Estimator I

At RES, we’re looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you’ll find your place here.

RES is looking for an Estimator I to join our team.

As an Estimator I at RES, you’ll play a key supporting role in helping us assess, cost, and price various types of restoration and construction projects. This position is ideal for someone with a background or interest in construction management, civil/environmental engineering, or civil/environmental fieldwork who has some estimation experience and is eager to expand that experience. You’ll work with experienced estimators, project managers, and technical teams to understand plans at different stages, perform quantity takeoffs, and generate cost estimates that support bids and project development.

Why You’ll Love This Job

• Hands-on learning: You'll gain direct exposure to real-world construction plans/concepts, estimation tools, and restoration projects that make a lasting impact on the environment.
• Supportive team: You’ll work closely with experienced professionals who are committed to your growth and success.
• Mission-driven work: Be part of a company that’s dedicated to restoring land, protecting waterways, and building sustainable infrastructure across the country.
• Field and office blend: You’ll have opportunities to visit project sites during the conceptual phase, during active construction/restoration, and post-construction/restoration to see the real-world outcomes of your work.

A day in life

As an Estimator I at RES, your work will help to drive projects from a paper concept through implementation. You might start your day reviewing a project that involves re-constructing a floodplain ecosystem or restoring the vegetative community of a degraded riparian corridor — interpreting the mapping and/or plans not just for what they say, but for what existing site conditions, accessibility, and project goals mean in the context sequencing, constructability, and crew composition. You're not just plugging numbers into spreadsheets — you're asking questions, making/checking assumptions, and thinking through how these complex projects will actually be constructed in the field.

Part of your time is spent out from behind the desk — visiting potential project sites to perform early-stage constructability assessments, performing design-review site walks, or meeting with internal or external crews to prepare for construction. Another part of the role is building new vendor and subcontractor relationships, while maintaining our current network of vendors and subcontractors, learning who’s reliable and who specializes in which scopes of work.

There’s a hands-on feel to everything you do — whether it’s estimating crew packages for a new opportunity or contacting a supplier to confirm current pricing of stone to update an old estimate. It’s a role built on accuracy and communication, but driven by curiosity: the more you understand how the work gets done in the field, the better you become at making sure it gets off the ground.

We would like to talk to you if you have many of the following:

• High School diploma or GED
• 2+ years of experience in environmental/civil construction management or related field work
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Valid driver’s license
• Prior experience with estimating software or digital plan review tools (i.e. Bluebeam, Adobe, etc.)
• Exposure to reading, understanding, and/or implementing construction drawings/plan sets
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

You will thrive in this position if you possess: 

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in calculations
• Willingness and ability to learn technical tools and systems
• Ability to self-start and make educated assumptions to move tasks forward
• A collaborative mindset with the initiative to solve problems and improve processes

What would make you stand out?

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, environmental science, or related field
• Prior experience estimating stream and wetland construction/restoration projects

Please note that the “Day in the Life” section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

RES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.