Chief Estimator

Are you a senior estimating leader who thrives on building winning pursuit strategies, mentoring teams, and influencing major infrastructure projects from concept through award?
What if your next opportunity gave you the ability to shape market strategy, lead high-profile pursuits across multiple delivery methods, and partner directly with executive leadership on projects ranging from $20M to over $1B?
This opportunity is with a well-established heavy civil contractor recognized for delivering complex infrastructure work across transportation, water resources, rail, geotechnical, and utility markets throughout the Western United States.

What people are saying:

“Leadership actually trusts the estimating team to help shape the direction of the business.”
“The collaboration between operations and preconstruction here is on another level.”
“This is the type of company where your ideas and strategy genuinely influence which projects move forward.”

Why This Role Stands Out:

Executive-level visibility and influence on company growth strategy
Lead major heavy civil pursuits across diverse infrastructure markets
Exposure to Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CM/GC, and traditional delivery projects
Collaborative culture where estimating and operations work closely together
Long-term career growth with a respected infrastructure builder
Opportunity to mentor and develop the next generation of estimating talent
Strong pipeline of technically challenging infrastructure work

Title: Chief Estimator
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Salary: $150,000 to $200,000

Leadership & Strategy

Lead the overall estimating and preconstruction strategy for complex infrastructure pursuits
Partner with executive leadership to identify market opportunities and pursuit strategies
Mentor, train, and develop senior and junior estimators
Foster a culture centered on accountability, collaboration, and precision
Serve as a strategic advisor on market positioning and long-term growth initiatives

Pursuit Oversight

Lead large-scale estimates and proposal efforts for heavy civil infrastructure projects
Oversee bottoms-up estimating efforts with a hands-on leadership approach
Direct internal bid reviews and support client-facing presentations
Develop innovative pursuit strategies to maintain competitive positioning
Collaborate with engineering and marketing teams throughout the proposal process

Operational Collaboration

Work closely with field operations teams to validate assumptions, sequencing, and constructability
Review production strategies, phasing plans, and execution approaches
Participate in constructability reviews and operational planning efforts
Ensure alignment between estimating, operations, and project execution teams

Qualifications

10+ years of heavy civil estimating experience
Proven success leading pursuits ranging from $20M to $100M+
Strong background in civil, concrete, earthwork, underground utilities, PCCP, geotechnical, or site development work
Expertise in bottoms-up estimating methodologies
Experience with public, private, and alternative delivery projects
Strong understanding of sequencing, quantification, and constructability planning
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or related field
Preferred Software Experience