Senior Project Estimator

Job Title: Senior Project Estimator

Department: Sales

Reports to: Vice President

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Louisville, KY

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Project Estimator is responsible for preparing, coordinating, and managing complete project estimates and bid packages for large, complex, or time-sensitive projects. This position reviews customer requirements, drawings, specifications, RFPs, vendor quotes, subcontractor information, internal production requirements, and historical cost data to develop competitive and accurate estimates. The Senior Project Estimator reports to the Vice President and manages estimate timelines, coordinates internal and external stakeholders, supports executive review and approval, communicates estimate assumptions and risks, and transfers awarded project knowledge to the project team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepare and manage complete project estimates, shop estimates, RFP responses, and bid packages for standard, large, and complex projects.

• Review and analyze customer requests, tender documents, drawings, designs, specifications, and related project documentation.

• Build estimates from concept through full bid package using customer documents, internal requirements, vendor quotes, subcontractor quotes, and historical cost information.

• Identify labor, material, equipment, production, subcontractor, overhead, schedule, and time requirements.

• Solicit, compare, and evaluate quotes and lead times from internal teams, vendors, and subcontractors.

• Manage aggressive RFP and bid timelines by coordinating stakeholders, driving follow-up, and holding contributors accountable.

• Compile information from internal teams, vendors, subcontractors, and customers into a comprehensive estimate analysis.

• Prepare final bid packages and supporting documentation for review and approval by leadership.

• Prepare cost analysis by calculating or recalculating material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, and installation-related costs.

• Complete overall project estimates using the company ERP, estimating tools, or in-house systems.

• Communicate and clarify estimate scope, assumptions, exclusions, risks, and supporting information effectively.

• Provide supporting information to defend the estimating process, pricing decisions, and bid recommendations.

• Assist customers with questions, concerns, scope clarification, and project pricing discussions.

• Track, analyze, and report historical estimating data, project trends, realized costs, estimated revenue, and related commitments or obligations.

• Maintain and improve pricing databases, estimating tools, templates, and standard costing information.

• Identify and recommend continuous improvement opportunities for the estimating process.

• Support project award transitions by leading or participating in handoff meetings with project management, engineering, purchasing, production, and other internal teams.

• Mentor and assist less-experienced estimators in estimating methods, document review, vendor coordination, and bid preparation.

• Attend networking functions, customer meetings, trade shows, or customer site visits as requested by supervisor.

• May be required to perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

• Associate degree required; bachelor's degree preferred.

• 5+ years of estimating, construction, fabrication, conveyor, material handling, manufacturing, or related experience required.

• Experience preparing estimates for construction, fabrication, conveyor, material handling, or industrial projects preferred.

• Experience estimating projects ranging from small shop work to large or complex projects preferred.

• Familiarity with conveyor systems, material handling, fabrication, installation, or related industrial work preferred.

• Strong knowledge of fabrication shop, estimating, purchasing, engineering, production, and vendor coordination processes.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex drawings, specifications, RFPs, customer documents, and bid requirements.

• Ability to prepare full cost estimates…