Senior Estimator

Senior Estimator

Lead Complex Bids. Drive Accurate Forecasting. Build Winning Proposals.

Pay: $120,000 – $140,000 per year

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Greeley, CO or Wheat Ridge, CO

Travel: Occasional travel for site visits, pre-bid meetings, and project scoping

Reports To: EVP of Construction

The Senior Estimator is responsible for leading the estimating process for earthwork, civil construction, environmental remediation, excavation, site development, facility abandonment, reclamation, and related construction projects from conceptual budgeting through final bid submission. This role evaluates project drawings, specifications, geotechnical reports, environmental reports, site conditions, labor requirements, subcontractor scopes, equipment production rates, trucking needs, material quantities, disposal requirements, permitting considerations, and project risks to develop accurate, competitive, and complete proposals.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong technical estimating knowledge, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously while collaborating effectively with operations, project management, vendors, subcontractors, and clients.

• Lead the preparation of accurate and timely estimates for earthwork, civil construction, environmental remediation, excavation, reclamation, facility abandonment, and environmental construction projects
• Review project plans, specifications, bid documents, addenda, geotechnical reports, environmental reports, site assessments, and contract requirements
• Perform quantity takeoffs using Plan Swift, On-Screen Takeoff, and other estimating tools
• Develop estimates for labor, heavy equipment, trucking, materials, subcontractors, disposal, permitting, erosion control, utility work, and project compliance requirements
• Prepare estimates for:
• Mass excavation and grading
• Site development
• Environmental remediation
• Facility abandonment
• Civil/site construction
• Soil management and disposal
• Utility installation and repair
• Reclamation and restoration projects
• Evaluate equipment production rates, haul routes, excavation quantities, material import/export requirements, and project logistics

• Identify project risks related to access, sequencing, utility conflicts, environmental constraints, permitting requirements, weather impacts, production rates, trucking availability, disposal requirements, and schedule impacts
• Review subcontractor and vendor proposals for completeness, pricing accuracy, and scope alignment
• Develop bid assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, and value-engineering recommendations
• Analyze labor trends, equipment costs, trucking rates, fuel impacts, material pricing, and disposal costs to improve estimate accuracy
• Evaluate earthwork balancing opportunities, soil handling requirements, and constructability considerations

• Attend pre-bid meetings, site walks, and project scoping meetings
• Coordinate with project managers, superintendents, field personnel, engineers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients
• Support change order pricing, budget updates, estimate revisions, and project forecasting
• Participate in bid review meetings and present estimate details, assumptions, risks, and pricing methodology
• Support project handoff from estimating to operations teams and assist with project startup activities

• Compare estimated costs to actual project performance and identify areas for improvement
• Support development of estimating templates, cost databases, and best practices
• Mentor junior estimators and provide guidance on takeoffs, pricing strategies, scope reviews, and bid preparation
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the estimating function

• 5–7 years of construction estimating experience
• Direct experience estimating earthwork, excavation, remediation, civil construction, environmental construction, facility abandonment, reclamation, or site development projects
• Experience developing detailed estimates, subcontractor scope reviews, bid proposals,…