Senior Estimator (Commercial Building)

Haydon•Tempe, AZ

About The Position

The Senior Estimator works primarily on negotiated commercial projects in the company’s core markets, collaborating with architects, engineers, owners, subcontractors, project managers, and superintendents. The role is responsible for the preconstruction effort and estimating process from the initial estimate through subcontract award and formalization. The estimator prepares estimates for all design stages, from conceptual design through final construction documents, including Design/Build, Guaranteed Maximum Price, and hard-bid projects. The position may have single responsibility for large, complex projects and may manage both large CM/GC projects and complex competitive-bid projects. The role requires broad knowledge of construction costs, unit costs, estimating methods, trade disciplines, construction methods, and cost-control systems. The Senior Estimator reviews drawings and specifications, identifies project scope and contractual requirements, coordinates trade scopes, evaluates subcontractor bids, and uses historical cost and productivity data to support estimates. The role also contributes to value engineering, life-cycle costing, subcontract awards, and the tracking and pricing of awarded contract changes and extra work. The successful candidate is collaborative, customer-focused, proactive in identifying questions and solutions, and able to communicate effectively with internal teams and external partners. The position involves planning and scheduling preconstruction milestones, managing estimating teams and deadlines, maintaining estimate documentation, and supporting project outcomes through reliable cost evaluations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or equivalent combinations of technical training and related experience.
5–10 years of experience in estimating, cost control, and/or engineering in a similar area.
Understanding of estimating techniques, all trade disciplines, cost-control systems, and accounts.
Understanding of the project life cycle, including bidding, proposals, estimating, and project management.
Ability to read and navigate drawings and specifications.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to negotiate to drive revenue.
Excellent MS Office skills.
Experience using scheduling and bid/estimating software.
Strong problem-solving, risk-management, organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
Strong understanding of construction safety and OSHA requirements, construction methods, critical path method scheduling, and interpretation of plans and specifications.
Ability to work collaboratively, plan and organize work, manage priorities, and lead project teams.

Responsibilities

Prepare estimates for all disciplines and assigned bids, from conceptual design through final construction documents.
Manage projects from the initial estimate through subcontract preparation, evaluation, award, and formalization.
Assume overall responsibility for the preconstruction stage of each project and identify tasks needed to satisfy contractual requirements.
Oversee the preconstruction effort, lead project teams, and develop project solutions.
Plan and schedule the complete preconstruction effort, including estimate milestones, durations, long-lead items, and other needs.
Organize the estimating team and communicate responsibilities and deadlines.
Review proposal specifications and drawings, attend pre-bid meetings, and determine project scope and estimate requirements.
Solicit subcontractor bids, communicate with bidders, evaluate proposals, and use bid tally sheets and other bidding tools.
Coordinate trade scopes to avoid gaps or duplicate coverage of costs.
Use historical purchase orders, subcontracts, and productivity analysis reports to inform unit and labor-hour estimates.
Maintain working documents and data that support estimate figures.
Perform value engineering and life-cycle costing.
Assist the contracting department with inquiries and final evaluation of submitted bids.
Participate with the Project Manager in subcontract awards and prepare subcontracts before handoff to the construction team.
Track awarded contracts and, as needed, estimate or price extra work, change orders, credits, and material procurement.
Establish and foster positive long-term relationships with internal customers, owners, architects, engineers, and trade partners.
Communicate effectively with project managers and superintendents, as well as owners, architects, engineers, and subcontractors.
Develop reliable cost predictions, identify questions beyond the information provided, and propose solutions to issues involving cost, lead times, trade partners, products, or materials.
Apply knowledge of construction safety and OSHA requirements, construction methods, critical path scheduling, and plans and specifications.