Construction Estimator

Job Title: Estimator
Job Description
The Estimator plays a key role in the estimating and preconstruction process for residential construction and outdoor living projects. This position prepares detailed cost estimates, supports proposal development, coordinates with subcontractors and vendors, and ensures accurate project handoff to operations and project management teams. The Estimator uses Buildertrend and Microsoft Excel to manage pricing, documentation, and project tracking while collaborating closely with sales and field teams to align estimates with execution capabilities and client budgets.
Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed and accurate cost estimates for residential construction, outdoor living, landscaping, and pool construction projects.
• Analyze plans, specifications, and project requirements to develop clear and comprehensive scopes of work.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and pricing for labor, materials, and subcontractors.
• Develop and present proposals, budgets, and bid packages for review by internal teams and clients.
• Maintain and update pricing databases, cost history, and estimating templates within Buildertrend.
• Collaborate with operations and field teams to ensure estimates align with construction methods and execution capabilities.
• Solicit and evaluate bids from subcontractors and suppliers to ensure competitive and complete pricing.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with trade partners and vendors.
• Verify scope coverage, pricing accuracy, and timelines within subcontractor proposals.
• Assist in negotiating pricing and scope with subcontractors and vendors when needed.
• Partner with sales and leadership teams to support proposal development and sales efforts.
• Assist in reviewing project scope and pricing with homeowners as needed, providing clear explanations and guidance.
• Provide value engineering options to help align project scope with client budgets while maintaining quality.
• Ensure accurate and complete turnover of awarded projects to operations and project management teams.
• Document all scope details, assumptions, and pricing within Buildertrend for seamless project handoff.
• Support change order pricing and scope adjustments as needed once projects are underway.
• Utilize Buildertrend for estimating, budgeting, documentation, and project tracking.
• Maintain organized records of estimates, proposals, and supporting documentation for easy reference and auditing.
• Use Microsoft Excel for cost tracking, quantity takeoffs, and financial analysis.
• Participate in estimating reviews, pipeline discussions, and forecasting meetings to support business planning.

Essential Skills

• 3-5+ years of estimating experience in residential construction, outdoor living, landscaping, pool construction, or general contracting.
• Proven experience preparing detailed project estimates for construction and outdoor living projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage bid processes from solicitation through evaluation and selection.
• Experience working closely with subcontractors, vendors, and construction teams.
• Strong proficiency in construction estimation, bidding, and cost analysis.
• Ability to interpret construction plans, specifications, and project requirements.
• Experience using Buildertrend or similar construction management and estimating software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for cost tracking, quantity takeoffs, and data analysis.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in calculations, documentation, and scope definition.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with sales, operations, field teams, and homeowners.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Background in residential construction, outdoor living, landscaping, pool construction, or general contracting.
• Experience developing and presenting proposals, budgets, and bid packages to internal stakeholders and clients.
• Ability to provide value engineering recommendations to align project scope with budget constraints.
• Skill in building and maintaining relationships with trade partners and vendors.
• Experience supporting project handoff and coordination with operations and project management teams.
• Comfort participating in pipeline discussions, estimating reviews, and forecasting meetings.
• Organizational skills for maintaining structured records of estimates, proposals, and supporting documentation.

Work Environment
This role operates in a professional construction and preconstruction environment that combines office-based work with close collaboration across sales, operations, and field teams. The Estimator works primarily with digital tools, including Buildertrend for estimating, budgeting, documentation, and project tracking, and Microsoft Excel for cost analysis and quantity takeoffs. The position involves regular participation in meetings focused on estimating reviews, pipeline management, and forecasting. Work is detail-oriented and deadline-driven, with a focus on accuracy, collaboration, and clear communication to support successful residential construction and outdoor living projects.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Brentwood, TN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $115000.00/yr.
Estimating & Preconstruction Prepare detailed cost estimates for residential construction and outdoor living projects. Analyze plans, specifications, and project requirements to develop accurate scopes of work. Perform quantity takeoffs and pricing for labor, materials, and subcontractors. Develop and present proposals, budgets, and bid packages. Maintain and update pricing databases, cost history, and estimating templates within Buildertrend. Collaborate with operations and field teams to ensure estimates align with execution capabilities. Subcontractor & Vendor Coordination Solicit and evaluate bids from subcontractors and suppliers. Build and maintain relationships with trade partners and vendors. Verify scope coverage, pricing accuracy, and timelines within subcontractor proposals. Assist in negotiating pricing and scope where needed. Client & Sales Support Partner with sales and leadership teams to support proposal development. Assist in reviewing project scope and pricing with homeowners as needed. Provide value engineering options to align projects with client budgets. Project Handoff & Coordination Ensure accurate and complete turnover of awarded projects to operations and project management teams. Document all scope details, assumptions, and pricing within Buildertrend. Support change order pricing and scope adjustments as needed once projects are underway. Administrative & Systems Utilize Buildertrend for estimating, budgeting, documentation, and project tracking. Maintain organized records of estimates, proposals, and supporting documentation. Use Microsoft Excel for cost tracking, takeoffs, and analysis. Participate in estimating reviews, pipeline discussions, and forecasting meetings.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Brentwood,TN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 16, 2026.
About Actalent


Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.


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