What You'll Do Reporting to the Director of Pre-Construction, the Chief Estimator provides strategic and technical leadership while actively preparing and reviewing estimates for complex electrical infrastructure projects, including substations, transmission, distribution, and BESS.
Working closely with regional leadership, project management, engineering, the pre-construction team, this role ensures estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with project execution strategies while supporting team development and continuous improvement.
Key ResponsibilitiesThe responsibilities include, but may not be limited to:
- Lead and support estimating activities across the US, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and quality in all estimates and proposals.
- Manage and assist in preparing, review, and validate detailed cost estimates for complex, high-value, and high-risk electrical infrastructure projects, including labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and indirect costs.
- Train and develop a team of Estimators
- Improve and manage estimating processes and templates.
- Establish and maintain estimating standards, procedures, cost methodologies, and review processes to support accurate and consistent estimating practices.
- Lead the development and review of proposal deliverables, including project schedules, cash flow analyses, construction methodologies, execution plans, and supporting documentation.
- Assess project risks, commercial exposures, and constructability constraints while identifying value engineering and cost-saving opportunities.
- Collaborate with the Director of Pre-Construction, Estimating Manager, regional leadership, and business development teams to support bid/no-bid decisions, pursuit strategies, client presentations, commercial negotiations, and contract awards.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Lead Estimators, Project Estimators, and other pre-construction personnel, supporting their development and promoting knowledge sharing.
- Analyze historical project costs, benchmarking data, productivity assumptions, labor and material pricing, and market trends to improve estimating accuracy and competitiveness.
- Partner with project management, engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure estimates align with project execution requirements and current market conditions.
- Evaluate estimating software, tools, and workflows while implementing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, standardization, and reporting.
Additional Information As a condition of employment, candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening including professional reference checks and a criminal record check.
RequirementsWhat We're Looking For - Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field considered an asset.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in electrical estimating, pre-construction, or electrical infrastructure project delivery, preferably within the high-voltage, utility, or renewable energy sectors.
- Experience in InEight (Hard Dollar) estimating software is a plus.
- Extensive experience developing, reviewing, and validating estimates for complex electrical infrastructure projects, including substations and/or battery energy storage systems (BESS).
- Strong understanding of high-voltage electrical construction methods, labor productivity, material and equipment costs, subcontractor pricing, and project execution requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical bid reviews, establish estimating standards, assess project risks and commercial exposures, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Experience mentoring estimating professionals and collaborating with senior leadership, project management, and engineering teams across multiple regions.
- Strong understanding of protection and control systems, electrical drawings, specifications, and project execution plans.
- Experience preparing and reviewing construction schedules using Microsoft Project and/or Primavera P6.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant estimating software.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to project sites or regional offices as required.
Benefits 
