At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead estimating department, drive bid strategy, and mentor a high-performing team.
- Company: Leading General Contractor known for complex commercial and industrial projects.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full benefits package, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Elevate preconstruction excellence and make a significant impact in the construction industry.
- Qualifications: 8-12 years of estimating experience and strong leadership skills required.
Our client is a leading General Contractor recognized for delivering complex commercial, industrial, and institutional projects. They are seeking a Chief Estimator to lead their estimating department, drive bid strategy, and elevate preconstruction excellence across the organization. This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing all estimating activities, ensuring accuracy, competitiveness, and profitability while mentoring a high-performing team and collaborating closely with executive leadership.
What You Will Lead
- Provide strategic leadership to Senior Estimators, Estimators, and Junior Estimators.
- Establish and enforce estimating standards, policies, and best practices.
- Mentor and develop staff, ensuring strong succession planning and future leadership growth.
- Manage departmental workload across multiple tenders and deadlines.
- Lead go/no-go bid decisions with executive leadership.
- Oversee conceptual budgets, schematic estimates, detailed bids, and procurement strategies.
- Review and approve all final estimates to ensure alignment with profitability and risk frameworks.
- Ensure estimates achieve targeted gross margins by project type.
- Lead bid risk identification and management reviews.
- Direct major tender closings and ensure compliant, accurate, strategic submissions.
- Lead project handoff meetings to Operations, ensuring full transfer of assumptions, risks, and pricing strategies.
- Collaborate with Operations and Business Development to align estimating strategy with company objectives.
- Act as a senior preconstruction contact for clients and consultants.
- Provide executive-level input on bid strategy, value engineering, constructability, and delivery models.
- Track market trends, subcontractor pricing, and material costs to maintain competitiveness.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, developers, consultants, and trade partners.
- Support contract negotiations through cost breakdowns, scope clarifications, and risk analysis.
- Champion estimating technology, digital workflows, and scalable systems.
- Oversee historical cost data, benchmarking tools, and lessons-learned integration.
- Monitor KPIs including bid-win ratios, estimate accuracy, and proposal quality.
- Participate in GC leadership team planning and strategy.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architectural Technology, or related field.
- 8–12 years of progressive estimating experience in commercial, industrial, or institutional construction.
- Proven success leading complex bids and mentoring estimating teams.
- Strong knowledge of construction methods, contracts, and delivery models (Lump Sum, CM, Design-Build).
- Proficiency with estimating software (OST, Bluebeam, Procore, etc.) and Microsoft Office.
- Strong financial, analytical, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple bids under tight deadlines.
- Established subcontractor and supplier relationships considered an asset.
Compensation: $190,000 – $230,000 + full package
Chief Estimator Construction employer: SearchLabs
Join a dynamic and innovative engineering firm in Vancouver that prioritizes employee growth and collaboration. With a strong focus on work-life balance, competitive benefits, and a culture that encourages professional development, this company is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where your contributions to mechanical projects are valued and recognized. Experience the unique advantage of working in a vibrant city known for its stunning landscapes and diverse community while making a meaningful impact in the field of mechanical systems.
