Senior Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Salary:

Senior Estimator Ames Construction

Ephrata, PA | Full-Time

Own the Numbers Behind Projects That Win

Established in 1974, Ames Construction is a full-service commercial construction company headquartered in Lancaster County, PA, serving south-central and eastern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, Delaware, and south Jersey. Our reputation is built on delivering projects on-time and on-budget and on the average 27+ years of construction experience across our in-house team of executives, project managers, and superintendents. That experience is the key to our superior value engineering, seamless coordination, and the results our clients demand.

We're looking for a Senior Estimator to prepare detailed, accurate cost estimates for commercial construction projects from schematic budgets built on limited documentation to fully priced final construction documents. If you can visualize a project before the drawings are complete, build a number that wins work and holds up in the field, and present it with confidence to owners and architects, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

• Review drawings and specifications to determine quantities and calculate pricing for various trades and materials
• Develop accurate budgets for assigned portions of preconstruction projects, from schematic through final construction documents
• Budget work conceptually when not all documentation is available, using experience and visualization to plan and estimate project costs
• Perform detailed take-offs for self-performed work in a variety of construction types
• Price work for most trades as required, ensuring accurate estimates for all components of the project
• Prepare and price self-performed work for assigned trades, providing complete and accurate estimates
• Engage in value engineering and constructability reviews, developing presentations to communicate findings and suggestions for improvement
• Evaluate project scopes and suggest potential alternatives that could increase project profitability or improve efficiency
• Develop and implement strategies to pursue, estimate, and win competitive bids
• Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits to assess site conditions and the status of existing buildings, ensuring thorough understanding of project requirements
• Solicit, receive, and review bids for completeness, including scope of work and pricing, ensuring all aspects are accurately represented
• Communicate with bidders to finalize bids and ensure completeness prior to inclusion in estimates or proposals
  

• Present estimates and portions of estimates to internal teams, external owners, and architects, ensuring clarity and accuracy
• Attend presentations with owners and architects to communicate estimates and answer questions related to project costs
• Participate in kick-off meetings with estimators, project managers, and superintendents to ensure alignment on project goals and scopes
• Perform other duties as assigned
  

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in estimating commercial construction projects
• Strong knowledge of construction materials, methods, and industry standards
• Proficiency in estimating software
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Leadership experience and ability to work in a team-oriented environment
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred
  

Why Ames Construction?

For more than 50 years, we've earned the trust of clients across the region by exceeding expectations and that starts with getting the numbers right. As a Senior Estimator, you'll have a real seat at the table, working directly with owners, architects, and project leadership from concept through completion, with the autonomy to shape pursuit strategy and the backing of a deeply experienced team. As part of the Ames family of companies, alongside Ames Mechanical and Eby Exteriors, we offer the stability of a well-established firm with deep roots in the Lancaster community.

Ready to bring your estimating expertise to a team that's been trusted since 1974?