Chief Estimator - Civil Construction

The Company

Talent Authority Partners (TAP) is conducting a confidential search for an established specialty civil construction contractor serving infrastructure projects across the Southeast. We are working directly with the CEO to hire an estimating leader who will shape how the business prices projects, evaluates risk, and chooses the work it pursues.

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The company is investing in leadership and estimating systems to support continued growth. You will combine engineering expertise with commercial responsibility, improving today's bids while developing the team and processes needed for more complex projects.

We will share the company name and additional details during your one-on-one video interview with TAP.

Your Team

This position carries the internal title of VP of Estimating . You will report directly to the CEO and lead the estimating function, working closely with operations, finance, and business development. Experienced estimators ready for their first formal team leadership role can be considered.

Your Role

You will own estimating standards, pricing strategy, and bid review. Your priorities will be to build consistent estimating practices, pursue profitable work, and use actual project results to improve future bids.

As a licensed Professional Engineer, you will also contribute engineering expertise to complex proposals, engineered submittals, and design-build opportunities. Your work will help determine which projects the company wins and how well those projects are positioned to perform.

Expect a typical 40–50-hour workweek and approximately 25% Southeast travel, including overnight trips. Office and field presence are important; work from home is available when the work allows. Relocation timing can be discussed.

Responsibilities

• Establish consistent takeoff methods, cost libraries, production assumptions, and bid templates.
• Set pricing strategy and determine which opportunities the business pursues.
• Review bids for complete scope, constructability, technical risk, and margin.
• Compare estimates with actual project costs and production results to improve future pricing.
• Lead and develop estimators, allocate workloads, and establish bid-review standards.
• Serve as engineer of record where required and review engineered submittals and design-build alternatives.
• Oversee temporary traffic control design, DOT prequalification, and applicable licensing requirements.
• Lead technical discussions with customers and report estimating performance and backlog quality to the CEO.

Minimum Requirements

• An active civil Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 10+ years of progressive estimating and preconstruction experience in civil contracting, including responsibility for public infrastructure bids.
• Experience building or managing estimating systems, including cost libraries, production assumptions, and bid-review processes.
• Experience setting bid pricing, evaluating project risks, and determining which opportunities to pursue.
• Experience with Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications, temporary traffic control design, and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Site visits involve active roadway work zones, uneven terrain, and required protective equipment. Essential duties may be performed with reasonable accommodation.

This is a full-time, direct-hire position with our client, offering a base salary plus a performance-based bonus. If hired, you would be employed and paid directly by the client—not Talent Authority Partners.

Talent Authority Partners has been retained by the client to lead the search and support the hiring process. xhyhwjd There is no fee for job seekers to apply, interview, or be considered for this position.