Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist

Employment Type:

Full-Time

Work Arrangement: 100% Remote

Target Sourcing Locations:
South Africa & Philippines

Working Hours:

Full-Time (EST) schedule preferred (Minimum 6 hours daily overlap required during U.S. EST business hours)

Target Compensation Range: $1,000 – $1,500 USD / month (Up to $2,000/month max for exceptional candidate fit)

Our client is a well-established, highly regarded signage franchise. Having served commercial businesses, property managers, institutions, and real estate developers for over 12 years, the company combines an agile local shop presence with the backing of a premier national brand network.

Operating on a hybrid production model—50% in-house light manufacturing and 50% project-managed through strategic wholesale fabrication partners—the center delivers a broad spectrum of visual solutions, including dimensional lettering, custom illuminated channel letters, architectural graphics, digital print products, and complex exterior sign packages.

To support rapid sales growth, manage high volumes of inbound web leads, and maintain fast turnaround times for custom quotes, the company is seeking an experienced, tech-savvy Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist.

As a Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist, you will serve as the operational backbone for the inside and outside sales team. In this role, you will take full ownership of processing inbound project leads, interpreting job specifications, building detailed estimates in Core Bridge, sourcing third-party wholesale fabricators, and driving projects smoothly from estimate approval through customer proofing and production release.

You will leverage modern AI tools (specifically Gemini) alongside internal corporate vendor portals to rapidly research, scrape, qualify, and negotiate quotes with specialized wholesale sign manufacturers across North America.

• Generate Estimates:
  Produce accurate, competitive, and timely cost estimates for complex custom interior and exterior signage projects using Core Bridge software.
• Interpret Project Specs:
  Analyze architectural drawings, artwork proofs, site survey notes, and customer requests to determine optimal fabrication techniques and material choices.
• Material & Labor Calculations:
  Calculate exact material yields (substrates, vinyls, laminates, LEDs), print machine running times, fabrication labor hours, finishing processes, and mounting hardware requirements.
• Maintain Pricing Databases:
  Keep estimating templates, unit rates, and raw material price sheets up to date inside Core Bridge.

• Wholesale Vendor Management:
  Identify, contact, and negotiate competitive pricing and turnaround times with third-party wholesale sign fabricators for outsourced jobs (~50% of total production volume).
• AI-Assisted Sourcing:
  Utilize custom Gemini AI prompts/agents and web research techniques to scrape corporate vendor portals, evaluate specialized manufacturer capabilities, and find optimal production partners in minutes.
• Quote Evaluation:
  Review third-party wholesale quotes against project specifications, quality standards, delivery schedules, and target gross margin goals before finalizing customer pricing.
• Vendor Order Tracking:
  Maintain direct contact with wholesale suppliers to monitor production progress, proof releases, and delivery timetables.

• Lifecycle Management:
  Manage jobs through the full sales-to-production pipeline:
  Initial Inquiry → Core Bridge Estimate → Customer Proofing → Wholesale Vendor Sourcing → Production Handoff.
• Proof Verification:
  Review digital customer proofs for dimension callouts, material callouts, and installation details prior to sending them for client approval.
• Stakeholder Communication:
  Maintain professional, clear written and verbal communication with internal sales reps, in-house production teams, external vendors, and commercial clients regarding project updates or spec clarifications.

• Sign Industry
  
  Experience:
  
  2–5 years of professional experience in sign shop estimation, pre-production coordination, print operations, or sign project management.
• Deep Construction Knowledge:
  Strong technical knowledge of custom sign building methods, including substrates (acrylic, ACM, PVC, HDU), digital printing, laminates, vinyl applications,…