Job description:
The Low Voltage Chief Estimator is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the company’s estimating function for commercial low-voltage construction projects. This role ensures the development of accurate, competitive, and complete estimates across structured cabling, access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, audiovisual (AV), DAS, and related low-voltage systems. As a key member of the leadership team, the Chief Estimator is responsible for aligning estimating practices with the company’s overall business objectives while supporting profitable growth, operational excellence, and successful project execution. The position works closely with Operations, Engineering, Project Management, Finance, and executive leadership to evaluate opportunities, assess project scope and risk, establish pricing strategies, and ensure effective project handoff following award. The company is also undergoing continued systems and operational improvements. The Chief Estimator will play an important role in strengthening estimating processes, standardizing methodologies, improving data accuracy, and supporting the successful adoption of estimating and related business systems.
Key Responsibilities
Estimating Leadership:
Provide strategic leadership for the Estimating and Sales Support departments.
Manage the development and review of estimates for commercial low-voltage construction projects.
Review bid opportunities, drawings, specifications, addenda, and related contract documents to determine project scope and requirements.
Review and approve estimates prior to proposal submission.
Develop detailed labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other project cost estimates.
Evaluate project complexity, labor productivity, scheduling requirements, and potential estimating risks.
Ensure estimates are complete, competitive, and aligned with company profitability objectives.
Establish and maintain consistent estimating standards, methodologies, templates, and documentation.
Pricing & Cost Management:
Establish and maintain labor rates, material pricing, vendor pricing, equipment costs, and estimating databases.
Evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations for accuracy, scope coverage, and competitiveness.
Identify opportunities for value engineering and alternative solutions while maintaining project requirements.
Support pricing strategy and bid/no-bid discussions for significant opportunities.
Review historical project costs and completed project performance to improve future estimating accuracy.
Bid & Scope Review:
Perform detailed reviews of construction drawings, specifications, scopes of work, and customer requirements.
Identify scope gaps, exclusions, assumptions, alternates, and potential project risks.
Coordinate with Engineering, Operations, Project Management, and Sales to resolve technical or scope-related items before bid submission.
Ensure appropriate documentation of assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, and qualifications within proposals.
Participate in pre-bid meetings, site walks, scope reviews, and customer discussions as needed.
Project Handoff & Post-Award Support:- Lead or participate in estimating-to-operations project handoff meetings following awards
- Support Project Management and Operations with change order pricing and contract revisions when necessary.
- Participate in post-project and job-cost reviews to compare estimated versus actual performance.
- Use project results and historical data to continuously improve estimating practices and accuracy.
Team Leadership:
Lead, mentor, and develop estimators within the department.
Assign estimating responsibilities based on workload, project complexity, and team capabilities.
Review estimator work for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance with company standards.
Establish performance expectations and accountability within the estimating department.
Support training and professional development for estimating team members.
Identify opportunities to improve estimating workflows, tools, processes, and department efficiency.
Estimating Systems & Process Improvement:
Maintain and improve estimating tools, templates, databases, and standardized processes.
Support implementation and optimization of estimating software and related company systems.
Maintain accurate and organized historical estimating and project-cost information.
Identify opportunities to streamline estimating processes, improve data quality, and increase departmental efficiency.
Compliance & Quality:
Ensure estimates account for applicable project specifications, customer requirements, and relevant codes and standards.
Maintain accurate and organized estimating records and supporting documentation.
Promote consistency, quality control, and continuous improvement throughout the estimating process.
Ensure estimates appropriately address applicable NEC, NFPA, AHJ, and customer requirements.
Qualifications:- 8+ years of estimating experience within the low-voltage industry strongly preferred.
- Significant estimating experience with construction projects involving systems such as structured cabling, access control, CCTV/video surveillance, intrusion detection, AV, DAS, or similar technology systems.
- Previous experience leading, supervising, or providing senior-level oversight of an estimating department or estimating team.
- Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing complex commercial low-voltage estimates.
- Strong understanding of labor productivity, material costing, project costing, margins, and commercial construction estimating principles.
- Experience working with vendors, subcontractors, and manufacturer pricing.
- Experience with estimating and construction software such as Accubid, ConEst, Bluebeam, SimPro, Excel, or comparable platforms.
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent industry experience will be considered.
- Skills & Competencies
- Advanced low-voltage estimating knowledge
- Labor and material cost analysis
- Scope review and risk identification
- Pricing and profitability analysis
- Leadership and team development
- Strong attention to detail
- Organization and deadline management
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Problem-solving and sound professional judgment
- Process improvement and estimating standardization
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $120,000–$160,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits include:- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan options
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
