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) 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 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 estimating 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 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 estimating 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 estimating 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 and 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, construction methods, and production rates.

• Ability to read and interpret complex civil, structural, process, and mechanical plans and specifications.
• Experience with estimating software such as HCSS, Bid2
  
  Win, Bluebeam, Plan Swift, or similar platforms.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and 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 recordable-incident free.
• Comprehensive health coverage options, including a 100% company-paid High Deductible Health…