Chief Estimator — Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant; WWTP

Career Opportunities with Petticoat-Schmitt

Careers At Petticoat-Schmitt

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Jacksonville, FL | Full-Time | Salaried

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) organization where team members have a direct stake in the company’s success. We perform work across public and private markets throughout a 400-mile radius of Jacksonville, FL, supporting projects across most of Florida and into Georgia.

Our work focuses on 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 a Chief Estimator to lead our Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) estimating team. This is a key leadership role responsible for driving estimating strategy, improving win rates, and developing a high-performing team.

This role plays a critical part in driving revenue, profitability, and long-term growth of our WWTP division. This is not just about putting numbers together — this role directly influences which projects we pursue, how we pursue them, and how we win them.

• Lead and develop the WWTP estimating team, setting standards for performance, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Drive estimating strategy to improve win rates, margin performance, and project selection
• Partner with executive leadership and operations teams to align estimating efforts with company growth goals
• Contribute to go/no-go decisions based on risk, competitiveness, and strategic fit
• Oversee the preparation of detailed, accurate estimates for complex water and wastewater treatment plant projects
• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and completeness across all bids and proposals
• Review and validate pricing, production assumptions, and risk factors
• Lead final estimate reviews and present project strategies internally

• Mentor and develop estimators, takeoff specialists, and support staff
• Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous learning
• Establish processes, tools, and standards that improve efficiency and quality
• Work closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, and field teams to ensure constructability and alignment
• Support preconstruction efforts, including value engineering and cost optimization strategies
• Maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, vendors, and industry partners
• Analyze historical cost data, production rates, and bid outcomes to refine estimating processes
• Implement improvements to systems, software, and workflows
• Stay current with market trends, pricing shifts, and industry best practices

• 10+ years of estimating experience in heavy civil construction, with a strong focus on water/wastewater treatment plant projects
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing or mentoring estimating teams
• Proven success improving bid strategy, competitiveness, and win rates
• Strong understanding of project risk, cost drivers, and construction methods

• Ability to read and interpret complex civil, structural, and process/mechanical plans and specifications
• Experience with estimating software such as HCSS, Bid2
  
  Win, Bluebeam, Plan Swift, or similar platforms
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Teams)
• High level of ownership and accountability
• Strong communicator who can align teams and drive decisions
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance risk and opportunity
• Committed to developing people and building strong teams

We live our values (A.C.T.):

Accountability – Safety first. Plan the work. Execute with ownership
Character – Integrity, respect, trustworthiness, humility
Team – Shared goals, servant leadership, determination, and results

• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Annual Profit Sharing – participate in company-wide profit sharing once annual goals are achieved
• Monthly Safety Bonus – earned when the company goes…