Senior Estimator

Senior Estimator (Heavy Civil Infrastructure)
Location: Central Missouri - Available On-Site as needed

A well-established heavy civil contractor is conducting a confidential search for a Senior Estimator with expertise in complex infrastructure projects, including Class I steel bridge construction/rehabilitation and USACE lock and dam facility rehabilitation.

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving the full estimating lifecycle—from opportunity evaluation through final proposal submission and post-award handoff. The position partners closely with executive leadership, operations, engineering, and procurement to develop competitive, executable pricing strategies aligned with company objectives.

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Senior Estimator Overview

The Senior Estimator leads the preparation of accurate, innovative, and risk-conscious cost estimates for large-scale bridge and civil infrastructure projects. This individual will oversee quantity takeoffs, subcontractor/vendor solicitation, pricing analysis, proposal development, and preconstruction planning while ensuring compliance, quality, and on-time submissions.

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Senior Estimator Core Responsibilities

Estimating Leadership

• Lead all phases of the bid process from document review through submission.

• Develop detailed, competitive means and methods with innovative solutions.

• Conduct site visits to evaluate construction factors and risk elements.

• Prepare thorough, compliant, and timely estimates and proposals.

• Analyze direct and indirect construction costs with expert-level proficiency.

• Identify risk areas and develop alternative approaches to protect project viability.

• Continuously improve estimating tools, templates, and processes.

Proposal & Preconstruction

• Oversee qualification narratives and technical proposal components.

• Develop preliminary project schedules aligned with company resource capacity.

• Maintain historical project data for future proposal development.

Post-Award Engagement

• Support subcontractor and vendor selection utilizing prequalification standards.

• Assist with drafting initial subcontracts and major purchase orders.

• Lead the estimating-to-operations handoff process.

• Conduct quarterly cost and labor reviews to refine historical cost databases.

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Senior Estimator Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field (experience may substitute).

Experience

• 5–7+ years of estimating and/or construction experience on large bridge and heavy civil infrastructure projects.

• Experience working with Class I Railroads and/or USACE projects strongly preferred.

Technical Strengths

• Strong understanding of steel bridge engineering and construction methodologies.

• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative engineered solutions.

• Advanced analytical, risk assessment, and problem-solving skills.

• High attention to detail and strong organizational capabilities.

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Leadership Profile

The ideal Senior Estimator candidate demonstrates:

• Innovation in approach and solution development

• Accountability for results

• Sound, confident decision-making

• Integrity-driven relationship building

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.