Senior Estimator

Position Summary:

The Senior Estimator leads the full estimating cycle for commercial, industrial, and institutional process piping and millwright projects including service, repairs, retrofits, replacements, and large design/build and plan/spec projects. This role combines advanced technical estimating with independent opportunity generation, bid strategy, and negotiation authority. The Senior Estimator builds market relationships, sets pricing strategy, evaluates risk, and provides technical guidance to sales and operations, delivering value-driven solutions and measurable margin improvement. This individual requires minimal oversight, is a self-starter, and can manage multiple large bid opportunities. Must have strong recent experience and understanding in this role for a large Process Piping Project based business. This position includes developing accurate and competitive cost estimates and managing the bid process from initial review through proposal submission. This role ensures consistency, profitability, and alignment with company goals while mentoring the estimating team and collaborating cross-functionally with operations, sales, and project management.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, train, and mentor estimators and junior estimating staff
• Establish estimating standards, processes, and best practices
• Assign workloads and ensure deadlines are met
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching

Estimating & Cost Analysis

• Oversee preparation of detailed cost estimates, including labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor pricing
• Review drawings, specifications, and bid documents for completeness and risk
• Ensure estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with company margins
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and value-engineering options

Bid & Proposal Management

• Manage the entire bid process from opportunity evaluation to submission
• Conduct Go/No-Go meetings as necessary
• Coordinate bid schedules and ensure timely completion of proposals
• Review and approve final estimates and proposals before submission
• Ensure Large Project Review Forms and other necessary documentation are submitted to management as needed
• Participate in bid reviews, presentations, and negotiations

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with operations and project management to ensure smooth project handoffs
• Collaborate with procurement for vendor and subcontractor pricing
• Partner with sales/business development to evaluate opportunities
• Communicate with clients, architects, engineers, and suppliers as needed

Risk Management & Strategy

• Analyze project risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Evaluate contract terms, conditions, and scope gaps
• Track historical data to improve estimating accuracy
• Contribute to strategic planning, targeting profitable work

Systems & Reporting

• Maintain estimating software, databases, and cost libraries
• Generate reports on bid performance, win rates, and accuracy
• Continuously improve estimating tools, templates, and workflows

Minimum and/or Preferred Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 7–10+ years of process piping and millwright estimating experience (construction, commercial, manufacturing, or industrial preferred)
• 3+ years in a leadership or supervisory role
• Proven design/build leadership with ability to develop creative, code-compliant solutions and alternatives
• Advanced understanding of process piping systems, components, controls, and service operations and the ability to provide budgeting proposals on large process piping projects with limited drawings
• Advanced ability to read and interpret complex construction documents and engineering specifications
• Strong working knowledge of standard MS Office and industry-specific estimating, takeoff, and project management software
• Demonstrated experience in understanding department financials, recover of indirect costs, and setting estimating department margins.
• Business development or sales enablement experience with measurable outcomes

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional mathematical, analytical, and risk assessment skills with strong attention to detail
• Executive-level communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting mechanical plans, specifications, and work orders; fluency with estimating software and takeoff tools
• Expertise in value engineering, cost-saving strategies, and total cost of ownership analysis
• Ability to mentor junior estimators and influence stakeholders without direct authority
• Highly organized, with ability to manage multiple complex estimates and deadlines independently
• High professional integrity, accountability, and commitment to technical excellence
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, materials, and pricing
• Advanced proficiency in estimating software (e.g., Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Sage, Fast Pipe or similar)

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Estimate accuracy (actual vs. estimated cost)
• Bid win rate / hit ratio
• Gross margin on awarded projects
• Timeliness of bid submissions
• Team productivity and development

Work Environment

• Office-based with occasional site visits
• Fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Frequent collaboration with internal teams and external partners

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.  

Reasonable Accommodation:

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions unless doing so presents an undue hardship on the Company’s business operations.  

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.  Employees understand the above job description and agree to comply with and be subject to its conditions. Employee further agrees this job description does not alter his/her at-will employment status. Employees understand the Company reserves the right to delegate, remove, expand or change all responsibilities. Employees acknowledge that he/she can fulfill the above duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Employees acknowledge that he/she can fulfill the above duties with or without reasonable accommodation.