Position SummaryThe Sr. Manager, Estimating leads the team responsible for developing accurate, competitive estimates for utility-scale solar and energy projects. This leader is accountable for estimating quality, team performance, and effective collaboration throughout the preconstruction lifecycle.
While this position directly leads the
Civil Estimating team, the successful candidate is
not required to come from a strictly civil estimating background, and will be positioned to lead estimating teams beyond civil-specific estimating. The ideal candidate brings broad solar estimating experience, strong leadership capabilities, and strong working knowledge of how civil scope integrates with engineering, procurement, construction, and project execution strategy.
Reporting Relationship- Reports to: Director of Estimating
- Directly manages: Civil Estimating team (Managers, Leads, Project Engineers)
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & People Development- Lead and develop estimating professionals across multiple experience levels; set expectations and build a high-performance culture
- Coach, mentor, and grow estimator capability across levels; increase capacity strength through development and process improvement
- Own performance management and support hiring, interviewing, vetting, and onboarding
- Manage team resource planning and allocation to meet bid schedules and program needs
Estimating Leadership & Strategy (Solar + Energy Projects)- Contribute and attend as a member of the Estimating Leadership Team driving operational strategy and execution
- Provide leadership and oversight for estimate development for utility-scale solar and energy projects, with primary responsibility for civil estimating outcomes
- Coordinate with Civil Operations team for subcontractor and project execution strategies.
- Lead estimate reviews and drive risk/opportunity identification and resolution during the bid process
- Review pricing strategy, assumptions, qualifications, alternates, and basis-of-bid decisions
- Oversee bid schedules, assumptions, and durations; validate schedule inputs and escalate conflicts or delays that create bid risk
- Support direction on scope strategy and bid positioning
Process Ownership & Operational Excellence- Oversee civil estimating execution across the bid lifecycle, including:
- RFP document review
- Develop, with support from civil operations, project schedule, objectives, and strategies
- Quantity takeoffs and basis-of-quantity documentation
- Subcontractor pricing reviews and descope meetings
- Bid leveling and scope alignment
- Bid summaries and turnover deliverables
- Provide oversight of RFIs, ensuring quality and timely responses
- Review bid summaries and key meeting documentation for accuracy and completeness
- Champion continuous improvement; incorporate lessons learned into templates, standard work, and team training
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Turnover- Partner with Operations to strengthen estimating-to-operations handover and buyout readiness, ensuring turnover deliverables meet civil requirements before submission
- Coordinate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Civil Operations, and Preconstruction leadership to align scope, assumptions, and execution strategy and to resolve scope gaps
Subcontractor/Vendor Strategy & Relationships- Maintain strategic subcontractor/vendor relationships and guide subcontractor pricing strategy, site sequencing, scheduling assumptions, and self-perform considerations alongside Operations
- Engage in key introductions and escalations when needed to protect bid competitiveness and project outcomes
Systems & Change Enablement- Serve as a key stakeholder for estimating systems and tools modernization
- Support process design, adoption, and feedback loops for estimating tools and workflow improvements
- Lead the estimating team through scaling and system implementation towards the future state
Qualifications- Demonstrated leadership experience managing estimating, preconstruction, or project teams and developing talent
- Strong utility-scale solar estimating experience required (EPC, GC, developer)
- Strong working knowledge of civil estimating as it relates to solar (e.g., sitework/earthwork, roads, drainage, fencing, foundations, underground utilities, erosion control, laydown/logistics, productivity and sequencing)
- Ability to evaluate civil scope, risks, assumptions, and pricing strategy-even if not career civil by background
- Strong understanding of subcontractor procurement, bid analysis/leveling, estimate development, and risk management
- Strong communication skills; able to lead through ambiguity and shifting bid requirements/deadlines
- Experience with estimating tools and common platforms (e.g., takeoff tools, estimating databases/spreadsheets, document management); InEight experience is a strong plus.
- 7+ years in estimating, preconstruction, project management, or related industry experience; Bachelor's degree preferred
- Willingness to travel as needed to support project pursuits and team alignment
