Estimator / Project Manager - Historic Preservation

Estimator / Project Manager - Pre-Construction Lead

Old Home Rescue — Historic Buildings, Homes & Structures

Old Home Rescue is a historic preservation contractor working on some of Oklahoma’s most significant homes, buildings, and community landmarks. Our work lives at the intersection of traditional construction, modern building science, and regulated preservation environments.

We are not a volume builder.

We are not a sales-driven remodeling company.

And this is not a role for someone who needs perfect plans before they can grasp the project.

What This Role Actually Is

This role exists because the work has outgrown one person’s head.

We need someone who can see a project clearly before it’s built, even when the information is incomplete, imperfect, or evolving. Someone who understands that estimating in preservation is part technical, part investigative, and part judgment call.

You will lead pre-construction from early real conversation through handoff to the field. That includes:

• Translating real buildings into real scopes
• Turning uncertainty into structured budgets
• Helping shape what gets built, not just pricing it

You will not be expected to “sell.”

You will be expected to think, ask good questions, and protect the work.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Historic exterior restorations
• Repair and rehabilitation projects
• Designed repairs and preservation scopes
• Window, door, masonry, roofing, and facade work
• Residential and small commercial projects typically ranging from $50,000–$500,000, with multiple projects up to $2M in pipeline.

Most projects involve:

• Partial drawings or concept-level plans
• Preservation guidelines or regulatory constraints
• A mix of subcontracted and self-performed work
• Real buildings with real problems that don’t show up on paper

What You’ll Actually Do

• Build clear, defensible budgets from incomplete information
• Write scopes that contractors, owners, and preservation staff can understand
• Collaborate closely with:
• The Owner (for strategy and final review)
• The Design team (for drawings, details, and constraints)
• The Project Coordinator (for material procurement)
• Project Leads (for real-world input and constructability)
• Prepare estimates that are 70–80% complete, knowing they’ll be reviewed and refined
• Identify risk early and price it honestly
• Help determine how work should be done, not just how much it costs

What This Is Not

This is not:

• A sales estimator role
• A takeoff-only position
• A plan-only commercial estimating job
• A job for someone who wants to sit in software all day without visiting sites
• A role where someone else “figures out the hard parts”

If perfect plans are needed, this will frustrate you.

If you enjoy solving problems that don’t have clean answers, you’ll thrive.

Who This Role Fits Well

You might be a good fit if you:

• Have strong construction judgment and field awareness
• Are comfortable estimating both self-perform and subcontracted work
• Can think in systems and sequences, not just line items
• Can thrive even when information is incomplete
• Care about craftsmanship, longevity, and doing things correctly
• Communicate clearly and directly
• Respect trades, clients, and collaborators

Preservation experience is a plus — but not required.

The ability to learn and think critically matters more.

How Success Is Measured

In the first 60–90 days, success looks like:

• Meaningful reduction in estimating backlog
• Clear, usable scopes handed to production
• Fewer surprises once projects start
• Less reliance on the Owner for day-to-day estimating decisions

Long term, success looks like:

• Better project margins
• Smoother handoffs
• A healthier pace for the entire company

Compensation & Structure

Compensation will reflect experience and the value this role brings. This role has real, immediate impact, and is not an entry-level estimating position.

This role works closely with the owner and has a clear path to increased responsibility as the company grows.

One Last Thing

Old Home Rescue is built around stewardship — of buildings, communities, and people.

We care deeply about how work is done and how people are treated.

If you’re looking for a place where judgment matters more than speed, where quality matters more than volume, and where your work actually shapes the outcome — let’s talk.

Pay: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least 5 years of industry experience in construction management, architecture, restoration estimating, commercial estimating, or other equivalent experience?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Construction estimating: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75,000 - $100,000