Senior Estimator

Senior Estimator | Construction

Compensation: $125,000–$135,000 base salary.

Scout is conducting a search for an established real estate development and construction company seeking a Senior Estimator to support development, construction, and property management projects.

This role combines early conceptual budgeting with detailed estimating and bid management. You’ll establish project costs from preliminary drawings and limited information, explain the assumptions behind your estimates, and work with design professionals and project teams to keep the developing scope aligned with the budget. Your work will help ownership evaluate opportunities and make informed investment decisions.

What You’ll Do

• Build conceptual budgets. Develop estimates from preliminary drawings, site observations, and proposed project scope. Define assumptions, describe the work, and provide detailed unit-price breakdowns that support feasibility and investment decisions.
• Guide design within budget. Work with architects, project executives, and project managers as designs develop. Identify cost impacts, evaluate alternatives, and recommend ways to maintain the project’s objectives within the established budget.
• Manage detailed estimates and bids. Coordinate plan-and-specification estimates and lump-sum bids. Perform quantity takeoffs, price work across trades, and organize complete estimating and proposal packages.
• Evaluate subcontractor proposals. Solicit bids, review scope coverage and exclusions, compare pricing, and assist project managers with subcontract awards. Build productive relationships with the subcontractor community.
• Support pricing decisions. Present value-engineering options and cost alternatives to clients and project teams. Work with the project executive to establish guaranteed maximum prices.
• Strengthen estimating resources. Maintain regional unit-price information and historical job-cost data. Contribute to proposals and presentations, and mentor estimating associates as needed.

What We’re Looking For

• 10 years of construction estimating experience, with a proven record of preparing both conceptual estimates and lump-sum bids.
• Demonstrated ability to establish credible project budgets before detailed drawings are available and carry those budgets through design development.
• Broad estimating capability across construction trades, including quantity takeoffs, direct pricing, and solicitation and evaluation of subcontractor bids.
• Experience with projects such as large-scale office, medical office, retail, warehouse and light industrial, tenant improvements, and mid-rise residential.
• Experience developing construction budgets, evaluating cost alternatives, and supporting guaranteed maximum price development.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain scope, assumptions, budget changes, and recommendations to clients and project teams.
• Proficiency in Procore and working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project.
• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, architecture, construction management, or a related construction discipline. Candidates without a degree may be considered with broad practical experience in construction or facilities.

Strong subcontractor relationships, sound judgment with incomplete information, and a collaborative approach to working with design and construction teams are essential. Experience mentoring estimating associates is valuable.

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) with employer match; company-paid life insurance; long-term disability coverage; paid time off and holidays; paid parental leave; and tuition assistance.

Location & Travel: Metro Detroit. On-site role with occasional project travel required.