Chief Estimator (Federal Construction)

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Chief Estimator

Reports to: Director of Construction

FLSA Status : Exempt

Location: Birmingham, AL

The Opportunity:

Bhate is seeking a Chief Estimator to lead estimating and proposal pricing for federal facilities and fuels infrastructure projects. This hands-on leadership role offers direct collaboration with the Director of Construction, ownership of estimating standards, and influence over bid strategy and project execution planning.

Our clients include USACE, AFCEC, NAVFAC, FBI and the U.S. Department of State.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead competitive pursuits: Manage bid priorities, estimating resources, schedules, and reviews; support bid/no-bid decisions and present final pricing recommendations to leadership.
• Develop and reconcile estimates: Prepare conceptual through detailed estimates, including from incomplete designs. Reconcile changes in scope, quantities, productivity, and pricing; account for direct costs, general conditions, indirect costs, escalation, and contingency.
• Control scope and assumptions: Review solicitations, drawings, specifications, and amendments; maintain scope checklists, documented estimate assumptions, exclusions, and prebid RFIs.
• Build subcontractor coverage: Develop qualified subcontractor and supplier relationships, prepare trade scopes, coordinate solicitations, and level proposals. Validate pricing against quantities and historical costs; resolve gaps, overlaps, and exclusions.
• Quantify risk and validate execution: Evaluate construction methods, logistics, phasing, procurement lead times, and schedule with operations and designers. Maintain quantified risk allowances and validate general conditions against the execution plan.
• Align and present proposals: Coordinate pricing with technical approaches and schedules. Explain estimate assumptions, alternatives, and risks to leadership and clients; identify value engineering opportunities and support negotiations.
• Support awarded projects: Transfer budgets, scope commitments, estimate assumptions, and procurement priorities to operations; support buyout, change pricing, and requests for equitable adjustment.
• Strengthen estimating performance: Establish consistent standards, mentor personnel, maintain cost databases, and incorporate actual project costs, bid results, and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of construction estimating experience, including substantial federal construction experience and demonstrated leadership of complete lump-sum or firm-fixed-price bids.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, cost drivers, federal solicitation requirements, and subcontractor procurement.
• Proficiency with Sage Estimating (Timberline), Bluebeam Revu, and Microsoft Excel, including digital quantity takeoffs; working knowledge of RS Means.
• Ability to substantiate estimates, evaluate subcontractor proposals, present pricing recommendations, and manage concurrent proposal deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Building Science, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant construction and estimating experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Field supervision or project management experience, with practical understanding of productivity, sequencing, site logistics, and subcontractor execution.
• Experience with design-build delivery, petroleum/oils/lubricants (POL) infrastructure, or international construction.
• Familiarity with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.

Travel:

Domestic and international travel is required as needed for site visits and client meetings.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a growing company solving environmental challenges.
• Work on fast-paced projects supporting local economic growth.
• Enjoy a collaborative and innovative work environment with opportunities for career growth.

Ready to Make an Impact? Apply today and bring your expertise to a company where your work truly matters!

Competitive compensation and benefits are available and will be determined based on related experience and knowledge.

Bhate is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Bhate Environmental Associates, Inc. is an environmental solutions company using state-of-the-art technologies to solve problems. Our family of employees focuses on a collective commitment to each of our clients. We believe in collaboration, robust training, outstanding compensation, benefits to staff and, always, quality work. Our team, located in 10 offices in the US and abroad, provides the following core services:
Environmental Compliance

Investigations/Studies
Remedial Design/Remedial Action
UXO/MEC

Abatement/Recycling
Construction
Renovation
Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization
Design Build
Design Bid/Build
Horizontal and Vertical
Energy
Life-cycle and Analyses
Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) Analysis
Cogeneration
CADD/GIS
Safety
Hazard Evaluations

Bhate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other

Company Description

Bhate Environmental Associates, Inc. is an environmental solutions company using state-of-the-art technologies to solve problems. Our family of employees focuses on a collective commitment to each of our clients. We believe in collaboration, robust training, outstanding compensation, benefits to staff and, always, quality work. Our team, located in 10 offices in the US and abroad, provides the following core services:\r\n Environmental Compliance\r\n Investigations/Studies\r\n Remedial Design/Remedial Action\r\n UXO/MEC\r\n Abatement/Recycling\r\n Construction\r\n Renovation\r\n Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization\r\n Design Build\r\n Design Bid/Build\r\n Horizontal and Vertical\r\n Energy\r\n Life-cycle and Analyses\r\n Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) Analysis\r\n Cogeneration\r\n CADD/GIS\r\n Safety\r\n Hazard Evaluations\r\n\r\nBhate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other