What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Estimator position at Central States?
Core Functions
Key Measures Of Success
This position may include indirect or direct supervisory responsibilities. Responsibilities may include mentoring, training, coaching, and providing technical guidance to junior estimators to ensure departmental goals and objectives are achieved, in alignment with company policies and values.
Education & Experience
Minimum Required:
Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with periodic exposure to construction or manufacturing settings. This role routinely utilizes standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and printers. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive reading, data entry, and verbal/electronic communication. The position requires the ability to occasionally lift materials or office supplies up to 25 pounds.
Key Physical Requirements
Travel
This position may require occasional travel based on business needs. Travel expectations are subject to change and should not be considered fixed.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
- Lead full‑cycle estimating for PEMB, structural steel, and commercial/industrial construction projects.
- Review and interpret drawings, specifications, and bid documents to define project scope and requirements.
- Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for primary framing, secondary framing, roof and wall systems, insulation, trims, and accessories.
- Develop comprehensive cost estimates, including internally supplied materials and buyout items.
- Solicit, evaluate, and level vendor and subcontractor pricing; labor pricing experience preferred.
- Apply current knowledge of market conditions, material pricing, and construction cost drivers.
- Prepare complete bid packages, proposals, RFIs, and clarifications.
- Identify scope gaps, overlaps, risks, and value engineering opportunities.
- Participate in pre‑bid meetings, customer discussions, and internal bid reviews.
- Support competitive bid strategies while maintaining margin and profitability targets.
- Collaborate closely with Sales, Engineering/Drafting, Project Management, and Operations teams.
- Lead estimating efforts for complex or high‑value projects.
- Mentor and support junior estimators, providing guidance on pricing strategy and risk analysis.
- Support project turnover from estimating to execution and provide budget updates as projects evolve.
- Maintain historical cost data and estimating databases; track estimate‑to‑actual performance for continuous improvement.
Key Measures Of Success
- Consistently delivers accurate, competitive estimates aligned with margin targets.
- Successfully leads complex or high‑value bids with minimal rework or scope gaps.
- Demonstrates strong collaboration across Sales, Engineering, and Operations teams.
- Maintains estimate accuracy through effective cost tracking and post‑project analysis.
- Actively mentors junior estimators and contributes to continuous improvement of estimating processes.
- Consistently exhibits and displays the company’s values of “Own It. Can Do. Act in Love.”
This position may include indirect or direct supervisory responsibilities. Responsibilities may include mentoring, training, coaching, and providing technical guidance to junior estimators to ensure departmental goals and objectives are achieved, in alignment with company policies and values.
Education & Experience
Minimum Required:
- 5–10 years of estimating experience in pre‑engineered metal buildings (PEMB), structural steel, or commercial/industrial construction.
- Proven experience estimating mid‑ to large‑scale projects such as aviation hangars and doors, mezzanines, cranes, wide clear spans, long bays, and high‑eave structures.
- Proficiency in MBS Estimating Software, Bluebeam (or equivalent), and Microsoft Excel (advanced preferred).
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with design‑build or conceptual estimating.
- Familiarity with AutoCAD or Tekla.
- Exposure to AI‑enabled document review tools.
Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with periodic exposure to construction or manufacturing settings. This role routinely utilizes standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and printers. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive reading, data entry, and verbal/electronic communication. The position requires the ability to occasionally lift materials or office supplies up to 25 pounds.
Key Physical Requirements
- Regular activities: sitting, standing, typing, reading
- Occasional activities: lifting up to 25 lbs., reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, kneeling, crouching, twisting, bending
- Environmental notes: minimal exposure to noise or temperature variations
Travel
This position may require occasional travel based on business needs. Travel expectations are subject to change and should not be considered fixed.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.