Chief Estimator

IMCO General Construction

About IMCO

IMCO, a heavy civil general contractor, serves public and private clients throughout Washington, Montana, Oregon, and Idaho. Our employees are our biggest, and most valued asset. We take pride in our employees, offering competitive wages and benefits, training, and a culture rooted in teamwork and innovation.

Our Mission. Proudly building complex projects with integrity, excellence, and safety.

Our Vision. To be the best; the most exceptional team, tackling challenging opportunities with world-class innovation, and positively impacting our communities daily.

About the Position

This is an exciting position for the right person who wants to join a growing, robust, and fun team dynamic. The Chief Estimator will lead the Estimating Department with accurate and timely execution of the entire estimating process, including direct/indirect estimating, best value proposals, and construction budgeting.

This person must be able to manage multiple estimates and pursuits concurrently with the ability to multitask. Analyze contract plans, specifications, proposals, and other documentation to prepare time, cost, and labor estimates for projects or services.

This person will lead estimates, proposals, and budgets for heavy civil/structural projects and manage the efforts of an estimating/pursuit team which may be comprised of engineers, estimators, and/or other support staff. Projects may be solicited as bid-build, design-build, or alternative delivery (preconstruction services, CMAR, CM/GC, or similar). This position will be responsible for overseeing estimates, proposals, and budgets for all IMCO regions, including leading pursuits

IMCO provides an employee-focused culture and a team-oriented environment, with a strong emphasis on developing successful employees.

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting pay is dependent on experience. Range $156,000-$192,000

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage is available on the first day of the month following 60 days of employment.

• 401K match on eligible wages and available for eligible employees on the first of the month following 60 days of employment. IMCO offers 100% contribution matching up to 4% of the employee’s eligible wages.

• Annual discretionary bonus

• Relocation assistance

• Company Vehicle and gas card for business-related travel

  Responsibilities

  This is an overview of responsibilities and may not include all duties required for the position.

• Analyzing project plans, specifications, and other documents to determine the overall cost of construction projects.

• Strong understanding of Heavy Civil construction (dams, reservoirs, bridges, wastewater, etc.) work, including regional-specific means/methods for construction.

• Excellent attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders.

• Review and analyze project plans, specifications, and other documentation to understand project requirements.

• Conduct quantity take-offs and prepare detailed cost estimates for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor services. OC QTOs prepared by subordinates.

• Solicit and analyze subcontractor and supplier quotes to ensure competitive pricing.

• Collaborate with project managers, architects, and other team members to identify value engineering opportunities.

• Prepare and present comprehensive and accurate bid packages.

• Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits as necessary.

• Stay informed about market trends, pricing, and industry best practices.

• Maintain a thorough understanding of project schedules and deadlines.

• Lead preparation of estimates for multi-discipline projects including understanding scope and accurate quantities.

• Supervise and train others on the estimating team.

• Lead a team during the estimating process including executive review and estimating meetings.

• Develop Subcontractor and Vendor solicitation strategies to create value for bids.

• Develop and lead Minority outreach and participation plans to achieve participation in COA and aspirational goal projects.

• Lead meetings with Subcontractors/Vendors to ensure complete scopes and aligned strategies.

• Perform risk and contract management responsibilities as required on bids.

• Review the total estimate to ensure accuracy and completeness before formal quotation.

• Manage information system to compare estimated costs to actual costs.

• Research and lead the process of continuous improvement in developing more efficient estimating methods.

• Examine construction sites and observe unusual or challenging conditions.

• Maintain Master Estimate(s), resource codebooks, and update regularly to ensure rates are current.

• Review and analyze Proposal quantity differences to employ the correct pricing strategy for Unit Price bids.

• Develop and maintain a relationship with bonding and insurance brokers to ensure competitive rates, including providing supplemental information/applications to secure favorable rates on project-specific insurance programs.

• Work with the Business Development team to allocate estimating resources for upcoming work, including prioritizing subordinates' workflow to complete all bids

• Manage overseas engineering resources for QTOs, modeling, and conformed document processing as they relate to the pursuit of new work.

• Attract, hire, and retain new Estimators as the Department grows to align with business needs.

• Work with the IMCO Shop to update equipment rates regularly, as well as pricing/analyzing project-specific equipment purchases for bids as necessary.

  Location and Commitments

• Position Location - The position is primarily an in-office assignment at one of the three regional IMCO offices in Washington or Idaho. Relocation may be necessary. Requires a minimal amount of business travel, however, it may require periodic travel to visit and monitor construction job sites, and to attend site visits, pre-bid or pre-proposal meetings related to any prospective jobs that are being estimated or proposed upon, and for the support and coordination of estimating, proposals, and the closeout and submittal of a pursuit.

  Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or construction management, and a minimum of 15 years of preconstruction/estimating and/or operations experience in heavy-civil projects is required.

• Minimum of 5 years in leadership roles within an Estimating Department as a dedicated Estimator, such as Chief or Senior Estimator.

• Other engineering degree(s) and construction market experience may be considered.

• 5+ years’ experience soliciting all types of project delivery (bid-build, design-build, progressive design-build, or alternative delivery (preconstruction services, CMAR, CM/GC, or similar).

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) is required.

• Advanced Knowledge of SharePoint, Adobe or Bluebeam, Primavera P6 scheduling, and MS Project.

• Advanced knowledge of HCSS HeavyBid, including development and maintenance of master estimates, activity and resource codebooks, and cost/prod. history tools.

• Knowledge of electronic solicitation software such as SmartBid.

• Knowledge of electronic bidding software such as AASHTOWare for DOT bidding, or other electronic submission portals such as Quest CDN, Zycus, Etc.

• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, summarize, and communicate contract specifications, permit regulations, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.

• Ability to execute senior-level reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

• Ability to effectively present to senior management information, and respond to questions from groups of executives, managers, clients, customers, business partners, and the public.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• Pre-employment drug testing required.

• Criminal background check required.

• Authorized to work in the United States.

• Adhere to all safety requirements.

• Commitment to teamwork, safe work practices, and integrity.