Chief Estimator

Chief Estimator

An established family-owned General Contractor with a growing Southeast operation, is seeking a Chief Estimator to join its Charlotte, NC team. This is a hands-on opportunity for an experienced GC estimator to take ownership of estimating and preconstruction in the region today, then build and lead a Charlotte-based estimating team as the business continues to expand.

What You'll Do as the Chief Estimator:

• Own estimating and preconstruction for projects throughout Charlotte and the broader Southeast
• Develop conceptual estimates, budgets, GMPs, and competitive bids from early design through final construction documents
• Perform and oversee quantity takeoffs, cost analysis, bid leveling, and scope development
• Review drawings and specifications to identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, and value-engineering opportunities
• Solicit, evaluate, level, and negotiate subcontractor and supplier proposals
• Maintain strong subcontractor coverage and current knowledge of Charlotte and Southeast market pricing
• Develop clear scopes, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications
• Collaborate closely with Project Management, field operations, ownership, and regional leadership
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site walks, and client meetings
• Build and maintain relationships with subcontractors, developers, owners, and other construction partners
• Support efforts to generate, estimate, and win additional work throughout the Southeast
• Operate independently while leveraging established estimating resources elsewhere in the organization when useful
• Establish estimating workflows, standards, and infrastructure for the Charlotte office
• Help improve estimating consistency, historical pricing, and preconstruction processes
• Recruit, develop, and eventually lead a Charlotte-based estimating team as the regional operation grows
• Help create a scalable estimating function that can support continued Southeast expansion

Must-Haves as the Chief Estimator:

• Approximately 10+ years of construction estimating or preconstruction experience
• Strong General Contractor background
• Career primarily focused on estimating and preconstruction
• Proven ability to independently develop complete GC estimates and bids
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods
• Strong knowledge of subcontractor trades, materials, sequencing, and market pricing
• Experience with conceptual estimating, budgeting, value engineering, and preconstruction
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, and construction documents
• Experience soliciting, leveling, and negotiating subcontractor proposals
• Ability to work independently without significant day-to-day oversight
• Strong communication, organization, and analytical skills
• Leadership ability and interest in eventually building and managing an estimating team
• Ability to work onsite five days per week in Charlotte
• Willingness to travel occasionally throughout the Southeast

Nice-to-Haves as the Chief Estimator:

• Charlotte-area estimating experience
• Established Charlotte or Southeast subcontractor relationships
• Existing developer, owner, or client relationships
• Ground-up commercial construction experience
• Retail construction experience
• Multifamily construction experience
• Industrial construction experience
• Institutional construction experience
• Experience estimating projects in the $5 million-$50 million+ range
• Experience building or improving estimating systems and processes
• Experience mentoring or developing estimators
• Prior Lead Estimator, Estimating Manager, or Preconstruction Manager experience
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field
• Bluebeam experience

The Company Offers:

• Target base salary of approximately $170,000-$190,000
• Potential flexibility toward $200,000 for an exceptional candidate
• Annual performance and company bonus opportunity
• Bonus has historically ranged approximately $10,000-$25,000 depending on company and individual performance
• Auto allowance
• Phone allowance
• Medical insurance with approximately 65% of premium paid by the company
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid business travel expenses
• Significant autonomy
• Limited micromanagement
• Direct visibility with ownership and senior leadership
• Opportunity to become the primary estimating leader for the Southeast operation
• Opportunity to build a future Charlotte estimating team of approximately 3-5 people
• Long-term regional or Director-level leadership potential
• Established and growing Southeast business
• Close-knit environment compared with larger national contractors
• Manageable workload and emphasis on work-life balance
• Opportunity to directly influence regional growth and revenue