Industrial Coatings Estimator

The Brock Group provides specialty craft and maintenance services to key industries across North America. We are dedicated to offering the safest and highest quality service and solutions. We view ourselves as partners with our customers, our employees and the communities in which we operate. Our performance-driven culture is led by having and developing the best people, the most efficient processes and the right tools for the job.


Position Summary

The Industrial Coatings Estimator is responsible for preparing accurate, competitive, and profitable cost estimates for industrial painting, blasting, coating, and related specialty services projects. This role works closely with operations, business development, project management, and customers to evaluate bid opportunities, review specifications, perform takeoffs, develop labor and material pricing, and support the successful execution of awarded work.

The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of industrial coatings applications, surface preparation requirements, field labor productivity, and job costing within industrial markets such as power generation, refining, petrochemical, manufacturing, steel, and commercial/industrial facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Review drawings, specifications, bid documents, and customer requirements to develop complete and accurate project estimates.
• Perform quantity takeoffs for industrial painting, abrasive blasting, coatings, fireproofing, lining, and related industrial services work.
• Develop labor, equipment, material, subcontract, and indirect cost estimates for bid submissions and budget proposals.
• Evaluate project scope, access requirements, containment needs, production rates, and jobsite conditions to properly assess risk and cost.
• Coordinate with operations, project management, procurement, and field leadership to validate means, methods, schedules, and manpower assumptions.
• Attend pre-bid meetings, site visits, and customer walkthroughs to gather field information and assess project conditions.
• Prepare detailed bid packages, pricing summaries, clarifications, exclusions, and proposal documents for customer submission.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and recommend alternative approaches that improve competitiveness while protecting margin.
• Maintain estimating databases, unit pricing, labor productivity assumptions, historical cost data, and vendor/subcontractor relationships.
• Support handoff meetings for awarded projects to ensure alignment between estimating, operations, and project management teams.
• Assist in reviewing contracts, terms and conditions, and scope language to identify commercial and operational risk.
• Track bid results, analyze wins and losses, and help improve estimating accuracy and market strategy over time.
• Work with business development and branch leadership to prioritize opportunities and support growth initiatives in key industrial markets.
• Ensure estimates align with company safety standards, quality expectations, and operational capabilities.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED required; associate's degree, technical degree, or equivalent industry experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of estimating, project management, operations, or field supervision experience in industrial coatings, painting, blasting, or related industrial services .
• Strong understanding of industrial coatings systems, surface preparation standards, containment requirements, and field execution methods.
• Experience interpreting drawings, specifications, and customer bid packages.
• Working knowledge of labor production rates, equipment requirements, job costing, and margin expectations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel to jobsites, customer facilities, and branch locations as needed.

Preferred

• Experience estimating work in markets such as refineries, power plants, steel mills, chemical plants, manufacturing facilities, or large commercial/industrial sites.
• Familiarity with SSPC / AMPP standards, coating inspection practices, and industrial safety requirements.
• Experience with estimating software, CRM tools, and ERP/project costing systems.
• NACE / AMPP, coatings inspection, or related technical certifications are a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to build estimates from conceptual information as well as complete bid packages.
• Practical understanding of industrial field productivity, sequencing, and access challenges.
• Ability to balance competitiveness with risk management and profitability.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, operations leaders, project managers, suppliers, and executive leadership.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills in evaluating scope gaps, assumptions, and bid strategy.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently while collaborating across departments.

Core Duties by Area

Estimating & Preconstruction

• Develop detailed cost estimates for labor, equipment, coatings, consumables, subcontractors, and general conditions.
• Review project documents and define scope inclusions, exclusions, and assumptions.
• Prepare bid recap sheets and internal review documents for management approval.

Field & Scope Evaluation

• Visit jobsites to assess access, congestion, production limitations, environmental conditions, and logistical constraints.
• Validate quantities and work sequencing with operations teams.
• Identify scaffolding, containment, insulation removal, or other support service impacts tied to coating scope.

Commercial & Risk Review

• Review customer contract language and bid requirements for exposure related to schedule, liquidated damages, safety, warranty, and payment terms.
• Flag commercial and operational risks early in the estimating process.
• Support change order pricing and scope revisions as needed.

Project Turnover

• Participate in turnover meetings with operations and project management after award.
• Provide estimate backup, clarifications, assumptions, production expectations, and pricing logic.
• Help ensure awarded work is properly budgeted and set up for execution success.

Performance Expectations / Key Metrics

Success in this role may be measured by:

• Estimate accuracy
• Bid volume and turnaround time
• Gross margin performance on awarded work
• Hit rate / win rate
• Quality and completeness of proposal submissions
• Effectiveness of project turnover to operations
• Development and maintenance of estimating databases and historical costs
• Support of branch and regional growth initiatives

Location Information:

Remote Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis

Shift:

Exempt: No

Work Type: Full Time

Working Conditions:

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit Retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.