What are the responsibilities and job description for the Steel Estimator / Business Development position at KSI?
Structural Steel Estimator – Business Development
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Full-Time | Office-based with occasional travel to visit prospects, clients and sites as needed
Compensation: $150,000–$175,000 , competitive pay based on experience (Base Salary Bonus)
A well-established structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication and erection company serving commercial and industrial projects in the Phoenix market has created a new Estimating & Client Development role to support its next stage of growth.
This position was built to expand the company's growth capacity, strengthen client relationships, build a more stable project pipeline, and create long-term succession leverage within the estimating department. You'll work directly alongside the company's Chief Estimator — learning the business from the inside while building your own client relationships and managing your own pipeline.
This is not a cold-call sales role. Success here comes from technical credibility, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through — not pressure tactics. It's a strong fit for an experienced steel professional who wants to grow into a higher-visibility role — including a real path toward leadership as the estimating and business development function grows — within a stable, team-oriented company, without leaving the technical side of the business behind.
What You'll Do
- Estimating & Proposal Development (40%) — Estimate structural and miscellaneous steel scopes, perform take-offs and pricing, and prepare clear, professional bid proposals.
- Bid Follow-Up, Negotiation & Closing (25%) — Follow up on submitted bids and negotiate scope, pricing, and terms to close work.
- Client Relationships & Industry Presence (20%) — Build and maintain relationships with contractors and clients; represent the company at meetings, site visits, and industry events.
- Pipeline Development (15%) — Develop and manage a long-term pipeline of project opportunities.
What Success Looks Like
The right person in this role consistently:
- Produces accurate, timely estimates
- Follows up on every bid — no passive tracking
- Builds trust with contractors and clients over time
- Balances field presence with office execution
- Keeps a clear, organized view of their pipeline
- Does what they say they're going to do
Qualifications
Required:
- 5 years of experience estimating structural and/or miscellaneous steel for commercial or industrial projects
- Comfortable managing several active estimates at once against tight deadlines
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills — you'll represent the company directly to current and prospective clients
- Proven ability to write clear, compelling proposals
- Comfortable splitting time between office and field work in the Phoenix area
Preferred:
- Working knowledge of Tekla or similar estimating software
- Proficiency in Excel and Word
This Role May Not Be a Fit If You
- Prefer purely desk-based estimating with no client interaction
- Dislike relationship-based work or find follow-up conversations draining
- Struggle to stay organized when tracking multiple bids at once
- Need a rigid, repetitive daily workflow
- Aren't comfortable moving between field and office environments
Compensation & Benefits
- $150,000–$175,000 competitive pay, based on experience(base salary bonus)
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid time off and holidays
What Makes This Role Different
- A newly created position with real growth potential and long-term succession leverage
- Direct mentorship from an experienced Chief Estimator
- High visibility on a small, tight-knit team
- Exposure to both private and public-sector projects
- Field work stays local to the Phoenix area — no extensive travel
Salary : $150,000 - $175,000