Chief Estimator

Job summary

Lead the estimating department, oversee estimates and tender submissions, and guide bid decisions, risk management, and procurement strategy. Partner with Operations, Business Development, clients, and senior leadership to support preconstruction, successful project handovers, profitable growth, and continuous improvement.

Job details

Chief Estimator – General Contractor Location: Woodstock, ON Industry: Commercial / Industrial / Institutional Construction Employment Type: Full-time Salary: 180K - 220K About the Opportunity Our client is a well-established General Contractor with a strong portfolio of complex construction projects. They are looking for an experienced Chief Estimator to lead their estimating function and play a key role in preconstruction, business development, and overall company strategy. This is a senior leadership position for an estimator who is comfortable not only managing complex estimates, but also leading a team, influencing bid strategy, managing risk, and partnering with senior leadership to drive profitable growth. Key Responsibilities Lead and provide strategic direction to the estimating department, including Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Estimators. Establish estimating standards, processes, and best practices to ensure consistent and accurate bids. Manage departmental workload and resources across multiple concurrent tenders. Lead go/no-go bid decisions, assessing project fit, risk, capacity, and profitability. Oversee conceptual budgets, preliminary estimates, detailed tenders, and procurement strategies. Review and approve final estimates and ensure alignment with profitability and risk objectives. Lead major tender closings and ensure submissions are accurate, competitive, and compliant. Identify and manage estimating risks, assumptions, exclusions, and opportunities. Work closely with Operations and Business Development throughout the preconstruction process. Lead the transition from successful tender to Operations, ensuring a thorough handover of pricing, assumptions, risks, and subcontractor commitments. Participate in client and consultant meetings, presentations, interviews, and proposal discussions. Provide strategic input on bid strategy, value engineering, constructability, and alternative delivery models. Develop and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, clients, developers, and consultants. Monitor market conditions, labour and material pricing, and subcontractor trends to improve cost forecasting. Support contract negotiations through cost analysis, scope clarification, and risk assessment. Lead the implementation and improvement of estimating technology, digital tools, cost databases, and benchmarking systems. Track estimating KPIs, including bid-to-win ratios, estimate accuracy, and proposal performance. Lead lessons-learned initiatives and continuously improve estimating processes. Participate as a member of the company's leadership team and contribute to strategic and resource planning. Qualifications & Experience Diploma or degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architectural Technology, or a related discipline. 12+ years of progressive estimating experience within commercial, industrial, institutional, or similar construction environments. Previous experience leading and mentoring an estimating team. Strong understanding of construction methods, contracts, and delivery models, including Lump Sum, Construction Management, and Design-Build. Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-million-dollar tenders from preconstruction through closing. Strong financial, analytical, and cost-control capabilities. Ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously while working under tight deadlines. Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills. Strong understanding of subcontractor and supplier markets. Established relationships within the construction industry are considered an asset.

What you’ll do

Lead the estimating department, oversee estimates and tender submissions, and guide bid decisions, risk management, and procurement strategy. Partner with Operations, Business Development, clients, and senior leadership to support preconstruction, successful project handovers, profitable growth, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Requires 12 or more years of progressive estimating experience in commercial, industrial, institutional, or similar construction, including experience leading and mentoring an estimating team. Candidates should have a relevant construction, engineering, or architectural technology diploma or degree, strong financial and analytical capabilities, knowledge of construction contracts and delivery models, and excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Listed skills

• Risk Management · Preferred
• Financial analysis · Preferred
• Contract Negotiation · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Estimating Leadership
• Construction Cost Estimating
• Bid Strategy
• Risk Management
• Preconstruction
• Tender Management
• Team Leadership and Mentoring
• Cost Analysis
• Financial Analysis
• Contract Negotiation
• Procurement Strategy
• Value Engineering
• Constructability Review
• Subcontractor and Supplier Relations
• Cost Forecasting
• Estimating Technology and Cost Databases

Job areas

• Construction
• Management & Leadership
• Finance & Accounting

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