Chief Estimator — Heavy Civil Construction

Jacksonville, FL | Full-Time | Salaried | In-Office

At Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc., we don't just build infrastructure — we build life-changing infrastructure. We are a privately owned, employee-owned (ESOP) civil contracting firm based in Jacksonville, FL.

We specialize in public works, water resources (including water and wastewater treatment plants), and site development, with expertise in underground utilities, roadway construction, and related civil infrastructure.

We are seeking an experienced Chief Estimator to lead our heavy civil estimating team, with a focus on site development, underground utilities, and roadway construction. This is a key leadership role responsible for driving estimating strategy, improving win rates and margin performance, and developing a high-performing estimating team.

You'll help shape which projects we pursue, how we price and plan the work, and how we turn competitive bids into successful projects. Working closely with executive leadership and operations, you'll bring technical depth, sound judgment, and clear leadership to public and private project pursuits.

• Lead and develop the heavy civil estimating team, setting clear expectations for accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive bid strategy, project selection, and pricing approaches that support company growth and profitability.
• Evaluate opportunities through RFP review, scope analysis, and market research; contribute to go/no-go decisions based on risk, competitiveness, and strategic fit.
• Partner with executive leadership and operations to align estimating priorities, resources, and pursuit schedules.
• Oversee detailed, accurate estimates for site development, underground utilities, roadway construction, and related heavy civil scopes.
• Review drawings, specifications, contract documents, and geotechnical reports to confirm scope, quantities, cost drivers, and risk.
• Validate labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and general conditions costs, including production rates, schedules, and anticipated durations.
• Lead final estimate reviews and present pricing strategies, assumptions, exclusions, and project approaches for internal approval.
• Ensure bids and proposals are complete, consistent, accurate, and submitted on time.

• Direct and review quantity takeoffs and subcontractor and supplier pricing.
• Work with Project Managers, Superintendents, and field teams to validate construction means, methods, productivity, sequencing, and constructability.
• Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits as needed to assess existing conditions and project risks.
• Support value engineering and cost optimization while maintaining project requirements and quality.
• Maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, clients, and industry partners.
• Mentor estimators, takeoff specialists, and support staff; build technical capability and ownership across the team.
• Establish and improve estimating processes, tools, databases, and standards.
• Analyze historical cost data, production rates, lessons learned, and bid outcomes to improve future estimates.
• Coordinate with operations and finance to strengthen the connection between estimating assumptions and actual job costs.
• Stay current with market conditions, pricing shifts, bid requirements, and construction best practices.

• 10+ years of estimating experience in heavy civil construction, with a strong background in site development, underground utilities, and roadway projects.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing or mentoring estimating teams.
• Experience preparing and overseeing bids in both public and private markets.
• Proven ability to develop bid…