CHIEF ESTIMATORJD-Chief Estimator Next Review: 2026-02
Job Title:
Chief Estimator
Reports To:
VP of Operations
Position Summary:
The Chief Estimator is a key leadership role responsible for leading Whissell’s estimating function and overseeing the preparation of competitive, accurate, and comprehensive estimates for heavy civil construction projects. This role provides strategic direction to the estimating team, reviews project opportunities, develops budgets and bids, works closely with Operations, and senior leadership to support successful project pursuits. The Chief Estimator plays a key role in identifying opportunities, managing successful estimating processes, mentoring and coaching estimators, and ensuring estimates align with Whissell’s operational capacities, risk profile, and business objectives.
This role continues to help position Whissell for continued sustainable, profitable growth while demonstrating our S.P.I.R.I.T. values.
- Lead market analysis for each of Whissell’s major markets including market size by segment and market share of competitors and various market segments including industrial projects, municipal and government segments, private development segments
- Lead market analysis of Whissell’s end user clients including land developers, municipal governments, consultants and civil general contractors
- Collaborate with local area General Managers to develop, implement and audit estimating systems, processes and procedures for Whissell
- Ensure that all project risks, contractual terms, and constructability issues are identified and discussed with senior leadership
- Develop and implement a contract review process in collaboration with the Contracts Administrator
- Develop a bid strategy for bids to win work and maximize profitability
- Work with General Managers and estimators on bid day to review and finalize bids
- Work with General Managers to develop and implement training strategies and succession planning for the estimating team
- Collaborate with General Managers to manage overall estimating team utilization
- Investigate new technologies for estimating departments
- Develop, implement and audit the project handoff meetings from estimating to operations
- Manage subcontractor and vendor relationships to grow our subcontractor and vendor base in the different geographic areas and vertical market areas of focus
- Create and implement a prequalification process, as well as a subcontractor and vendor grading and feedback process
- Create process, structure and best practices to improve our subcontractor coverage, bid scoping, and overall estimate development
- Develop a conceptual estimating database to support the faster creation of accurate conceptual cost estimates in a timelier manner
- Lead implementation, maintenance and update to the B2W suite of software for estimating and project tracking with the Whissell IT department
- Work with Business Development to create and manage client’s expectations of the project cost, timeline, design requirements and quality.
- Retain consultants to support due diligence & schematic design development to understand overall project feasibility, timeline and cost for our clients. These consultants would include engineering consultants, environmental consultants, financial consultants and legal consultants based on the complexity of the design-build project.
- Lead the submission of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Request for Proposals (RFP) responses in collaboration with Business Development
- Participate in industry networking organizations and events to develop new strategic relationships with clients and network partners
- Manage relationships with key owners, and consultants to create a pipeline of project leads
- Participate in strategic marketing and…
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