What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Sales & Estimating position at Everest Search Partners?
Location: Cypress TX
Reports To: General Manager
Position Summary
The Manager, Sales & Estimating leads the commercial front end of the pressure vessel business, overseeing proposal development, cost estimating, pricing strategy, and customer engagement for engineered-to-order pressure vessels and related fabricated equipment. This role partners closely with Engineering, Operations, and Finance to ensure accurate, competitive, and compliant bids while driving profitable revenue growth. The position requires deep knowledge of ASME pressure vessel fabrication, materials, labor costing, and project execution risk.
Key Responsibilities
Sales Leadership & Customer Engagement
- Lead the sales and estimating function for custom pressure vessels and fabricated equipment across industrial markets (e.g., energy, chemical, power, food & beverage).
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with EPC firms, end users, and key accounts.
- Support business development efforts by identifying new opportunities, qualifying RFQs, and shaping commercial strategy.
- Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, and contract negotiations.
Estimating & Proposal Management
- Oversee preparation of accurate and timely cost estimates, proposals, and quotations for ASME-coded pressure vessels and related fabrication projects.
- Ensure estimates include material costs, labor hours, engineering, NDE, testing, logistics, overhead, contingency, and margin targets.
- Review RFQ specifications, drawings, codes, and customer requirements to identify scope, risks, and assumptions.
- Establish and continuously improve estimating standards, tools, and pricing models.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Engineering to validate design assumptions, code requirements (ASME Section VIII, IX, etc.), and fabrication approach.
- Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain to confirm manufacturability, capacity, lead times, and labor assumptions.
- Work with Finance to align pricing strategy with margin objectives and cost structures.
Risk, Compliance & Commercial Governance
- Identify and assess commercial, technical, and execution risks during bid review; recommend mitigation strategies.
- Ensure all proposals comply with applicable codes, standards, and internal approval processes.
- Support contract review and handoff to project management and operations teams to ensure alignment with quoted scope and assumptions.
Team Leadership & Process Improvement
- Lead, coach, and develop the sales and estimating team, including workload prioritization and performance management.
- Drive continuous improvement in bid accuracy, win rates, cycle times, and margin performance.
- Analyze win/loss data and market trends to refine pricing and go-to-market strategy.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
- 7 years of experience in sales, estimating, or commercial leadership within pressure vessel manufacturing or heavy fabrication.
- Strong working knowledge of ASME pressure vessel codes, materials, fabrication processes, and NDE/testing requirements.
- Proven experience developing cost estimates and proposals for engineered-to-order industrial equipment.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
Preferred
- Experience working with EPC customers and complex, project-based sales cycles.
- Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and estimating software.
- Strong financial acumen, including margin analysis and cost modeling.