Chief Estimator - ICI - SW Ontario

Original job posting

Lead the project pricing and pre-construction team, overseeing opportunity evaluation, budgets, forecasts, cost plans, proposals, and commercial risk. Advise senior leadership on pursuit strategy and financial objectives, develop team capability, and coordinate the transition of awarded projects to delivery teams.

Job details

An established building contractor is seeking a senior pre-construction professional to lead its project costing and pursuit function. This individual will oversee pricing strategy, opportunity evaluation, forecasting, and team development while serving as a key advisor to executive leadership. In addition to technical expertise, the role requires strong leadership, business acumen, and the ability to influence strategic decision-making across the organization. Client Details Our client is an Ontario based general contractor with over 30 years' experience in residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial projects. Description Provide leadership and direction to a multi-level project pricing and planning team. Build, refine, and maintain processes that drive accuracy, consistency, and accountability throughout the pursuit cycle. Support the professional development of team members through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning. Manage priorities and resources across multiple concurrent opportunities and deadlines. Partner with senior leadership to evaluate potential opportunities, balancing risk, capacity, and return on investment. Oversee the development of early-stage budgets, financial projections, pricing models, and submission strategies. Review and endorse major project cost plans before submission or negotiation. Drive commercial outcomes by ensuring pursuits align with targeted financial objectives. Identify, evaluate, and communicate key project risks during the planning and acquisition stages. Guide major proposal submissions and ensure compliance with client requirements and internal standards. Facilitate the transition of awarded projects by transferring assumptions, commercial strategies, commitments, and key project considerations to delivery teams. Work closely with project, operational, and business growth teams to support organizational objectives. Represent the organization in meetings with owners, consultants, development groups, and strategic partners. Contribute insight related to construction strategy, execution planning, alternate solutions, and delivery approaches. Monitor marketplace conditions, trade partner trends, procurement challenges, and cost movement to support informed decision-making. Establish and maintain strong industry relationships that contribute to repeat business and negotiated opportunities. Assist with commercial discussions, scope definition, and project agreement reviews. Promote the use of technology, data analytics, and process improvements to enhance scalability and performance. Maintain and leverage historical project data to support forecasting and benchmarking. Lead continuous improvement initiatives by incorporating lessons learned and best practices. Track team performance indicators and provide reporting to senior leadership. Stay informed on evolving industry practices, procurement methods, and project delivery approaches. Participate in broader business planning, resource forecasting, and leadership initiatives. Profile Postsecondary education in a construction, engineering, technical design, or related discipline. Extensive experience leading project costing, project pursuit, or pre-construction efforts within the building sector. Proven track record managing complex opportunities and high-value project pursuits. Demonstrated experience building, mentoring, and leading technical teams. Strong understanding of project procurement approaches, contract structures, and commercial risk management. Excellent analytical, financial, and strategic thinking capabilities. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence interacting at executive and client levels. Ability to balance detailed technical review with broader business objectives. Experience managing multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment. Established industry relationships with trade partners, suppliers, consultants, or developers would be beneficial. Job Offer Long term Growth Opportunity Lucrative Compensation Challenging Opportunity with a Dynamic Company $190,000 - $220,000 base salary plus expenses, benefits and discretionary bonus DON'T MISS OUT - APPLY TODAY! MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class otherwise protected under applicable human rights legislation. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled and all other qualified applicants

What you’ll do

Lead the project pricing and pre-construction team, overseeing opportunity evaluation, budgets, forecasts, cost plans, proposals, and commercial risk. Advise senior leadership on pursuit strategy and financial objectives, develop team capability, and coordinate the transition of awarded projects to delivery teams.

Requirements

Requires postsecondary education in construction, engineering, technical design, or a related discipline, along with extensive experience leading project costing, pursuits, or pre-construction in the building sector. Candidates should have a record of leading technical teams and complex pursuits, strong commercial and financial judgment, and excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Benefits

• Expenses
• Benefits
• Discretionary Bonus

Listed skills

• Risk Management · Preferred
• Team Leadership · Preferred
• Procurement · Preferred
• Stakeholder Management · Preferred
• Process Improvement · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Pre-Construction Leadership
• Project Costing
• Estimating
• Pricing Strategy
• Opportunity Evaluation
• Financial Forecasting
• Risk Management
• Commercial Negotiation
• Team Leadership
• Coaching And Mentoring
• Procurement
• Proposal Development
• Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Planning
• Cost Benchmarking
• Process Improvement

Job areas

• Construction
• Management & Leadership
• Finance & Accounting
• Sales
• Engineering