Senior Project Estimator

Job Title: Senior Project Estimator

Department: Sales

Reports to: Vice President

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Louisville, KY

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Project Estimator is responsible for preparing, coordinating, and managing complete project estimates and bid packages for large, complex, or time-sensitive projects. This position reviews customer requirements, drawings, specifications, RFPs, vendor quotes, subcontractor information, internal production requirements, and historical cost data to develop competitive and accurate estimates. The Senior Project Estimator reports to the Vice President and manages estimate timelines, coordinates internal and external stakeholders, supports executive review and approval, communicates estimate assumptions and risks, and transfers awarded project knowledge to the project team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepare and manage complete project estimates, shop estimates, RFP responses, and bid packages for standard, large, and complex projects.

• Review and analyze customer requests, tender documents, drawings, designs, specifications, and related project documentation.

• Build estimates from concept through full bid package using customer documents, internal requirements, vendor quotes, subcontractor quotes, and historical cost information.

• Identify labor, material, equipment, production, subcontractor, overhead, schedule, and time requirements.

• Solicit, compare, and evaluate quotes and lead times from internal teams, vendors, and subcontractors.

• Manage aggressive RFP and bid timelines by coordinating stakeholders, driving follow-up, and holding contributors accountable.

• Compile information from internal teams, vendors, subcontractors, and customers into a comprehensive estimate analysis.

• Prepare final bid packages and supporting documentation for review and approval by leadership.

• Prepare cost analysis by calculating or recalculating material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, and installation-related costs.

• Complete overall project estimates using the company ERP, estimating tools, or in-house systems.

• Communicate and clarify estimate scope, assumptions, exclusions, risks, and supporting information effectively.

• Provide supporting information to defend the estimating process, pricing decisions, and bid recommendations.

• Assist customers with questions, concerns, scope clarification, and project pricing discussions.

• Track, analyze, and report historical estimating data, project trends, realized costs, estimated revenue, and related commitments or obligations.

• Maintain and improve pricing databases, estimating tools, templates, and standard costing information.

• Identify and recommend continuous improvement opportunities for the estimating process.

• Support project award transitions by leading or participating in handoff meetings with project management, engineering, purchasing, production, and other internal teams.

• Mentor and assist less-experienced estimators in estimating methods, document review, vendor coordination, and bid preparation.

• Attend networking functions, customer meetings, trade shows, or customer site visits as requested by supervisor.

• May be required to perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

• Associate degree required; bachelor's degree preferred.

• 5 years of estimating, construction, fabrication, conveyor, material handling, manufacturing, or related experience required.

• Experience preparing estimates for construction, fabrication, conveyor, material handling, or industrial projects preferred.

• Experience estimating projects ranging from small shop work to large or complex projects preferred.

• Familiarity with conveyor systems, material handling, fabrication, installation, or related industrial work preferred.

• Strong knowledge of fabrication shop, estimating, purchasing, engineering, production, and vendor coordination processes.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex drawings, specifications, RFPs, customer documents, and bid requirements.

• Ability to prepare full cost estimates including material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, production, and schedule impacts.

• Highly proficient with JobBOSS, NetSuite, ERP systems, or estimating software.

• Advanced Excel skills required.

• Strong communication, problem-solving, organization, and follow-up skills.

• Ability to manage aggressive deadlines, multiple estimates, and changing priorities.

• Ability to coordinate internal and external stakeholders and drive the estimating process to completion.

• Ability to explain, clarify, and defend estimate assumptions, pricing decisions, and bid recommendations.

• Ability to mentor or assist less-experienced estimators.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Ability to travel to trade shows or customer sites as needed.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to talk and hear; stand; walk; sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds without assistance. The employee is regularly required to wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, etc. in production areas.

Design Fabricators & Integrators is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. The work will primarily be performed in a manufacturing environment with frequent exposure to high noise levels, odors, dust, and hazardous machinery/equipment. The position frequently works with others.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.