Lead Estimator

Lead Electrical Estimator

Norlee Group

Position Summary

The Lead Electrical Estimator is responsible for leading and coordinating the estimating process for commercial electrical construction projects, from initial opportunity review and pre-bid planning through final proposal submission and project turnover. This position plays a key role in evaluating project opportunities, developing accurate and competitive estimates, managing bid schedules, and supporting the company's overall sales, revenue, and profitability objectives.

The Lead Electrical Estimator reviews construction documents, develops detailed material and labor takeoffs, solicits and evaluates vendor and subcontractor pricing, identifies project risks, and prepares comprehensive cost estimates and bid proposals. This role works closely with company leadership, Project Managers, field operations, Purchasing, vendors, general contractors, construction managers, and design teams to ensure estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with project requirements.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong technical knowledge of commercial electrical construction, sound financial judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to lead estimating activities while developing consistent estimating practices across the organization.

Experience estimating K-12 school construction projects is a plus, particularly projects involving new construction, renovations, additions, phased construction, and summer work schedules.

Key Measurables

The success of this role will be evaluated through the following metrics:

• Accuracy and completeness of estimates, including material quantities, labor hours, equipment, subcontractor costs, and project-specific requirements.
• Achievement of company bid volume, revenue, and gross profit objectives.
• Competitive bid performance and conversion of awarded projects.
• Timely completion and submission of estimates in accordance with established bid deadlines.
• Consistent use of estimating standards, cost databases, labor units, and bid review procedures.
• Accuracy of vendor and subcontractor pricing, quotations, and scope comparisons.
• Identification of scope gaps, exclusions, design conflicts, escalation risks, and potential change-order opportunities.
• Effective management of multiple estimates and competing bid priorities.
• Completion of documented bid reviews and estimate handoffs for awarded projects.
• Accuracy of estimated labor hours and material quantities compared with actual project performance.
• Development and maintenance of reliable historical cost data and estimating benchmarks.
• Effective collaboration with leadership, Project Managers, field operations, and business development.
• Continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and team performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Estimating Leadership and Bid Management

• Lead the estimating process for assigned commercial electrical construction opportunities from initial review through proposal submission.
• Review invitations to bid, project requirements, bid instructions, schedules, specifications, and contract documents to determine project suitability and estimating requirements.
• Establish bid priorities, estimating schedules, internal deadlines, and resource assignments.
• Coordinate estimating activities with company leadership, Estimators, Project Managers, Superintendents, Purchasing, and other relevant departments.
• Evaluate project size, complexity, schedule, contractual requirements, labor availability, and overall risk before committing resources to a bid.
• Participate in bid/no-bid decisions and provide recommendations based on project fit, competition, workload, and profitability.
• Lead pre-bid meetings, site visits, walkthroughs, and scope reviews.
• Ensure estimates and proposals are complete, accurate, properly documented, and submitted on time.
• Manage multiple bids simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting critical deadlines.

Quantity Takeoffs and Cost Estimating

• Perform and oversee detailed electrical material and labor takeoffs using construction drawings, specifications, and digital estimating tools.
• Estimate quantities and costs for electrical distribution, feeders, branch circuits, conduit, wire, cable, switchgear, panelboards, transformers, lighting, lighting controls, grounding, and other electrical systems within the project scope.
• Review one-line diagrams, power plans, lighting plans, equipment schedules, panel schedules, and electrical details to establish accurate project quantities.
• Develop labor-hour estimates using established labor units, historical production data, project conditions, and installation complexity.
• Account for project-specific factors, including site access, working hours, phasing, occupied facilities, temporary power, material handling, equipment requirements, and schedule constraints.
• Evaluate material waste factors, installation methods, productivity assumptions, and other cost variables affecting the estimate.
• Identify discrepancies between drawings, specifications, bid documents, and the defined scope of work.
• Prepare detailed estimates that clearly identify direct costs, labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, indirect costs, and other applicable expenses.

Vendor and Subcontractor Coordination

• Solicit, receive, review, and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with electrical distributors, manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and specialty subcontractors.
• Compare quotations for scope coverage, exclusions, lead times, pricing, freight, taxes, and compliance with project requirements.
• Obtain competitive pricing for major electrical equipment, including switchgear, panelboards, transformers, lighting fixtures, and related components.
• Identify material availability concerns, long-lead equipment, potential substitutions, and procurement risks.
• Coordinate with Purchasing and Project Management to validate pricing assumptions and procurement strategies.
• Maintain organized records of vendor quotations, bid clarifications, pricing assumptions, and supplier communications.

