Chief Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $160,000-$190,000

Company Overview:

Hi Power Electric is a premier electrical contracting firm with a proven reputation for delivering high-quality, timely, and cost-effective solutions across every commercial, residential, and multi-family projects we take on.

Position Summary:

We're seeking a Chief Estimator to lead our estimating department and own the accuracy, consistency, and competitiveness of every bid that leaves our office. This is a senior leadership role: you'll manage and mentor the estimating team, set bid strategy alongside executive leadership, and serve as the critical link between preconstruction and operations. The right candidate combines deep hands-on commercial electrical estimating experience with the judgment to know which jobs to chase and which to walk away from.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and develop the estimating team, including hiring, training, workload assignment, and performance management
• Partner with executive leadership on go/no-go decisions, bid strategy, margin targets, and market positioning
• Own and continuously improve estimating standards, procedures, historical cost databases, labor units, and assembly libraries
• Track win/loss rates and bid performance; conduct post-bid and post-project cost reviews to sharpen labor factors and future accuracy

Estimating & Preconstruction

• Prepare and oversee conceptual, design-development, and hard-bid estimates for commercial electrical projects, including power distribution, lighting and controls, low voltage/systems, fire alarm, and site electrical scopes
• Perform and review quantity takeoffs from plans, specifications, and BIM models
• Review bid documents for scope gaps, risk exposure, constructability issues, and qualification/exclusion needs including coordination with mechanical, controls, and technology scopes
• Solicit, level, and evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotes; negotiate pricing on major buys (switchgear, generators, lighting packages, wire and conduit) and manage long-lead equipment risk and escalation exposure
• Apply appropriate labor units (NECA or company historical) and productivity factors for project conditions
• Lead bid-day activities: final pricing, scope reviews, and proposal assembly under deadline pressure

Client & Operations Interface

• Build relationships with general contractors, construction managers, owners, and engineers to secure bid invitations and negotiated/design-assist opportunities
• Attend pre-bid meetings, site walks, and scope review meetings
• Lead handoff of awarded projects to project management, ensuring operations understand the estimate basis, buyout targets, labor budget, and risk items
• Support change order pricing and claims analysis on active projects as needed

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of commercial electrical estimating experience
• [35]+ years in a senior or lead estimating role with supervisory responsibility
• Proven track record estimating commercial electrical projects of $4M+ with strong bid-to-win and estimate-to-actual accuracy
• Expert proficiency with electrical estimating and takeoff software ([e.g., Trimble Accubid, McCormick, ConEst IntelliBid, plus Bluebeam)
• Deep knowledge of electrical means and methods, NEC requirements, labor productivity factors, and current material market conditions (copper, gear lead times, escalation)
• Strong command of contract documents: plans, specs, addenda, and standard contract forms (AIA, ConsensusDocs)
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in construction management, Electrical Engineering, or related field (equivalent field experience considered)
• Field experience as a journeyman electrician, foreman, or superintendent earlier in career; (Master Electrician license a plus)
• Experience with design-build and design-assist delivery methods

• Established relationships with general contractors in the Colorado market
• Professional certifications (e.g., ASPE CPE, LEED AP)

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary plus performance-based bonus tied to [bid volume / win rate / company profitability]
• Health, dental, vision insurance
• 401(k) with a company match to a set percentage
• PTO policy
• Vehicle allowance / company vehicle, phone, laptop
• A seat at the leadership table with real influence over the work we pursue