Pre-Construction Estimator

Pre-Construction Estimator

Department: Mechanical

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Winston Salem, NC

About Sylvester & Cockrum

Sylvester & Cockrum (S&C) is a trusted, full-service mechanical contractor serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and surrounding regions. With a long-standing reputation for quality craftsmanship, safety, and integrity, S&C delivers commercial, institutional, and industrial mechanical and electrical services that require disciplined execution and professional field leadership.

The Estimator is responsible for developing accurate, competitive, and timely estimates for mechanical construction projects, including piping, plumbing, electrical, controls, and other assigned scopes. The position evaluates plans, specifications, labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor pricing, and project conditions to support successful bids and profitable project execution. The Estimator works closely with Operations, Project Management, vendors, subcontractors, and customers throughout the preconstruction and project turnover process.

• Identify, review, and prioritize bid opportunities that align with Company capabilities, workload, customer relationships, and business objectives.
• Review plans, specifications, addenda, bid forms, schedules, and other contract documents to determine project scope and requirements.
• Perform detailed quantity and material takeoffs and develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other project costs for inclusion in estimates.
• Solicit and evaluate competitive pricing from suppliers and subcontractors and ensure quotations accurately reflect project scope, schedule, and bid requirements.
• Develop labor estimates using anticipated manpower, productivity, wage rates, project conditions, and installation requirements.
• Coordinate with Operations and Project Managers regarding labor availability, project schedule, constructability, equipment needs, and other operational considerations.
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, clarifications, risks, value-engineering opportunities, and potential cost impacts before bid submission.
• Monitor bid documents and addenda throughout the estimating process and ensure estimates are based on the current drawings and specifications.
• Prepare complete and accurate bid proposals, bid forms, supporting documentation, and required submissions by established deadlines.
• Maintain organized and accurate records of estimates, bids submitted, bid results, supplier/subcontractor quotations, and relevant project documentation.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site visits, scope reviews, bid reviews, and customer or general contractor discussions as required.
• Assist with contract and purchase-order review and negotiation on successful bids within established Company approval authority.
• Create and organize project turnover information for successful bids and communicate estimate assumptions, scope, exclusions, pricing, and project risks to Project Management and Operations.
• Maintain contact with current and prospective customers, general contractors, vendors, and subcontractors to support business development and future bid opportunities.
• Track bid activity and success rates and use historical bid and project information to improve estimating accuracy and competitiveness.
• Review completed-project results, including estimated versus actual labor, material, equipment, and subcontractor costs, and apply lessons learned to future estimates.
• Stay current on market pricing, labor rates, construction methods, equipment, materials, codes, technology, and industry trends affecting mechanical construction.
• Work collaboratively with Project Managers and Operations during preconstruction to develop practical project approaches, manpower assumptions, schedules, purchasing strategies, and subcontracting plans.
• Evaluate self-perform versus subcontracting options based on cost, manpower availability, schedule, expertise, risk, and project requirements.
• Support value engineering, design-build, budgeting, conceptual estimating, and alternative-system evaluations when required.
• Participate in formal bid reviews for significant projects and clearly communicate assumptions, qualifications, exclusions, risks, and recommended pricing.
• Support a smooth handoff from Estimating to Project Management after award to ensure the project team understands the basis of estimate and contractual scope.

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Five or more years of estimating, project management, purchasing, or related mechanical construction experience preferred; extensive industry experience may substitute for formal education.
• Experience estimating mechanical construction work such as HVAC, piping, plumbing, electrical, controls, or related commercial/industrial systems preferred.
• Valid…