Estimator

Summary
The estimator is the primary estimator who provides accurate bid proposals and scope analysis for potential projects, including pricing estimates on new projects and prices on change orders on existing contracts. The Estimator reviews, analyzes, and interprets contract documents (specifications, drawings, and reference information) to develop detailed and comprehensive project cost estimates and exercises sound judgment to arrive at the complete cost estimate with appropriate profit margins to achieve division goals.

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Estimating:
  • Review contractual requirements, specifications, and drawings to develop a construction plan that serves as the foundation for the cost estimating process.
  • Conduct thorough and accurate quantity take-offs to fully capture all items within the project scope.
  • Develop complete cost estimates that incorporate all scope elements, including alternates, general conditions, subcontractor pricing, material and equipment costs, and labor rates aligned with the bid strategy.
  • Solicit and evaluate subcontractor and supplier pricing, ensuring prequalification requirements are met and selecting the most qualified bidders.
  • Meet with customers to discuss how Kent can provide value to their project, tailoring estimates to reflect customer needs.
  • Identify project-specific risks and opportunities, communicate findings with the division manager, and propose strategies to mitigate risks.
  • Prepare comprehensive proposals that include project durations, key assumptions, exclusions, and required documentation for submission.
  • Provide timely follow-up on all bids, ensuring opportunities are tracked, feedback is gathered, and next steps are clearly communicated.
  • Participate in post-bid interviews when requested to clarify scope, sequence, assumptions, and exclusions.
• Preconstruction
  • Collect and organize all relevant project information and ensure timely follow-ups are completed to close communication loops internally and externally.
  • Establish and maintain strong working relationships with customers, vendors, subcontractors, and key stakeholders.
  • Assist with project hand-off to project management and field operations, ensuring a clear understanding of scope, schedule, manpower needs, and build assumptions.
  • Conduct postmortem follow-ups with customers the next business day to gather feedback, reinforce Kent’s differentiators, and refine future estimating efforts.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities are not comprehensive and can be changed at any time, with or without notice.  

Required Experience, Education, and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management or engineering, or 5 years of concrete estimating experience, along with five years in a leadership capacity.
• Proven experience managing concrete preconstruction processes.
• In-depth knowledge of construction principles/practices required.
• Experience building relationships and working with subcontractors and vendors.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills 
• Must have reliable transportation to the workplace(s)/ job location(s). 
• Ability to successfully pass a background check related to driving (for any driver)
• Ability to pass drug screening.
• Must be able to work in the United States without corporate sponsorship now and in the future.

Preferred Experience, Education, and Qualifications

• Practical leadership abilities, like motivation, goal setting, and conflict management
• Organizational skills, including time management, delegation, prioritization, and multitasking.
• Creative and results-oriented, with a keen sense of urgency and self-motivation. 

Benefits
Kent Companies provides its employees with one of the most competitive compensation and benefits packages in the construction industry. Benefits vary by location, with a fully customized benefits package presented upon hire. Typical benefits packages include:

• Weekly pay
• PTO (Paid Time Off)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plans with discretionary employer-matching.
• Holiday pay (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day)
• Scholarship opportunities for dependents
• Leadership development opportunities

Work Environment/Physical Demand
This position works in a typical office environment and requires extended periods of sitting.

Position type and expected hours of work
This is a full-time, office/field position with considerable time spent in the field on job sites. Typical hours will range from 45-50 hours per week and are subject to change. This role requires working nontypical days and irregular hours based on construction schedules. Due to the critical nature of the role, accepting phone calls even during nontypical workdays and hours is also necessary.

Travel
This position requires travel in Central Texas with minimal overnight travel.

Office Location
2319 Patterson Industrial Blvd, Pflugerville, TX 78660 

About Kent Companies
Kent Companies is a full-service specialty trade contractor with operations across Michigan, Texas, Ohio, and the Carolinas. As a third-generation, family-owned business, we believe our people are our greatest assets. We employ over 2,000 trade professionals nationwide and deliver every project with our Four Hallmarks: Safety, Productivity, Quality, and Customer Service. Kent Companies is known as The Leaders in Concrete™ and continuously ranks in the Top 10 Concrete Contractors nationwide by ENR Magazine.

Kent Companies’ family of brands includes Kent Concrete, Kent Underlayments, Kent Facilities, Kent Foundation Solutions, and Foundation Rescue Supply.

About Kent Concrete
We deliver comprehensive, turnkey concrete construction services for customers nationwide. Our services include structural concrete, tilt-up concrete, concrete paving, curb and gutter, and concrete pumping. From the most complex cast-in-place structures to mission-critical facilities, our customers turn to us because they know we’ll deliver the horsepower and expertise to get the job done.

About our Austin-based Multifamily and Structural Division
Kent Concrete operates an Austin-based multifamily and structural division. This team provides comprehensive concrete construction services for garden-style residential construction and high-density multifamily and mixed-use properties. We offer specialized experience in complex wrap-around structures and parking garages. Our portfolio includes the most complex multifamily construction projects in the region. With this team, you’ll have a hand in the projects that change Austin and Central Texas.    
Learn more about Kent Concrete by visiting concrete.kentcompanies.com.

Perks associated with this role
Our goal is to offer an unparalleled career progression that is not precisely pre-determined, rather it builds on the teammate’s strengths, interests, and pursuits as the individual gains experience, grows, and develops in their career. You would be hard-pressed to find another ENR Top 6 Commercial Concrete Company that parallels Kent Companies.

EEO Statement
At Kent Companies we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Kent Companies’ does not discriminate on the basis of 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 policy applies to all employment practices and personnel actions, including but not limited to hiring, recruiting, promotions, performance evaluations, termination, and compensation decisions. 

The Company will strive to ensure that all employees and prospective employees will be treated equally in regard to recruitment, employment, promotions, demotions, discipline, termination, access to benefits and training, leaves of absence, and layoffs. The Company will further ensure that its management staff is aware of the Company’s commitment to this policy and each member understands their individual role in the process of administering this plan.

Kent Companies will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.