level