Senior Estimator

EllisDon•Halifax, NS

2d•CA$100,000 - CA$135,000

About The Position

Thinking about a change? We recognize that the construction industry is changing at a rapid pace and we continually strive to be at the forefront. Our core values empower people to deliver great careers to one another and develop creative solutions for complex problems on some of the most exciting projects. It doesn’t matter what your expertise and craft is – there are no boundaries. We are a group of professionals with a variety of expertise within pre-construction, construction, and post-construction. To learn more, check out our Cradle to Grave services and hear from our team directly about what a career at EllisDon could look like for you. As you can see, we are a diverse bunch. Above all, we are a group of individuals with unique experiences and at EllisDon, we choose to celebrate the strength in our differences, every day. EllisDon’s commitment to Inclusive Diversity is to work together to create an environment where every employee feels safe to be their true and authentic self. Ultimately, EllisDon’s purpose is to provide people with similar values the opportunity to achieve to their full potential; to deliver that opportunity for great careers to one another; and to contribute meaningfully to the community we share with others. In case you’re curious, here’s what the industry thinks of us and some of the impacts we've made to the communities we work in and our latest Impact Report, highlighting how we're putting our values into practice in areas such as the climate & environment, inclusive diversity, indigenous relations, and health and safety. EllisDon uses AI tools to assist in screening and assessing applicants for this position.

Requirements

Hold a construction‑related degree or diploma and have 8–10 years of Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) estimating experience, or an equivalent mix of technical training and experience.
Possess advanced knowledge of estimating strategies, techniques, corporate objectives, and construction contract requirements.
Have extensive experience developing conceptual budgets.
Work effectively and accurately in time‑sensitive environments and can delegate tasks appropriately within a team.
Proficient with industry takeoff software such as OST, Bluebeam, and PlanSwift.

Responsibilities

Lead teams through complex and time‑sensitive bid processes.
Prepare and manage accurate, timely, and well‑organized estimates (Conceptual, Schematic, Design Development, Class D–A) to support preconstruction activities.
Oversee hard‑bid, construction management, and design‑build estimating.
Identify challenges early and develop solutions to maintain project progress and strong client/architect/sub‑consultant relationships.
Drive design optimization and value‑enhancement initiatives, including developing, compiling, and presenting options to clients.
Ensure a seamless project turnover from Preconstruction to Operations with complete information transfer and structured handoff meetings.
Train and mentor Junior Estimators and selected Project Coordinators on preconstruction disciplines, estimating techniques, and best practices.
Coordinate sub‑contractor quotations, organize bid documentation, and support the buy‑out process when bids are awarded.
Monitor project performance, proactively address potential risks, and maintain strong relationships with sub‑trades for future opportunities.
Review and distribute sub‑trade quotes, identifying risk areas and collaborating with management to align on bid pricing strategies.
Maintain key databases, including labor rates, material pricing, and historical project costs.