Chief Estimator

Type: In-Office Full-Time
Location: Calgary Alberta

Our client is an established leader in heavy civil construction with extensive expertise in complex underground utility and infrastructure projects. With a strong presence in the Alberta market the organization delivers projects across municipal government industrial and private development sectors working with owners consultants contractors and development partners.

As the Chief Estimator you will lead the estimating function for major heavy civil opportunities providing strategic direction while overseeing the preparation of competitive accurate and comprehensive estimates. Reporting to the VP of Operations you will work closely with General Managers Operations Business Development and senior leadership to develop winning bid strategies manage risk and support sustainable business growth.

Estimating Leadership & Strategy:

• Lead the estimating function and establish consistent systems processes procedures and best practices across the organization.
• Review project opportunities with General Managers and senior leadership to determine which pursuits align with operational capacity market strategy risk tolerance and business objectives.
• Develop bid strategies that balance competitiveness project risk available capacity and profitability.
• Lead bid-day reviews with General Managers and estimators to validate assumptions pricing risks and final submissions.
• Ensure project risks contractual requirements constructability considerations scope gaps and commercial issues are identified and communicated to senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain processes for effective project handoff from estimating to operations.

Heavy Civil Estimating & Preconstruction:

• Lead complex estimates from initial opportunity assessment through tender submission including quantity take-offs subcontractor and supplier pricing indirect costs risk assessment and final bid review.
• Apply strong technical knowledge of underground utility construction including water sanitary stormwater deep utilities complex excavation shoring bypass pumping trenchless installations earthworks and site servicing.
• Interpret drawings specifications geotechnical information contracts and tender documents to identify scope gaps risks opportunities and constructability considerations.
• Support conceptual estimating and develop cost information that enables the team to efficiently and accurately assess early-stage opportunities.
• Work with Business Development and external consultants to assess project feasibility design requirements timelines and anticipated costs.
• Lead RFQ and RFP submissions in collaboration with Business Development and other internal stakeholders.

Market & Business Development:

• Lead market analysis across key sectors including industrial municipal and government and private development assessing market size competitive conditions and market share.
• Develop a strong understanding of end-user clients including land developers municipal governments consultants and civil general contractors.
• Build and maintain relationships with key owners consultants subcontractors suppliers and strategic partners to support future project opportunities.
• Participate in industry networking events strategic marketing meetings and business development initiatives to identify new opportunities and strengthen market relationships.
• Collaborate with General Managers and Business Development to develop strategies for pursuing and winning strategically important opportunities.

Subcontractor & Supplier Management:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors and vendors to expand coverage across geographic and market areas.
• Establish prequalification grading performance feedback and relationship-management processes for subcontractors and suppliers.
• Improve subcontractor coverage bid scoping pricing accuracy and overall estimate development through consistent processes and best practices.
• Negotiate and evaluate subcontractor and supplier pricing while ensuring estimates reflect realistic project requirements and market conditions.

Technology Systems & Continuous Improvement:

• Lead the implementation maintenance and ongoing improvement of estimating and project-tracking technology including the B2W software suite in collaboration with IT.
• Investigate and implement new technologies that can improve estimating efficiency accuracy and decision-making.
• Develop and maintain conceptual estimating databases to support faster and more accurate preliminary cost estimates.
• Use historical project performance actual production data and lessons learned to continuously improve estimating assumptions processes and accuracy.
• Develop reporting for senior leadership on bidding activity project opportunities and competitive market conditions.

To succeed in this role candidates should demonstrate:

Education & Experience:

• 10 years of progressive estimating experience within heavy civil construction with significant hands-on experience estimating underground utility projects.
• Extensive experience with water sanitary stormwater and related underground infrastructure.
• Proven experience estimating projects involving deep utilities complex excavation shoring bypass pumping trenchless installations earthworks and site servicing.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex estimates from opportunity assessment through tender submission including quantity take-offs subcontractor and supplier pricing indirect costs risk assessment and final bid review.
• Experience with multiple procurement and project delivery models including unit-price negotiated design-assist and construction management.
• Strong knowledge of the Alberta heavy civil construction market including owners consultants subcontractors suppliers and competitive conditions.
• Post-secondary education in Civil Engineering Construction Management Engineering Technology or a related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and extensive industry experience.
• Professional designation such as . C.E.T. GSC or equivalent is an asset.

Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of construction methods production rates equipment utilization labour requirements and material costs associated with underground utility construction.
• Advanced ability to interpret drawings specifications geotechnical information contracts and tender documents.
• Experience with estimating software and related technology; Bluebeam and B2W experience is preferred.
• Strong understanding of project risk commercial considerations constructability and cost development.

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