Chief Estimator

Blythe Construction, Inc.

Charlotte, NC

Heavy Highway Civil Construction Chief Estimator Opportunity

General Description. The Chief Estimator reports to the Sr. Vice-President, and is responsible for leadership and management of the Estimating Department, for a large heavy highway, civil contractor. Typical contract values range from $30million to $150million, with occasional design-build project opportunities in excess of $200million.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Bid Management and Strategy: Direct the entire bidding process from receipt of documents to final submission, ensuring all tenders are completed on time and in compliance with project requirements.
Full Lifecycle Oversight: Supervise the preparation of detailed cost estimates, including labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor costs.
Cost Estimation & Takeoffs: Perform and oversee detailed quantity takeoffs, labor production rates, equipment requirements, and material pricing, specifically for high-volume earthwork, paving, and structures.
Risk Management: Evaluate potential project risks (e.g., site conditions, logistical challenges) and create mitigation strategies and contingency plans to protect company profit margins.
Subcontractor and Vendor Relations: Manage the solicitation process, analyzing subcontractor proposals, and negotiating final pricing to ensure comprehensive and competitive quotes.
Technical Review and Leadership: Review estimates for accuracy and completeness, mentor junior staff, and provide expert insight into construction methods and feasibility.
Historical Data Maintenance: Maintain and improve cost databases, updating labor/equipment rates, and comparing historical project data against actual field costs to improve future bid precision.
Internal and External Communication: Partner with operations/project management for constructability reviews and present final proposals to executive management and clients.
Quantity Takeoffs & Analysis: Oversee rigorous quantity takeoff processes and review project plans/specifications to ensure full scope coverage and precision.
Constructability Reviews: Partner with operations and engineering teams to validate "means and methods," ensuring the project can be built as planned and at the projected cost.
Pricing Approval: Approve final pricing, markups, and indirect costs such as insurance, taxes, and bonding
Subcontractor & Vendor Relations: Build and maintain strategic relationships with trade partners and suppliers to ensure competitive and accurate pricing.
Client Representation: Represent the company in pre-bid meetings, site walks, client presentations, and negotiations with DOTs and public agencies.

General. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each Essential Duty and Responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

Engineering & Methods: Deep understanding of "means and methods" for heavy civil work, such as earthwork, paving, bridge structures, and underground utilities.
Regulatory & DOT Standards: Thorough knowledge of local and federal Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications, public works bidding laws, and environmental regulations.
Contractual Awareness: Mastery of project delivery methods—including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and CM/GC—along with contract laws and insurance requirements.
Market Intelligence: Awareness of regional labor rates, material price fluctuations, and competitor behaviors to inform strategic bid "go/no-go" decisions.
Technical Proficiency: Expert-level use of specialized software like HCSS HeavyBid , Bluebeam Revu, or Primavera P6 for scheduling and quantity takeoffs.
Advanced Mathematics: High competency in geometry and algebra to calculate complex volumes, areas, and production rates accurately.
Risk Analysis: Ability to identify and quantify potential project risks (e.g., soil conditions, weather, or utility conflicts) and articulate their financial impact to leadership.
Negotiation & Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to secure favorable terms from subcontractors and clearly present complex bid strategies to executive boards or clients.
Extreme Attention to Detail: Even minor errors in highway quantity takeoffs can lead to massive financial losses; precision is paramount.
Leadership & Mentorship: A mindset focused on developing the next generation of estimators and fostering a culture of accountability within the department.
Resilience Under Pressure: The ability to maintain composure and accuracy while managing tight, high-stakes bidding deadlines.
Ethical Integrity: A commitment to fair treatment of subcontractors and honest reporting, ensuring the company's long-term reputation in the public sector.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management.
15+ years in heavy civil estimating, with significant time in a leadership or senior role.

Physical Demands. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sedentary Work: The majority of the role is spent in an office setting, requiring the ability to sit for long periods while reviewing digital plans and cost data.
Visual Precision: Excellent vision (corrected to at least 20/40) is critical for:
Distinguishing small details on complex blueprints and CAD models.
Maintaining depth perception and peripheral vision to remain safe on active jobsites.
Discerning colors to identify specific utility markings or plan color-coding.
Manual Dexterity: Frequent use of hands and fingers is required to operate computer keyboards, mice, and other digital estimating tools for high-precision takeoffs
Communication: Constant verbal interaction is necessary, requiring the ability to speak clearly and hear effectively in both quiet offices and loud construction environments.
Mobility & Navigation: You must be able to navigate active, often rugged highway construction sites. This includes occasionally:
Climbing permanent or temporary ladders and stairs.
Negotiating uneven terrain, which may require stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling to inspect site conditions or utilities.
Walking long distances across expansive highway project footprints.
Environmental Exposure: On-site work involves regular exposure to outside weather conditions and extreme temperatures. You will encounter loud noise, dust, fumes, and vibration from heavy machinery.
Safety Requirements: You must be capable of wearing and working in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including steel-toed boots, hard hats, safety vests, and eye/hearing protection.

Work Environment. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

You will spend approximately 85% to 95% of your time in a professional corporate or regional office setting.
Stationary Focus: The role involves significant desk-based work analyzing digital blueprints, navigating complex estimating software like HCSS HeavyBid , and reviewing subcontractor proposals.
Regional Travel: Periodic travel is required throughout the Southeast to attend pre-bid meetings, conduct site visits, or present proposals at client offices, such as State DOT headquarters.
Site Inspections: Occasional visits to active construction sites are essential to gauge soil stability, drainage, and "means and methods" that might not be clear from drawings alone.
Safety Conditions: In the field, you are exposed to active heavy machinery, loud noise, dust, and varying weather conditions. Use of full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory.
Terrain Navigation: You may need to walk expansive highway footprints or traverse uneven ground to understand project scope.