Chief Estimator

About the Role

Chief Estimator – Civil & Earthwork An established civil and earthwork contractor based in Rockville, MD is seeking a Chief Estimator to take a lead role in their preconstruction operations at an exciting point in the company's growth. This is a genuine career-defining opportunity, as the organization is in active succession planning with senior leadership transitions underway, creating room for a motivated estimator to step into a position of real influence and long-term tenure. The right candidate will find not just a role, but a professional home with a company that is investing meaningfully in its next generation of leadership.

Responsibilities

What you will be doing:

• Lead the full estimating function for civil and earthwork projects from initial takeoff through bid submission, ensuring accuracy and competitiveness across all scopes.
• Analyze project plans, specifications, and site conditions to develop detailed cost estimates covering earthmoving, grading, utilities, and related civil work.
• Solicit, review, and qualify subcontractor and supplier quotes, building and maintaining strong vendor relationships in the regional market.
• Collaborate closely with project management and field operations to ensure estimates reflect realistic production rates, crew structures, and equipment requirements.
• Identify and communicate project risks, scope gaps, and value engineering opportunities during the preconstruction phase.
• Maintain and continuously refine the company's estimating database, historical cost data, and bid templates.
• Participate in bid strategy discussions with ownership and leadership, contributing to decisions on which opportunities to pursue and how to position bids competitively.
• Play an active role in mentoring junior estimating staff as part of the company's broader knowledge-transfer and succession planning initiative.

Required Skills

What we are looking for:

• Demonstrated experience in civil construction estimating with a strong specialization in earthwork, grading, mass excavation, or related self-perform scopes.
• Proficiency with industry-standard estimating software and takeoff tools; comfort building and owning a complete estimate from scratch.
• Solid understanding of field operations, equipment productivity, and the practical realities of executing earthwork in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously and meet hard deadlines.
• Candidates at varying experience levels will be considered — a less experienced but highly capable estimator with the right earthwork background may be a strong fit given the mentorship and growth structure in place.
• A collaborative, ownership-minded attitude and genuine interest in growing with a company over the long term.

Pay range and compensation package

Compensation:

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience, reflecting the seniority and strategic importance of this role.

If you are an earthwork estimating professional looking for a role where your expertise will truly matter and your career can grow alongside a company that is building for the future, we encourage you to reach out today.