Senior Estimator - Hydro-Electric

Senior Estimator

At Stantec, we know the work we do matters. From decarbonizing mines to modernizing electric grids and building the infrastructure that fuels communities, we're powering the world. Our clients come to us with their biggest, most complex challenges because that's where we thrive. And we're looking for problem solvers, high achievers, and visionaries to help us. Join us for a chance to grow professionally at one of the world's top design firms while building our clean energy future.

Your Opportunity As a Senior Estimator at Stantec, you will be responsible for developing, managing, and coordinating large multi-discipline infrastructure cost estimates and construction schedules. You will work with a dynamic team of cost estimators, schedulers, and construction engineers in Stantec's estimating group. You will be a productive leader on the team and will be responsible for coordinating teams of discipline estimators, while estimating many project disciplines. The position will have responsibility to support exciting, complex projects throughout the world ranging from approximately $1 million to $2 billion. The successful candidate will be responsible for the coordination and development of cost estimates and schedules for design teams at traditional project development milestones. This role is intended for an experienced estimator with strong expertise in hydroelectric generation, power systems, and electrical infrastructure estimating. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience developing and leading large, multi-discipline cost estimates for hydroelectric generating stations, powerhouse upgrades, substations, switchyards, transmission and distribution infrastructure, protection and control systems, SCADA systems, electrical balance-of-plant systems, and major electrical rehabilitation programs. Experience leading large studies, capital programs, and complex infrastructure portfolios is strongly preferred. Candidates should be comfortable coordinating estimates across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, and construction disciplines. Experience supporting municipal, utility, state/provincial, federal, USACE, Bureau of Reclamation, public power authorities, and other government-funded projects is considered a significant asset.

Stantec takes a measured approach to workplace flexibility and choice for employee's workplaces. Our goal is to strike the optimal balance between providing flexibility, sustaining successful teams and optimizing productivity for the benefit of our employees, projects, and clients. We value a vibrant, healthy, enriching workplace culture that considers employee well-being and work-life balance so our people can bring their best to work every day. This position will have flexibility in working from home or a Stantec US or Canadian office and may require some domestic and possibly international travel.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate the timely and complete development of multi-discipline cost estimates and construction schedules.
• Support and collaborate with other estimators for the development of cost estimates and construction schedules
• Develop detailed estimates for generators, transformers, substations, switchgear, medium- and high-voltage systems, protection and control systems, relay upgrades, SCADA systems, power distribution systems, electrical balance-of-plant infrastructure, transmission interconnections, and related facilities.
• Coordinate the input parameters for cost estimates and construction schedules.
• Validate material takeoffs and construction quantities from drawings.
• Coordinate and compile information from all estimating disciplines into one cost estimate.
• Develop estimate execution plans outlining estimating strategy, scope assumptions, methodologies, staffing requirements, and schedules for major estimating efforts.
• Prepare detailed labor-force work plans for estimating activities.
• Prepare basis of cost estimate report deliverables for the end user.
• Establish site-specific estimating criteria including wage and person-hour productivity rates.
• Perform thorough quality control of construction documents and provide design ideas and solutions.
• Support vendor, supplier, and subcontractor pricing activities, including soliciting, reviewing, and incorporating quotations into comprehensive cost estimates.
• Provide support for procurement, change and claims valuation and negotiations.
• Prepare construction logistics plans.
• Provide innovative solutions for construction, estimating issues and problems.
• Interface with designated management and client counterparts for specific estimating tasks.
• Identify, assess, and quantify project risks and opportunities, including potential cost and schedule impacts, and contribute to formal cost and schedule risk analyses as required.
• Review design documents such as specifications and drawings to identify risks and opportunities related to competitive pricing for key project elements.
• Prepare and coordinate constructability reviews for engineering designs.
• Serve as the primary cost estimating point of contact for clients and external stakeholders, supporting clear communication, alignment on scope, and estimate defensibility throughout project development.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, best practices, and emerging estimating methodologies, applying lessons learned to improve estimate quality, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Extensive technical knowledge of cost/estimating, construction practice, and engineering design, and applicable standards and procedures.
• Extensive technical knowledge of cost estimating, construction practice, electrical engineering, utility infrastructure, and applicable standards and procedures.
• Experience estimating hydroelectric, utility, renewable energy, transmission, distribution, or power infrastructure projects.
• Estimating expertise in one or more of the following areas: Hydroelectric generation facilities, Generator and turbine-generator rehabilitation, Substations and switchyards, Protection and control systems, Transmission infrastructure, Distribution infrastructure, SCADA and automation systems, Electrical balance-of-plant systems, Utility-scale renewable energy projects, Grid modernization initiatives.
• Advanced understanding of different contract methods and how they apply to estimating.
• Experience with InEight Estimate, Sage Timberline Estimating, On-Screen Take-Off, MCASES MII, IPE, HCSS or other databased estimating platforms.
• Experience with one or more scheduling software (Primavera P6, MS Project)
• Ability to travel for site reconnaissance and interfacing with clients and stakeholders (domestic and some international travel may be periodically required).
• Experience working with other discipline estimators to develop a comprehensive project estimate.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, direct, perform, review, and present cost estimating projects.
• Ability to solve complex problems using sound professional judgement, creativity, and innovation.
• Ability to guide and mentor team members in engineering and construction based estimating techniques and methodologies.
• Positive attitude with strong relationship building skills.
• Strong client-facing skills, with experience serving as the primary estimating interface for internal and external stakeholders.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Operations Management, Business Management, or related field. Minimum of 10 years of combined experience in an estimating and construction role. Experience with hydroelectric generation, substations, power systems, utility infrastructure, transmission, distribution, or electrical balance-of-plant projects is required. Typical office environment working with computers. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather. This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.