Chief Estimator

Location: New England
Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation
Competitive base salary, depending on experience
Performance-based bonus, comprehensive benefits, and long-term growth potential, ESOP Program

Role Overview
An established heavy civil contractor is seeking an experienced Chief Estimator to lead its estimating and preconstruction operations across a strong pipeline of complex infrastructure work.

This is a high-impact leadership position for someone who can oversee major pursuits, guide bid strategy, develop estimating talent, and work closely with executive and operational leadership. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of how heavy civil projects are built and the commercial judgment to balance competitiveness, constructability, and risk.

Relevant project experience may include bridges, highways, rail, marine construction, utilities, earthwork, structural concrete, dams, flood-control systems, and other public infrastructure.

• Lead the estimating and preconstruction process from opportunity review through final bid submission
• Develop pursuit strategies, bid schedules, staffing plans, and estimating assignments
• Review plans, specifications, contracts, addenda, and project requirements
• Oversee detailed estimates for labor, equipment, materials, and subcontracted work
• Evaluate construction sequencing, site logistics, production rates, and execution plans
• Identify project risks, scope gaps, constructability concerns, and pricing opportunities
• Lead subcontractor and supplier outreach, scope reviews, and proposal comparisons
• Conduct estimate reviews and present final pricing recommendations to executive leadership
• Partner with operations to ensure estimates reflect practical field execution
• Support project handoffs from preconstruction into operations following award
• Maintain historical cost information and improve estimating systems and processes
• Recruit, mentor, and develop estimators and preconstruction professionals
• Build relationships with owners, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, and industry partners
• Support strategic planning, market evaluation, and long-term company growth

• Extensive estimating experience in heavy civil or infrastructure construction
• Proven success leading large and technically complex bids
• Strong understanding of heavy civil construction means, methods, sequencing, and production rates
• Experience pricing self-performed labor, heavy equipment, materials, and subcontracted scopes
• Knowledge of public-sector bidding, contract requirements, and compliance
• Strong commercial judgment with the ability to balance competitiveness and project risk
• Proficiency with estimating, takeoff, scheduling, and cost-management systems
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills
• Ability to work effectively with executives, operations teams, clients, subcontractors, and suppliers
• Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline preferred, although equivalent experience will be considered

• Executive-level position with genuine influence over company strategy and project selection
• Opportunity to lead bids for major infrastructure projects throughout New England
• Direct access to senior leadership and operations
• Established project pipeline across multiple heavy civil markets
• Ability to build, mentor, and shape the estimating team
• Performance-based compensation and long-term advancement potential
• Stable organization that values practical construction knowledge and thoughtful decision-making
• Opportunity to improve systems and leave a lasting impact on the business