Chief Estimator

Ames Construction has built America for more than 60 years, and the exceptional people who make up our team are a vital factor in our success. We are a full-service, heavy civil and industrial general contractor that brings innovative solutions to many market segments, from highway and bridge construction to mining and rail. Ames is an employee-owned company that retains its entrepreneurial spirit while offering the experience and stability of a proven construction industry leader. Equipped with our core values of People, Team, Our Bond, Persistence, and Vision, we make communities across the U.S. safer, keep supply chains moving, and lay the groundwork for a sustainable future. By joining Ames, you will be working with talented colleagues at an award-winning, nationally recognized top 65 general contractor.

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Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Strategy and Communication  
  • Collaboratively develop, review, and execute strategies to win work including innovative approaches.  
  • Analyze potential bid opportunities to determine what the Area Office should pursue in accordance with our strategy.  
• Business Development  
  • Partner with business development to source and identify additional project opportunities, including publications, websites, etc.  
  • Network and develop strong relationships with Clients (Owners, Engineers, General Contractors), subcontractors, suppliers, and community members before and during the bid process.  
• Bid Development and Preparation  
  • Manage and prepare bids, budget estimates, best value proposals, support pricing for change orders, and pricing for all Office’s projects.  
  • Responsible for completing the bid bond and insurance review request form.  
  • Conduct thorough pre-bid investigations.  
  • Assess and list opportunities and risks and use management and mitigation controls in the estimating process.  
  • Review constructability issues and lead development of solutions by the estimating team.   
  • Develop, review, and include both technical and commercial including trade partners clarifications and exceptions in bids and proposals.  
  • Perform quality check on estimates (overall pricing, crews, productions, plug prices, schedule, staffing, etc.).  
  • Schedule, coordinate and lead all estimate reviews for their respective Office and provide cost certainty.  
  • Ensure pre-bid CPM schedules are developed to meet contract requirements and company objectives.  
  • Ensure bid requirements are completed (i.e., equipment rates, DBE goals, proposal write ups, schedule, etc.).   
  • Manage closing of all estimates including taxes, project-specific insurance policies (BR, RPL, OCIP), subcontractor and material quote analysis and selection; collaboration on final margin determination; risk allocation; and final project pricing.   
• Post Bid Requirements  
  • Collaborate in organizing and analyzing historical actual costs and production rates for use on future pursuits.   
  • Verify Ames post bid procedures are completed including maintaining statistical/historical bid data.  
  • Management  
  • Responsible for recruiting, developing, and managing estimating teams, including individual training.  
  • Assign a Senior Estimator or lead estimator to lead the bid and assign tasks for other estimators, estimating engineers and support staff for the bid to get all items quantified, quoted, estimated, priced, scheduled, and meet bid deadlines.  

Qualifications  

• Fifteen plus years of heavy civil construction, ten of these years as an Estimator, Senior Estimator or Chief Estimator with progressive responsibility.   
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, or related field.  
• Proficient in HCSS Heavy Bid, Bluebeam and MS Office Software, experience in Primavera and AGTEK.  
• Demonstrated ability lead the estimate and to bid $200 Million plus size heavy civil complex projects.   
• Proficiency in estimating earthwork (mass grading for site work, highway cut/fill/import/export), underground utilities (storm, drain, water, sewer, and related structures) and bridge and/or structural concrete.   
• Broad based understanding of other heavy civil trade scopes and pricing including specialty subcontractors.  
• Ability to communicate effectively with all co-workers, clients, subcontractors, vendors, and Senior management.  
• Strong understanding of measurement and payment terms, schedules, milestones, permitting, environmental requirements, licensing, taxes, wage requirements, addendums, etc. for the estimate and incorporate into the bid.  
• Understanding of contractual obligations and commitments (including drawings, specifications, general and special conditions, geotechnical data, reports, etc.) with clients and partners to price the estimate. 

Total Rewards  

Fueled by Family is something we incorporate into every facet of Ames Construction. To keep that commitment, Ames takes immense pride in the retirement and health benefits it provides to its coworkers. It is a priority at Ames to provide best in class health insurance and retirement benefits. As a 100% employee-owned Company, we continue to focus on the health and wellbeing of our co-workers and their families. 

• Base salary range is $200k - $250k per year, which varies depending on many factors, including experience, skills, and knowledge. 
• This role is eligible for a discretionary bonus.   
• Ames’ offers generous retirement benefits, including Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) participation and a 401k match.  
• Ames’ non-craft health benefits package is designed so that our team members flourish, with medical, dental, and vision (all at one low premium), voluntary benefits, and company holidays and paid time off. Please see the Benefits section of our Careers page for more information.  

Working Conditions

• Location – This position will work, in person, at the Pacific Area Office in Corona, CA.  
• Travel – This role will be expected to travel as needed to project locations.   
• Office environment – extensive sitting at desk and computer; some standing, bending at the waist, stooping and reaching required; ability to lift 5-49 pounds occasionally.  
• Construction site environment – physical ability to stand, walk, crawl, bend, reach and climb.  Exposure to elements and job site risks including high noise levels.    

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Ames Construction is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.