Senior Estimator

Senior Estimator

Lead estimating and preconstruction position for Helot's commercial construction work

Position Summary

The Senior Estimator owns the estimate from the day a bid opportunity comes in to the day the awarded job is handed to the project team. The role reads the drawings and the site, prices the work for both subcontracted and self-performed scope, runs the subcontractor bid process, assembles the proposal in Helot's formats and follows it through to award. It is the person the company relies on to know what a job will cost and what it will take to build it before Helot commits to a number.

This is an office-based position with regular time in the field for site visits, pre-bid walks and existing-conditions reviews. The role carries several bids at once and is expected to keep every one of them on schedule.

Reporting Structure

The Senior Estimator reports to the Head of Construction and works directly with the Project Managers on preconstruction, budget updates and change order pricing for active jobs, and with Business Development on the bid pipeline. Project Engineers and Project Coordinators assigned to a bid take direction from the Senior Estimator on takeoffs, bid solicitation and proposal assembly.

The Senior Estimator is the owner of the company estimating inbox and is the first point of contact for subcontractors and vendors on bid matters.

Responsibilities

• Own the bid calendar: log every opportunity on receipt, set internal milestones for takeoff, subcontractor pricing and review, and plan ahead so subcontractors and internal partners have what they need before the due date.
• Review requests for proposal, drawings, specifications and existing conditions to understand the full scope of each project, and attend site visits and pre-bid walks to capture requirements the documents do not show.
• Produce accurate quantity takeoffs and detailed estimates of labor, material, equipment, subcontractor and general conditions cost for both subcontracted and self-performed work, including unit costs for Helot's self-perform scopes.
• Solicit, level and qualify subcontractor and vendor bids, confirm scope coverage and exclusions, and maintain the bid list and prequalification status of the subcontractors Helot invites.
• Prepare written proposals, rough order of magnitude budgets, long form budget proposals and bid forms in Helot's standard formats, with qualifications, assumptions and exclusions stated clearly.
• Identify alternates, value engineering options and scope gaps or risks on every bid and bring them to the Head of Construction before the proposal is released.
• Follow up with clients on submitted proposals and budgets, record outcomes and feedback in the sales CRM and keep the pipeline current.
• Hand off every awarded job to the Project Manager, Superintendent and accounting with the estimate, subcontractor quotes, buyout targets and the assumptions behind the number.
• Support Project Managers through preconstruction and construction with design-phase budget updates, change order pricing and re-pricing when scope changes.
• Build and maintain the company's historical cost data, unit cost library, labor rates and estimating templates so each estimate improves on the last.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with subcontractors and suppliers, and grow the bidder base in the trades where Helot needs coverage.
• Direct and train Project Engineers and Project Coordinators on estimating work, and review their takeoffs and bid tabulations before they are used.
• Use Procore, ClickUp, Google Drive, takeoff software and the company bid templates, and keep bid files organized to the company naming convention.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Scope of Work Estimated

The Senior Estimator is expected to price the following types of work, and to be competent in the means and methods behind each:

• Commercial tenant improvements and building renovations
• Ground-up retail, restaurant, office and light industrial construction
• Site work, utilities, paving and exterior improvements
• Self-performed scopes including painting and coatings, waterproofing, millwork, drywall, light framing, demolition and jobsite logistics
• Maintenance and service work priced on a lump sum basis

Key Performance Metrics

Performance in this role is reviewed quarterly against the following measures. Definitions, targets and scoring are maintained in the company incentive plan.

• Bids submitted — proposals submitted each quarter, counted from the ClickUp Sales CRM.
• Proposals on time and complete — share of proposals delivered to the client by the due date with every required item included, measured against the bid calendar.
• Buyout against estimate — bought-out subcontractor and material cost against the estimate by division, measured from job cost at buyout.
• Bid margin accuracy — as-built gross profit against bid gross profit on jobs the role estimated, measured from job cost at closeout.
• Win rate — jobs awarded as a share of proposals submitted over the trailing four quarters, from the ClickUp Sales CRM.
• Subcontractor relationship management — documented meetings each quarter with a subcontractor contact at project manager level or above, evidenced by a receipt and a follow-up email copied to the estimating inbox.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of commercial construction experience, including five or more years estimating on the general contractor side across tenant improvement, ground-up and site work projects.
• Demonstrated ability to carry an estimate from conceptual budget through hard bid, and to build and manage unit costs for self-performed work.
• Able to read drawings, specifications and site conditions closely enough to find the issues that change the price.
• Knowledge of Togal AI and RS Means is a plus
• Proficiency in Canva is required
• In-depth knowledge of construction means and methods, subcontractor markets in Southern California and current material and labor costs.
• Proficient in takeoff software such as Bluebeam or On-Screen Takeoff, Excel and Google Sheets, and construction management software such as Procore; experience with a sales CRM preferred.
• Clear written and verbal communication with clients, architects, subcontractors and the internal team, and the organization to manage several bids at once without missing a date.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Valid California driver's license and the ability to travel to jobsites across the company's service area.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary, depending on experience
• Health and dental insurance for the employee and eligible dependents
• 401(k) savings plan with company match on contributions up to 4 percent of annual base wages
• Unlimited paid time off, including holidays
• Access to the company bonus program

Physical Demands

To perform the essential duties of this position an individual must be able to work in an office environment and occasionally in an active construction environment; regularly sit, stand, walk, talk and listen; and access all points of a construction site across a wide range of work environments during site visits and bid walks.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Helot Development, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status, such as race, religion, color, national origin, sex or age.

Limitations and Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with federal and state law. Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform each duty proficiently. Employment remains on an at-will basis: neither the individual nor the company is guaranteed employment for any specific length of time, and either may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause and with

Pay: $130,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person