Commercial Lead Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Lead Estimator – Drive Public & Federal Construction Pursuits for Accel Construction

Job Overview

• Company: Accel Construction
• Salary/Pay Rate: $100,000 - $165,000 per year + Performance Bonus
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Job/Employment Type: Full Time
• Project Scope: Public & Federal Hard-Bid Projects ($2.5M to $70M)
• Mandatory Licences & Certifications: None Required

The Opportunity

You will serve as an estimating leader driving strategic commercial growth across our vibrant Chicago network. In this role, you will evaluate complex public and federal bid packages to land high-impact construction contracts. You will directly expand our project pipeline while working alongside a supportive leadership team.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Lead comprehensive bid administration including plan reviews, material take-offs, and trade scope reviews.
• Monitor key government pipeline databases like SAM and GovTribe to capture federal pursuit opportunities.
• Aggressively engage subcontractors and supply houses to secure complete bid-day coverage.
• Perform bid-day analyses and integrate creative value-engineering solutions into every proposal.
• Maintain active follow-up with architects, owners, and managers to successfully close business.
• Execute seamless 24-hour project turnovers to Project Management upon contract award.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional construction estimating experience.
• Proven track record on Public and Federal Hard-Bid projects valued between $2.5M and $70M.
• Advanced proficiency in Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project, Word, and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Established relationships with trade subcontractors, owners, and architects in the Chicago market.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing comprehensive subcontractor bid packages and trade scope sheets.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive annual base salary with regular pay cycles.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to project success.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage options.
• 401(k) retirement plan options with employer contribution features.
• Generous paid time off covering holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

About Us

Accel Construction delivers general contracting services across commercial, industrial, and federal sectors. We combine a robust project pipeline with a collaborative culture where every team member thrives.

Accel Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.