Lead Estimator

Reports To: Chief Estimator

Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Position Location: Southeast

Position Overview

As Lead Estimator, you will support day-to-day estimating activities for a company serving infrastructure and construction markets, contributing to the development of accurate, competitive bids and assisting with proposal preparation across public and private work. This role is primarily hands-on, focused on preparing, reviewing, and coordinating estimates while working closely with the Chief Estimator and broader team.

In addition to estimating responsibilities, you will help administer the HeavyBid platform, including supporting system governance, user needs, workflow consistency, and ongoing process improvements. You will assist in standardizing estimating practices, improving data quality and reporting, and supporting adoption across the team to ensure estimates align with contract requirements, execution realities, and business objectives.

Key Abilities for Position Success

Building Collaborative Relationships: Must have the ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside and outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support. Leads with a solutions-oriented mindset, builds trust across teams, and establishes productive working relationships with customers, vendors, and colleagues.

Operational Leadership: Brings structure, accountability, and consistency to estimating processes while balancing speed, accuracy, and risk awareness.

Reflects Core Values: Teamwork, Integrity, Accountability

Responsibilities

• Support the estimating process from opportunity review through bid submission and turnover, ensuring work is timely, accurate, and well-documented.
• Prepare, review, and validate complete, accurate, and competitive estimates based on plans, specifications, contract documents, and scope requirements.
• Perform and assist with quantity takeoffs and pricing for labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, freight, and other direct job costs.
• Identify project risks, scope gaps, assumptions, and opportunities, and contribute to pricing strategies aligned with business goals.
• Coordinate with operations, procurement, project management, field teams, and business development partners to ensure estimates reflect execution realities.
• Prepare and support the development of proposals, clarifications, quotations, and bid packages for current and prospective customers.
• Support customer and contractor outreach before and after bid, including scope reviews, value engineering discussions, and handoff meetings.
• Administer and support the HeavyBid software platform, including user access, templates, coding structures, estimate organization standards, and process documentation.
• Serve as a key resource for HeavyBid adoption, troubleshooting, training, and best practices.
• Maintain and improve cost databases, assemblies, production rates, historical cost information, and reporting structures within HeavyBid.
• Assist leadership and team members in standardizing workflows, improving estimate quality, and increasing consistency across bids.
• Monitor data integrity and estimating discipline within HeavyBid to support reliable reporting, comparability, and auditability.
• Coordinate software-related updates, feedback, and enhancement priorities with internal stakeholders and external support resources as needed.
• Support the development and maintenance of estimating standards, templates, and documentation to enhance scalability and knowledge transfer.
• Provide management with updates on bid volume, hit rates, market conditions, process issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Mentor estimators and system users as needed to strengthen estimating capabilities and software proficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 5+ years of estimating experience, preferably in heavy civil, infrastructure, utility, sitework, or related construction environments.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing estimates from plans, specifications, bid documents, and contract requirements.
• Experience with HeavyBid, HCSS, or similar estimating platforms, including template management, cost database maintenance, reporting, or process administration strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to improve workflows, standardize processes, and support software adoption across a team.
• Strong knowledge of cost structures, production assumptions, subcontractor/vendor quote analysis, and bid strategy.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite or related business software.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proposal writing and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds at times.
• May occasionally visit jobsites, yards, or customer locations and be exposed to noise, dust, and conditions typically associated with construction environments.

Military Veterans Encouraged to Apply.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact Human Resources at
Phone: (704) 588-7899
Email: Recruiting@curtinco.com