Senior Estimator - Commercial Construction GC

Senior Estimator – Commercial Construction

Denver, CO | On-Site | Preconstruction / Estimating
Estimated Compensation: $110,000 – $170,000 base salary, depending on experience

A well-established national commercial general contractor with a strong presence in the Rocky Mountain region is seeking a Senior Estimator to support complex commercial building projects through the preconstruction phase.

This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented estimating professional who can lead trade partner pricing efforts, support budget development, evaluate design documents, perform quantity takeoffs, and help deliver complete, accurate, and well-supported estimates, bids, and GMPs.

This position is not remote or particularly hybrid and will be based out of a Denver-area office and/or active project location.

Position Overview

The Senior Estimator will support Lead Estimators, Preconstruction Managers, and project leadership throughout the preconstruction process. This person will help develop budgets, estimates, bids, and GMP packages while supporting value engineering, constructability reviews, comparative studies, target value design, and pricing validation.

The ideal candidate will bring strong commercial construction estimating experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work from early-stage or incomplete design information while building accurate, thoughtful pricing models.

Key Responsibilities

• Support estimating and preconstruction functions from early project launch through final bid or GMP submission.

• Collaborate with Preconstruction Managers, project teams, owners, architects, engineers, procurement, operations, and trade partners.

• Coordinate trade partner bid lists and help manage budget pricing and bidding efforts.

• Lead or participate in preconstruction review meetings with owners, design teams, and internal stakeholders.

• Prepare comparison analyses against prior estimates and clearly explain cost variances to project stakeholders.

• Manage distribution of current design documents for trade partner budgeting and bidding.

• Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, and design documents for completeness.

• Assemble comments, clarifications, and RFIs needed to support complete and accurate estimates.

• Visit project sites to evaluate existing conditions and identify scope items not fully captured in design documents.

• Assist with estimate setup, estimating schedules, responsibility matrices, and internal estimating assignments.

• Perform quantity takeoffs, pricing analysis, estimates, and studies for assigned trades and building systems.

• Provide pricing support for value engineering ideas, alternates, options, and special studies.

• Utilize BIM/model-based tools when applicable for quantity takeoff, visualization, and estimate completeness.

• Prepare bid proposal forms and bid recording sheets for assigned scopes.

• Evaluate trade partner proposals for scope inclusion, exclusions, gaps, and overlaps.

• Ensure estimates and GMPs are supported by current market pricing, recent cost data, and qualified trade partner input.

• Participate in internal estimate review meetings to validate pricing before client submission.

• Coordinate operational input related to general conditions, logistics, schedule assumptions, site constraints, and construction approach.

• Support assembly of estimate, bid, lump sum, or GMP deliverables for owner submission.

• Incorporate owner, architect, engineer, and internal feedback into revised estimates and final submission packages.

• Lead or support lump sum bid efforts as needed.

• Help mentor, onboard, and provide performance feedback to junior estimating or preconstruction team members when applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Building Construction, or a related field preferred.

• Minimum of 8 years of commercial construction experience in estimating, preconstruction, project engineering, field supervision, purchasing, or a related function.

• Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered.

• Strong knowledge of building construction, materials, systems, market conditions, trade practices, and subcontractor pricing.

• Ability to read, understand, and interpret contract documents, drawings, specifications, scopes of work, and project schedules.

• Extensive knowledge of estimating documents and the ability to provide accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis.

• Strong conceptual estimating ability, including comfort working with limited or evolving design information.

• Ability to understand owner and architect requirements quickly and translate them into pricing strategies.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet established deadlines.

• Familiarity with procurement, operations, field execution, and project delivery workflows.

• Supervisory or management experience preferred.

• Professional verbal and written communication skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and estimating software.

• Ability to travel locally or regionally as needed for meetings, site visits, and project support.

Compensation & Benefits

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $110,000 – $170,000, with final compensation determined by experience, education, technical background, specialty expertise, and overall fit.

A comprehensive benefits package is available and may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k) and retirement-related benefits

• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options

• Wellness benefits

• Life insurance

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

• Paid vacation, sick/wellness time, and holidays

• Paid parental leave

• Tuition reimbursement

• Employee referral bonuses

• Additional discretionary or appreciation-based compensation programs

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

This role is primarily office-based but may require regular visits to construction sites, project offices, client meetings, and off-site venues. The selected candidate should be comfortable sitting for extended periods, working at a computer, reviewing documents and drawings, traveling short or long distances, and occasionally accessing active construction work areas.

The role may require lifting or moving up to 20 pounds regularly and up to 50 pounds occasionally. Site visits may involve exposure to typical construction conditions, including moving equipment, elevated work areas, airborne particles, outdoor weather, electrical hazards, and moderate to loud noise levels.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.