Lead Estimator - Multi-Site, Multi-Trade Special Projects

Jones Sign•Remote, US,

10d

About The Position

The Lead Estimating for Strategic Initiatives is the lead estimator and will be responsible for reading and interpreting plans to accurately estimate the total cost of special projects, remodels and rollouts. The role involves performing detailed take-offs, communicating and organizing scope and material lists with vendors and subcontractors, and presenting and handing off estimates to the Project Management (PM) team. The estimator will detail the scope of work for each trade, cost per trade/subcontractor, site services, material requirements, lead times, and develop a critical path for project execution. Responsible for overseeing and managing projects with varying scopes to include refreshes, minor remodels and multi-site rollouts. Success is measured by your ability to ensure they are completed on time, are meeting required quality and implementation standards while allowing the PM to meet or exceed the modeled margin and are market competitive to position us to successfully convert the presented opportunities.

Requirements

5+ years of estimating experience in construction, facilities, electrical, mechanical, or related trades
Experience supporting multi-site, programmatic, or high-volume project work
Strong understanding of labor, material, equipment, and subcontractor pricing
Ability to manage multiple estimates concurrently under tight deadlines
Proficiency with estimating software, Excel, and project documentation tools
Strong communication skills and comfort working cross-functionally

Nice To Haves

Experience with national accounts or repeat-client programs
Field experience or strong operational knowledge
Familiarity with service-to-project conversions
Experience building unit pricing and standardized estimating models
Knowledge of regional labor factors and union/non-union markets

Responsibilities

Prepare accurate, timely estimates for multi-site and special-project work, including retrofits, remodels, tenant improvements, rollouts, and deferred maintenance projects
Develop unit pricing, template estimates, and repeatable pricing models for individual and multi-location programs
Perform quantity takeoffs, scope reviews, and pricing validation across varying site conditions and jurisdictions
Evaluate drawings, specifications, field data, and incomplete scopes to build defensible estimates under tight timelines
Provide insight and feedback regarding project design that may impact implementation plan and/or pricing.
Work in parallel with sales, operations, and project management to support fast-paced project awards
Coordinate with field partners to validate labor assumptions, production rates, and constructability. Solicit and analyze vendor and subcontractor pricing across multiple markets.
Interface with customers, account managers, and internal teams to clarify scope, assumptions, and exclusions
Support value engineering, alternate pricing, and scope optimization as needed
Maintain vendor pricing databases, labor factors, and regional cost modifiers
Track market conditions, labor availability, and material lead times impacting special projects
Assist in developing estimating standards, templates, and best practices for special projects and national accounts
Track hit rates, estimate accuracy, and post-project cost performance
Support continuous improvement of estimating workflows, tools, and systems
Provide management with reporting on volume, backlog support, and pricing trends