Accountability:The Manager of Construction Estimating is responsible for leading estimating activities for the Construction Company within R. J. Corman Railroad Services, from initial opportunity review through bid submission, change order pricing, and project handoff. This role requires strong field experience and practical knowledge of railroad, civil, and infrastructure construction to understand project conditions, site constraints, production challenges, and cost drivers. The position is expected to develop estimates and bid packages substantially through completion, including plan review, takeoffs, supplier and subcontractor coordination, scope development, and pricing strategy.
Responsibilities: - Lead estimating efforts for railroad construction projects, including civil, infrastructure, track, sitework, and related construction scopes.
- Review bid opportunities, plans, specifications, addenda, schedules, site conditions, and contract requirements to determine scope, risk, and estimating approach.
- Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits as required, including travel to project locations to assess field conditions and project-specific constraints.
- Prepare detailed estimates, quantity takeoffs, bid tabs, cost build-ups, labor and equipment assumptions, material pricing, subcontractor quotes, and proposal documentation.
- Develop bid packages to a substantially complete stage, including scope clarification, exclusions, assumptions, pricing support, and internal review materials.
- Prepare and review change order estimates, cost impacts, pricing narratives, and supporting documentation for active construction projects.
- Coordinate with operations, project management, field leadership, suppliers, subcontractors, and other R. J. Corman companies to confirm means and methods, production rates, equipment needs, crew assumptions, and schedule impacts.
- Maintain awareness of market pricing, material availability, subcontractor capacity, and construction trends affecting railroad construction estimates.
- Use Microsoft Dynamics CRM and other estimating/document management systems for proposal creation, opportunity tracking, data entry, task management, and reporting.
- May supervise, train, assign work to, and provide guidance for estimators or estimating support personnel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements: Specialized or Technical Knowledge, or Education and Experience: - Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent railroad construction, civil construction, or infrastructure estimating experience may be considered.
- Five to seven years of estimating, project management, field construction, or related experience required, preferably in railroad construction, civil construction, heavy construction, or infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated field experience is required to understand constructability, access limitations, production challenges, safety considerations, and real-world cost impacts.
- Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, plans, specifications, addenda, and bid documents.
- Strong ability to perform quantity takeoffs, develop scopes of work, evaluate subcontractor and supplier pricing, and build detailed estimates.
- Experience preparing bids, proposals, change orders, and supporting documentation for construction projects.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel required; experience with estimating software, CRM systems, plan takeoff tools, or construction management systems preferred.
- Strong communication, organization, time management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple bid deadlines and work independently under time-sensitive conditions.
- Leadership or people management experience preferred, including the ability to guide estimating staff or coordinate cross-functional estimating efforts.
- Must be able to travel to pre-bid meetings, site visits, customer meetings, and project locations as needed.
Physical Requirements: Mobility to travel, including visits to customer and supplier locations; lifting of up to 50 pounds in the performance of duties; and ability to use computer and telephones.
Environmental Conditions: Performs duties in an inside administrative office environment, and occasional travel with overnight stays. Also performs duties in outside, job-site environments, in and around moving locomotives, railcars, vehicles and equipment. Potential exposure to weather elements; and appropriate PPE required for job site visits.
Major or Unusual Problems: Requires professional demeanor and ability to multitask in time sensitive environment.
Job Dimensions: Performs duties under limited supervision and is expected to manage estimating priorities, bid deadlines, and internal coordination for railroad construction opportunities. May have direct reports and may provide day-to-day direction, training, and oversight to estimating or estimating support staff.
Benefits: R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC is committed to providing its full-time employees and their families with quality benefits. R. J. Corman offers the following:
Full-Time Team Members: Immediate Eligibility Starting Day One of Employment:
o Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
o PTO (Paid Time Off) Accrual
o 8 Paid Holidays Per Year
• Veteran's Day is a Paid Holiday for US Veterans
o Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance
o Voluntary Short and Long-Term Disability
o Voluntary Accident Insurance
• FSA and HSA Options
• 401K Employer Match
• Paid Maternity Leave
• Group Life Insurance
All Team Members:• 401K Retirement Savings Plan
• Referral Bonuses
• Employee Discounts from Various Suppliers
• Employee Assistance Program
• Annual Boot Voucher
• Company Provided PPE
• Prescription Safety Glasses Allowance