Bid Strategy and Proposal Development

• Develop competitive bid strategies that balance market conditions, project risk, resource availability, and company profitability objectives.
• Review subcontractor scopes, supplier quotations, labor assumptions, and estimate summaries before bid submission.
• Prepare detailed bid summaries, pricing breakdowns, scope narratives, clarifications, exclusions, and proposals as required.
• Identify opportunities to improve competitiveness through alternative installation methods, value engineering, material substitutions, and scope optimization.
• Evaluate addenda, drawing revisions, and bid clarifications and incorporate changes into the estimate.
• Coordinate with company leadership on final pricing, contingency, overhead, markup, and gross profit targets.
• Ensure all proposals clearly communicate scope assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, and pricing validity.
• Participate in post-bid reviews, negotiations, scope clarification meetings, and value engineering discussions.
• Support business development efforts by identifying prospective projects, maintaining relationships with general contractors, and responding to bid opportunities.

Preconstruction and Technical Review

• Review construction documents for completeness, constructability, coordination issues, and potential scope gaps.
• Identify design discrepancies, incomplete specifications, conflicting requirements, and other issues that may affect cost or schedule.
• Prepare RFIs and bid clarifications to resolve uncertainties before proposal submission.
• Evaluate electrical installation requirements in coordination with mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, structural, and other trades.
• Participate in preconstruction meetings with owners, general contractors, construction managers, engineers, and consultants.
• Identify potential schedule constraints, material lead times, labor requirements, and site logistics concerns.
• Evaluate applicable electrical codes, permitting requirements, testing requirements, commissioning needs, and project-specific quality standards.
• Support value engineering efforts that improve cost efficiency without compromising safety, quality, performance, or contractual requirements.

K-12 Educational Construction

• Estimate electrical construction projects involving K-12 schools, educational campuses, additions, renovations, and modernization programs as applicable.
• Evaluate project phasing, summer construction windows, school occupancy dates, after-hours work, and restricted access requirements.
• Account for site-specific safety measures, temporary power, existing electrical system modifications, and coordination within occupied facilities.
• Review school district standards, project specifications, and applicable procurement or bid requirements.
• Coordinate with general contractors, construction managers, engineers, and vendors to develop accurate and competitive proposals for educational facilities.
• Identify scheduling, labor productivity, and material procurement considerations associated with completing work within limited school construction periods.

Cost Analysis and Financial Management

• Develop and maintain estimating templates, labor units, cost databases, material pricing records, and historical project cost information.
• Analyze actual project costs against original estimates to identify variances and improve future estimating accuracy.
• Review labor productivity, material usage, equipment costs, subcontractor costs, and project-specific conditions with Project Managers and field leadership.
• Establish appropriate allowances and contingencies based on documented project risks and company estimating standards.
• Monitor material price changes, labor market conditions, supplier trends, and other factors affecting project costs.
• Provide cost comparisons, pricing analyses, and budget estimates to support early project planning and design development.
• Support leadership with bid pipeline reporting, anticipated revenue, backlog projections, and estimating performance metrics.
• Recommend process improvements that strengthen cost control, estimating consistency, and profitability.

Project Turnover and Cross-Department Collaboration

• Conduct formal turnover meetings for awarded projects with Project Managers, Superintendents, Purchasing, and other relevant personnel.
• Review the final estimate, scope of work, labor assumptions, material takeoffs, subcontractor quotations, clarifications, exclusions, and project-specific risks.
• Identify long-lead materials, procurement priorities, schedule constraints, and critical cost assumptions.
• Ensure the project team understands the original estimate, contractual scope, allowances, and anticipated challenges.
• Remain available to support Project Managers during early project execution when clarification of the estimate or bid assumptions is required.
• Participate in post-project reviews to compare estimated costs with actual performance and capture lessons learned.

Team Leadership and Process Improvement

• Provide technical guidance, training, and support to Estimators and other team members.
• Establish consistent estimating standards, review procedures, documentation practices, and quality-control checkpoints.
• Review estimates prepared by other team members for completeness, accuracy, risk, and compliance with company standards.
• Develop and maintain estimating tools, templates, checklists, and reference materials.
• Encourage collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the estimating function.
• Assist with workload planning, training, and development of estimating personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Manages Complexity: Evaluates complex construction documents, project requirements, cost variables, and competing priorities to identify risks and develop accurate estimates.

Ensures Accountability: Takes ownership of estimate accuracy, bid deadlines, pricing assumptions, documentation, and follow-through. Maintains consistent quality-control practices and meets commitments.

Plans and Aligns: Organizes bid schedules, assigns resources, establishes estimating milestones, and prioritizes opportunities according to company objectives.

Financial Acumen: Understands construction costs, labor productivity, material pricing, subcontractor quotations, overhead, markup, gross profit, and risk allowances.

Technical Expertise: Demonstrates a strong understanding of commercial electrical construction methods, materials, systems, drawings, specifications, and installation requirements.

Collaborates: Builds productive relationships with company leadership, Estimators, Project Managers, field teams, vendors, subcontractors, and general contractors.

Drives Results: Develops accurate, competitive bids that meet deadlines, support revenue objectives, and protect project profitability.

Develops Talent: Provides guidance, constructive feedback, and technical support to improve team capability, consistency, and performance.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Con