Senior Estimator

The Lead/Senior Estimator is PRO Services’ frontline bid leader - a strategic, hands-on role that combines the bid architecture responsibilities of a Lead Estimator with the detailed technical execution of a Senior Estimator. This person owns assigned bids from kickoff through submission, is accountable for their competitiveness and scope integrity, and directly supervises Staff Estimators in the execution of take-off work. Reporting to the Director of Estimating, this role is the primary engine of PRO Services’ estimating output and a key contributor to profitable growth, risk management, and successful project handoff.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Pre-Construction Leadership

Own assigned bids end-to-end - from receipt of drawings and specifications through scope

development, detailed cost modeling, internal review, and final submission; be accountable

for the competitiveness, completeness, and accuracy of every bid package you lead

Prepare detailed, full-scope estimates covering labor, material, equipment, subcontractors,

indirect costs, contingencies, escalation, and risk allowances; apply field-grounded

judgment to productivity assumptions, crew composition, and labor sequencing

Analyze drawings, specifications, addenda, and contract documents to identify scope

requirements, constructability challenges, and cost drivers; define scope inclusions,

exclusions, and assumptions in a format that protects PRO Services during post-bid

negotiations and at project award

Validate estimates through benchmarking and historical cost analysis; challenge default

productivity assumptions in estimating software when they do not reflect PRO Services’

actual crew performance on comparable work

Participate in bid/no-bid reviews and support leadership with strategic pricing

recommendations; contribute informed perspective on project risk, scope complexity, and

competitive positioning; present estimates and scope positions to executive leadership and

GC clients as required

Use AI-assisted take-off tools and emerging estimating technology to drive speed and

accuracy; actively identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and bring

recommendations to the Director of Estimating

Trade & Technical Expertise

Serve as the in-house subject-matter authority on piping and mechanical scope - the person the team turns to when drawings are ambiguous, scope boundaries are contested, or a pricing decision requires technical judgment backed by field experience

Evaluate means and methods, crew sequencing, prefabrication opportunities, and logistical constraints that affect cost and schedule; identify constructability issues early and propose cost-effective alternatives without compromising scope quality or safety

Identify value engineering opportunities on every significant bid - alternative materials,

sequencing improvements, or prefabrication strategies that reduce cost without

compromising scope; support development of alternative pricing scenarios where requested

Identify project risks, quantify cost exposure, and incorporate appropriate contingencies and risk allowances into the estimate; balance competitiveness with margin protection on every bid

Collaboration & Communication

Solicit, evaluate, and incorporate vendor and subcontractor pricing; identify the most

competitive and scope-complete options; escalate material discrepancies before bid

submission; coordinate with vendors and subcontractors to validate scope coverage and

obtain compliant pricing

Participate in pre-bid site walks, scope clarification calls, GC coordination meetings, and

design reviews; represent PRO Services’ technical position with confidence and precision

Collaborate closely with Project Managers and Superintendents to align estimates with

realistic execution plans; prepare clear scope narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and

clarifications for all proposal packages

Team Development & Mentorship

Direct and coordinate the take-off assignments of Staff Estimators on your bids - provide

clear scope breakdowns, set quality expectations, review their output, and give specific,

actionable feedback that builds their capability over time

Support the onboarding and technical development of new Staff Estimators; share field

knowledge, platform expertise, and lessons learned from past bids to accelerate their growth

Model the estimating standards PRO Services expects - precision in take-off, discipline in

scope documentation, and intellectual honesty in pricing; be the example that raises the

team’s baseline

Quality, Handoff & Continuous Improvement

Conduct a final internal review of every bid package before submission - verify that scope, exclusions, alternates, unit prices, and submission requirements are complete, accurate, and clearly presented

Support smooth handoff from estimating to operations on awarded projects - deliver a

complete scope transfer package including key quantities, pricing assumptions, risk notes,

and excluded items; participate in project kickoff meetings as needed

Participate in post-bid win/loss debriefs - contribute structured analysis of where PRO’s

number landed relative to the market, what drove the outcome, and what should be refined

in the next bid

Qualifications

Education & Experience

8–10+ years of estimating experience in piping, mechanical, or industrial construction

required. Candidates without direct experience in these trades will not have the technical

foundation this role demands.

Field experience in piping or mechanical construction is required. Candidates must have

supervised or managed piping or mechanical work in the field - as a foreman, general

foreman, superintendent, or field engineer. This hands-on operational background is not a

preference; it is a baseline requirement. Estimating judgment grounded in field reality is

central to what this role demands.

Proven experience leading large-scale, complex bids ($10M - $75M+) on industrial capital

projects - data centers, manufacturing facilities, process plants, or comparable work with

significant labor components and complex scope requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred;

equivalent field experience and demonstrated estimating performance will be given equal

weight

Technical Skills

Strong FastPipe proficiency required or demonstrated mastery of a comparable piping

estimating platform; FastPipe is PRO Services’ primary estimating platform and a key

operating environment for this role

Ability to read and interpret piping isometrics, P&IDs, general arrangement drawings, and full project specifications with the speed and confidence that a high-volume bid environment demands

Openness to AI-assisted estimating tools and a track record of adapting to new technology - PRO Services is actively building a technology-forward estimating practice and expects this leader to champion that evolution

Familiarity with union labor environments, agreements, and wage/benefit structures as they apply to piping and mechanical craft work; experience building labor budgets in a union context is required

Leadership & Business Acumen

Field-credible and competitively minded. You understand piping and mechanical work the

way someone who has done it understands it - operationally, not theoretically. You think about winning, not just submitting, and you use post-bid intelligence to sharpen the next estimate

Strong analytical and decision-making skills. Able to balance competitiveness with margin

protection and risk awareness; makes sound pricing judgments under deadline pressure

across multiple simultaneous bids

Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Capable of presenting scope positions

and pricing rationale clearly to GC teams and internal leadership; writes scope narratives and exclusions language that is precise and unambiguous

High level of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. Takes ownership of bid outcomes, mentors juniors with genuine investment in their growth, and brings the same rigor to a $5M bid as to a $50M bid