Estimating Manager
Why Tarlton
Tarlton is a St. Louis-based general contractor and construction manager specializing in complex, technically demanding projects across the Midwest. With deep regional roots and a reputation built on trust, teamwork, and repeat clients, we are known for taking on challenging work and delivering it safely, predictably, and with pride. We conduct our business with safety, quality, integrity, and enthusiasm-and our core values include building a safe and caring environment.
Your Role
Estimating Manager - Water/Wastewater
Join a growing business unit and help shape its future as we expand our presence across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. As part of our Energy, Industrial, and Civil operations team, you'll pursue a variety of water/wastewater projects, including treatment plants, pump and lift stations, and underground utility work, along with energy, industrial, and civil projects. Our clients include municipalities, sewer and water districts, and consulting engineers. You'll guide pursuits across a full range of delivery methods and pricing models.
You'll bring constructability, sequencing, and risk insight into every bid, helping keep the facilities where we work operational throughout construction. Self-perform work is central to what we do, and you'll lead the estimating teams pricing our civil, concrete, and steel work. Along the way, you'll build on a strong base of repeat clients while helping bring in new ones that expand our reach, working closely with operations and company leaders to align teams, pursue the right work, and deliver winning proposals.
What You'll Do
Bid Documents and Pricing
- Execute a complete review of bid documents, and determine what requires clarification on major pursuits.
- Coordinate site visits and review existing conditions, as-built documents, and surveys on renovation work.
- Perform and review takeoffs, ensure consistent methodology and tool use across the team, and validate quantities and pricing prepared by others.
- Develop conceptual budgets from minimal information, documenting assumptions clearly.
- Review area labor agreements for work rules and wage determinations.
Subcontractors and Self-Perform Work
- Lead subcontractor prequalification and vendor relationships, and resolve coverage gaps on critical trades.
- Establish means, methods, productivity, and pricing for self-perform work, select equipment and materials, and validate crews and rates with operations personnel.
- Evaluate phasing, logistics, sequencing, safety, and constructability for each estimate.
Estimate Assembly, Risk, and Compliance
- Prepare and review general conditions costs, and maintain templates and standards, including safety planning.
- Contribute to bid strategy with operations and leadership, and lead final bid review.
- Manage the Go/No-Go process for assigned market with group leadership, ensure resourcing and on-time delivery, and plan estimating capacity alongside preconstruction work.
- Run bid day on assigned pursuits, finalize subcontractor and supplier pricing, advise and coordinate with leadership to determine the final numbers to be carried.
- Lead risk reviews with operations, set contingency, and review escalation and qualifications on major bids.
- Lead value engineering and constructability reviews, weighing cost, schedule, and lifecycle impacts.
- Own the compliance approach on major and public pursuits, including small business participation goals, in coordination with finance and community engagement.
Clients, Pursuits, and Collaboration
- Lead estimating services on hard bid and negotiated pursuits across design-bid-build, CM at Risk, and design-build delivery, using lump sum, unit price, and T&M pricing.
- Represent estimating with clients and in executive settings, including key pursuits, proposals, qualifications packages, interviews, and owner presentations.
- Partner with Business Development and Operations on pipeline, capture plans, and win strategy.
- Build relationships with clients, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers, strengthening repeat client relationships and helping bring in new ones.
- Report on escalation and market conditions.
Buyout, Turnover, and Cost Data
- Ensure detailed handoffs and turnover discipline on won work, including converting the estimate to cost codes and budget.
- Lead preconstruction through design phases on CM at Risk and design-build projects, including priced value engineering options and alternates.
- Lead the estimate-to-actual feedback loop with operations.
- Contribute to utilization and maintenance of estimating systems including cost data, data governance, training and improvements to estimating processes, policies, and procedures.
Leadership and Development
- Lead, hire, develop, and review the work of Senior Estimators and Estimators, and contribute to succession planning.
- Mentor Estimators and Project Engineers on takeoff, pricing, and constructability.
- Delegate responsibilities and balance workload across pursuits.
- Engage with market leaders to contribute to group decisions and strategy.
Experience
- 8 or more years of estimating experience, including at least 2 years leading pursuit teams or people.
- 4 or more years of managing or estimating Water/Wastewater projects.
- Track record owning bids on large or complex projects and managing multiple bids at once.
- Experience leading estimators.
- Self-perform pricing experience, including means, methods, and production rates.
- Hard bid and conceptual estimating experience on lump sum, CM at risk, or design-build projects preferred.
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor''s degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience or union/trade background considered.
- Industry certifications such as PMP, CPE, or DBIA are a plus.
Tools & Software
- Digital takeoff software (On-Screen Takeoff, Bluebeam Revu, or similar) at an advanced level.
- Standard estimating platforms (CostOS, Timberline, WinEst, or similar) at an advanced level.
- Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Tarlton Competencies
- Leadership & Team Development: Provides clear direction, sets expectations, holds others accountable, and develops team members through coaching and support
- Stand Behind Our Word and Work: Follows through on commitments, takes ownership of results, and ensures work meets high standards of quality and professionalism
- Cultivate Clients for Life: Builds trust-based relationships through responsiveness, clear communication, and understanding of client needs
- Build a Safe and Caring Environment: Promotes a safety-first culture, proactively manages risks, and looks out for others
- Gets the Job Done: Takes ownership, removes obstacles, prioritizes effectively, and drives work forward to achieve results
- Communication and Collaboration: Communicates clearly and works effectively across teams to build trust and alignment
- Develops and Adapts: Seeks feedback, learns from experience, and adjusts to changing conditions and project needs
Where You'll Work
- Full-time position based in St. Louis, Missouri, with travel to project sites and client meetings throughout the region.
- Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment where the noise level is usually quiet.
- If required, the employee may work from a jobsite trailer on occasion or owner-designated office location. The noise level in the work environment can be loud due to heavy equipment, jack hammers, pneumatic tools, etc. These sounds can be non-stop throughout the day.
Physical Requirements
- Limited exposure to physical risk.
- The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five pounds.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands; reach; and stoop or kneel.
- Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Travel Requirements
- Occasional local or regional travel required for business or community events.
- Travel to project sites, pre-bid meetings, and client meetings within the region as needed.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Tarlton is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. If you require assistance completing this application or need a reasonable accommodation, please contact recruiting@tarltoncorp.com or 314.633.3300 for support.
Exempt