Senior Estimator

Overview

The Senior Estimator is responsible for leading the estimating function on complex commercial design-build and construction projects. This role is critical in delivering accurate, competitive proposals, supporting business development, and ensuring profitable project execution. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise, market insight, and strong collaboration skills to drive project success from preconstruction through bid submission. Knowledge of Bakersfield community planning, economic development and housing;

2045 General Plan, Downtown Revitalization, HSR Station, Housing Element ), Consolidated Plan ).

Types of Construction: Market rate multi-family, commercial buildings, retail centers, design-build, industrial, aviation structures.

• Coordinate bidding schedule to determine projects to pursue.
• Develop working relationships with prospective clients, bid platforms, and local builders exchange.
• Review plan room publications and other invitations for upcoming bids. Track and review results of recent bid openings.
• Foster strong ties with prospective subcontractors and material vendors for better pricing and collaboration.
• Solicit, evaluate, and negotiate subcontractor and supplier bids to ensure competitiveness and compliance.
• Stay informed on market conditions, labor rates, and material pricing trends.
• Develop, organize and maintain estimating databases, pricing indexes, overhead cost, historical cost data, and industry benchmarks.
• Prepare and oversee detailed cost estimates, budgets, conceptual estimates and bid proposals.
• Lead quantity takeoffs and ensure accurate pricing for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontracted work.
• Mentor junior estimators and contribute to team development.
• Oversee and review the work of other estimators.

• Thoroughly review all bid documents; project plans, specifications, soils reports, etc. to identify scope, pricing risks, and value-engineering opportunities.
• Attend pre-construction meetings and coordinate site meetings for subcontractor’s site investigation.
• Perform takeoffs and prepare cost spreadsheets.
• Review subcontractors’ bids for correct scope of work, clarifications and exclusions and request revised proposals if appropriate.
• Accept questions from subcontractors and prepare requests for information (RFI’s) for presentation to the owner/architect.
• Review addendums and distribute them to subcontractors with additional direction as needed.
• Determine lowest responsible subcontractors quote for inclusion in proposal.
• Prepare estimated costs for permits and utility connection fees if appropriate.
• Obtain design fees from architect, civil engineer, structural engineer and landscape architect if appropriate.
• Prepare general conditions.
• Prepare proposal documents including proposal letter, spreadsheets, clarifications and exclusions, alternates, allowances and enumeration of drawings.
• Submit all proposals to President for review prior to presentation and make appropriate revisions.
• Identify project risks, exclusions, assumptions, and contingencies, and clearly communicate them.
• Support contract negotiations and provide cost clarifications during client meetings.
• Follow up with owners after presentation of bids and proposals and provide additional information and revised costs as needed.

• Prepare Bid Grid for Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) agreements.
• Prepare “Turnover” documents for Project Manager and assist with job set up.
• Discuss proposal related issues with Project Manager during construction and provide additional documentation if appropriate.
• Provide support and responses to questions regarding costs and scope of work for subcontractors.

• Meet with prospective clients to discuss proposed projects and provide estimated costs based on preliminary information.
• Collaborate with project managers, operations teams, and leadership during preconstruction and bid review.
• Develop preliminary control budgets during Schematic Design (SD) and Design Development (DD).
• Provide constructability reviews during SD and DD.
• Provide alternate pricing for consideration in…