Senior Estimator

Responsibilities

• Leads, inspires and develops a team of approximately 2-4 estimators, including day-to-day direction, workload planning, technical guidance, quality oversight, coaching and performance support.
• Leads assigned estimates, budgets, RFP/RFQ responses and tender deliverables, and is accountable for their completeness, accuracy, quality, and timely preparation for final review and approval by the Estimating Manager and senior leadership.
• Leads estimate development and validation for assigned pursuits across labour, equipment, materials, subcontractor and supplier pricing, construction management costs and market rates; challenges assumptions and recommends final estimate values and commercial positions to the Estimating Manager and senior leadership.
• Conducts and leads detailed reviews of contract documents, drawings and specifications for utility-scale solar and BESS projects to confirm scope, pricing requirements, schedule, risk allocation, insurance and security obligations, and other project requirements; identifies, quantifies, and recommends responses to material risks and opportunities.
• Works with estimating, operations, and engineering teams to develop, review and validate pursuit and project schedules, including critical path activities, key milestone dates, client deliverables, and completion timelines to support tender execution and confirm alignment with contract requirements.
• Develops and executes pursuit and win strategies for assigned opportunities using client success criteria, market intelligence, competitor positioning, delivery approach, commercial structure and value-engineering opportunities; presents recommendations to Estimating Manager and senior leadership.
• Supports senior leadership, the Estimating Manager and business development in identifying and qualifying high-potential opportunities; builds trusted relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders; and leads or participates in client meetings, proposals, presentations and other activities for assigned pursuits. 
•  Supports the development and implementation of estimating standards, benchmarks, systems, lessons learned and quality-control processes; ensures disciplined estimate turnover on successful pursuits and contributes to improve department performance.

Qualifications

The right candidate for this role will bring extensive estimating expertise, commercial acumen, and the ability to lead complex pursuits in a fast-paced renewable energy environment, including:

• 10 + years of progressive experience in construction cost estimating, ideally within utility-scale solar, renewable energy, or an equivalent combination of experience and demonstrated success leading large and complex renewable energy pursuits. Previous experience leading and developing estimating personnel is preferred.
• Proven experience leading estimating teams on major pursuits, including assigning work, reviewing deliverables, coaching and mentoring employees, and creating accountability for quality and deadlines. Demonstrated readiness to assume broader people and department leadership responsibilities.
• Expert knowledge of estimate development and review, construction methods, execution planning, scheduling, procurement, subcontractor engagement and cost validation across multiple scopes and delivery models. Strong understanding of contract terms, with the ability to identify, quantify and clearly communicate contractual and commercial risks and opportunities.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to lead client meetings, proposal presentations and internal estimate reviews, present clear recommendations to senior decisions makers, and build strong relationships across clients, partners, and internal teams.
• Results-driven and highly organised, capable of managing multiple priorities, leading complex pursuits, and delivering quality outcomes under demanding deadlines.
• Confident and accountable leader with sound commercial judgement, capable of challenging assumptions, making difficult recommendations, managing risk, and empowering others through effective delegation and mentorship.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful pursuit and win strategies using client objectives, market conditions, competitor intelligence, value engineering, delivery strategy and commercial differentiation. Proven client-facing capability supporting business development, opportunity qualification, proposals and presentations, with an interest in developing toward future estimating management opportunities.