Chief EstimatorPreconstruction Manager

CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH DIRECT HIRE

Commercial General Contracting & Construction Management Firm

Riddle Recruitment has partnered directly with a well-established highly respected commercial general contractor in Southern California to find their next Chief Estimator / Preconstruction Manager. This is a confidential direct-hire search - not a contract or agency role - and our clients name will be shared with qualified candidates as the process moves forward.

About Our Client

Our client is known throughout the region for consistency reliability and delivering high-quality profitable projects on time and within budget across Healthcare Commercial Laboratory/Technical Industrial Educational Automotive Corporate Office and Tenant Improvement construction.

The Opportunity

This leadership role owns the estimating and preconstruction process end-to-end; from conceptual budgeting and value engineering through final bid submission and contract award - while mentoring estimating staff strengthening subcontractor and client relationships and helping pursue new business. Were looking for a collaborative hands-on leader with sharp technical skills strong business acumen and a passion for profitable high-quality projects.

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership

• Lead manage mentor and develop the estimating team through coaching training and performance feedback with a collaborative leadership style.
• Establish estimating standards procedures and quality-control measures; assign workload and priorities across multiple concurrent pursuits to meet critical bid deadlines.
• Conduct estimate review meetings and give final approval on all estimates prior to submission.
• Continuously improve estimating processes cost databases historical cost information and subcontractor relationships to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.

Estimating & Preconstruction

• Lead the complete estimating process - conceptual schematic design-development GMP and lump-sum estimates - reviewing drawings specs and contract documents to interpret scope and identify risk.
• Develop comprehensive cost estimates and detailed quantity take-offs using ProEst Bluebeam Building Connected Excel and other industry-standard tools.
• Develop competitive profitable bid strategies; lead constructability reviews and value-engineering analyses to find cost savings without compromising quality.
• Evaluate project risks recommend contingencies identify pricing opportunities and assist with early procurement planning for long-lead materials.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings and job walks; create CSI bid-package scoping documents; issue and manage RFIs to resolve plan discrepancies and scheduling issues.

Subcontractor & Client Relations

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors suppliers architects engineers owners and consultants.
• Solicit evaluate and negotiate proposals for the best overall value; review scopes qualifications and exclusions to ensure complete bid coverage and quickly diagnose errors.
• Participate in client interviews project presentations preconstruction meetings and industry events clarifying project requirements budgets and expectations along the way.

Project Collaboration

• Collaborate with Project Managers Operations Marketing and Executive Leadership on RFQs RFPs design-build negotiated and hard-bid pursuits.
• Support post-bid buyouts and a seamless project turnover to operations and analyze completed-project costs to sharpen future estimating accuracy.

Financial & Risk Management

• Ensure all estimates align with company profitability goals; monitor market trends labor rates and material pricing.
• Evaluate contract terms insurance and bonding requirements; support change-order pricing and budget updates throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable codes regulations and company standards.

What You Bring

• Minimum 10 years of commercial construction estimating experience including at least 5 years in a senior estimating leadership role.
• Extensive experience estimating Healthcare Commercial Laboratory Educational Corporate Office Tenant Improvement and other commercial construction projects.
• Expert knowledge of blueprint reading specifications quantity take-offs constructability reviews and commercial construction means and methods.
• Advanced proficiency with ProEst Bluebeam Building Connected and Microsoft Excel; experience with Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud is a plus.
• Strong understanding of conceptual estimating GMP development negotiated work design-build delivery and hard-bid procurement with a proven track record of winning bid strategies and managing multiple high-value pursuits at once.
• Demonstrated success in cost control value engineering budgeting pricing strategy and risk analysis backed by excellent negotiation leadership communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build lasting relationships with clients design teams subcontractors and internal teams with exceptional attention to detail strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and the composure to perform under tight deadlines.
• Bachelors degree in Construction Management Engineering Architecture or a related field preferred (or equivalent industry experience).

• Location & Work Arrangement

  This position is based on-site in San Clemente CA and is a full-time in-office role.

  Why This Role & About Riddle Recruitment

  This is a chance to lead an experienced estimating team shape company strategy and help deliver landmark Healthcare Commercial Laboratory and Educational projects across Southern California. Riddle Recruitment is managing this confidential search on our clients behalf and will be your point of contact throughout the process. If youre ready to lead as a Chief Estimator with a growing respected general contractor wed love to hear from you - apply today to start a confidential conversation.

  
  Benefits:

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