Director of Estimating

JOB-10047030

Anticipated Start Date

July, 20, 2026

Location

Beaumont, TX

Type of Employment

Direct Hire

Employer Info

Our client is a full-service engineering, procurement and construction firm known for its integrity and reliability, achieving project-wide efficiency and economies of scale.

Job Summary

The Director of Estimating leads all estimating and preconstruction activities for industrial Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects, ensuring the development of accurate, competitive, and executable project estimates. This role provides strategic guidance on project risk, pricing, execution planning, and overall project viability while driving innovation through technology-enabled and data-driven estimating practices.

Job Description

• Lead the development of conceptual, budgetary, and definitive estimates for industrial EPC projects.
• Direct estimating activities from Front-End Loading (FEL) studies through definitive proposal development.
• Develop accurate, competitive, and executable project estimates aligned with engineering, procurement, construction execution, and commercial strategy.
• Establish estimate bases, assumptions, indirect cost models, staffing plans, and execution strategies.
• Perform project risk assessments, contingency analysis, and cost forecasting.
• Lead estimate reviews and present estimating strategies and project recommendations to executive leadership.
• Develop competitive bid strategies that support successful project pursuits.
• Drive estimating standards, governance, stage-gate review processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between engineering, procurement, construction, and commercial teams throughout the estimating process.
• Evaluate project scope definition, design maturity, constructability, and engineering deliverables during estimate development.
• Develop estimates and execution plans that incorporate long-lead equipment procurement, global sourcing strategies, vendor evaluations, logistics planning, fabrication strategies, bulk material management, commodity escalation, and supply chain risk mitigation.
• Incorporate self-perform construction methodologies, modularization strategies, heavy lifts, piping, structural steel, electrical and instrumentation installation, site logistics, labor productivity, and commissioning considerations into project estimates.
• Modernize the estimating function by implementing and enhancing digital estimating platforms and technology-driven estimating practices.
• Develop and maintain data-driven estimating models and historical cost databases.
• Utilize analytics tools to improve cost analysis, productivity tracking, benchmarking, risk modeling, and forecasting.
• Integrate estimating processes with 3D models and digital engineering deliverables.
• Standardize and automate estimating workflows to improve speed, accuracy, consistency, and scalability.
• Evaluate and implement AI-assisted estimating tools, benchmarking systems, and productivity intelligence where appropriate.
• Promote transparency through structured estimating data and repeatable methodologies.
• Provide guidance on commercial strategies, including lump sum, target price, reimbursable, and risk-sharing EPC contracts.
• Support negotiations involving contract terms, liquidated damages, guarantees, insurance, bonding requirements, cash flow, milestone billing, and margin protection.
• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary estimating organization.
• Build strong collaboration between engineering, procurement, and construction leadership.
• Challenge project assumptions, identify risks early, and communicate findings effectively to leadership and clients.
• Foster accountability, execution discipline, continuous improvement, and succession planning within the estimating team.
• Make informed decisions in fast-paced proposal environments.

Skills Required

• Minimum of 20 years of industrial EPC experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive estimating leadership experience.
• Experience leading EPC estimates ranging from $50 million to over $1 billion.
• Experience with LNG facilities, petrochemical facilities, refining, industrial gas facilities, midstream and pipeline infrastructure, brownfield and greenfield projects, and process facilities and infrastructure projects.
• Experience with major EPC contractors or industrial self-perform organizations with integrated engineering, procurement, and construction execution exposure.
• Strong knowledge of Front-End Loading (FEL), stage-gate development, and industrial EPC estimating processes.
• Thorough understanding of process design packages, PFDs, P&IDs, 3D model-based quantity development, design maturity assessments, and constructability integration.
• Strong understanding of procurement strategies, vendor evaluations, logistics planning, fabrication strategies, commodity escalation management, and supply chain risk mitigation.
• Extensive knowledge of self-perform construction methodologies, modularization, heavy lifts, piping, structural steel, electrical and instrumentation installation, labor productivity, and commissioning.
• Ability to develop conceptual, budgetary, and definitive estimates for large industrial EPC projects.
• Strong risk assessment, contingency analysis, pricing strategy, and cost forecasting capabilities.
• Experience implementing digital estimating platforms and technology-driven estimating solutions.
• Proficiency with data analytics, historical cost databases, estimating automation, and workflow standardization.
• Strong commercial and financial knowledge of EPC contract structures, negotiations, cash flow management, and margin protection.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, decision-making, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience with InEight Estimate, HCSS HeavyBid, Primavera P6, Power BI, advanced Excel financial modeling, quantity takeoff and estimating tools, ERP integration platforms, and cost database systems.

Education/Training/Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. (Advanced degree preferred)

Pay Rate/Salary

• Annual Salary: $175,000.00 - $250,000.00. (Actual compensation is subject to variation due to such factors as education, experience, skillset, and/or location)