Senior Estimator-Heavy Civil/Industrial

About the Company

Our client is an established industrial and heavy civil contractor serving demanding infrastructure and industrial markets throughout the region. The company has built its reputation by delivering specialized construction and site-support services with a strong focus on safety, quality, responsiveness, and dependable execution.

The organization continues to expand its capabilities, including the development of a dedicated paving and civil division, creating an opportunity for an experienced estimator to play an important role in supporting continued growth.

This is an excellent opportunity for a proven estimating professional who enjoys the challenge of developing competitive estimates, evaluating subcontractor and vendor proposals, and managing multiple opportunities simultaneously.

About the Position

We are seeking a Senior Heavy Civil / Industrial Estimator to join the estimating team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

This position is specifically designed for an experienced career estimator. The successful candidate should be actively working in an estimating-focused role and have a strong track record of independently developing estimates for heavy civil, utility, industrial, or infrastructure projects.

This is not a Project Manager role that has gradually transitioned into estimating. The company is looking for someone whose primary professional expertise is estimating and who enjoys spending the majority of their time analyzing plans, developing quantities, pricing work, evaluating bids, and preparing competitive proposals.

The Senior Estimator will typically manage approximately five concurrent estimates, making the ability to prioritize multiple opportunities and maintain accuracy across several active bids critical to success.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Preconstruction

• Prepare complete and accurate estimates for heavy civil, utility, industrial, and infrastructure projects.
• Review drawings, specifications, bid documents, scopes of work, and contract requirements.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other project costs.
• Develop competitive bids while maintaining appropriate margins and risk considerations.
• Manage multiple estimates simultaneously, typically approximately five active opportunities at a time.
• Identify scope gaps, inconsistencies, exclusions, and potential project risks during the estimating process.
• Prepare clear and well-supported bid proposals for management review.

Heavy Civil & Utility Estimating

• Estimate projects involving site preparation, utility infrastructure, and civil construction.
• Develop estimates associated with power line construction support, including matting, right-of-way clearing, and restoration.
• Estimate site preparation and smaller pad/site development projects.
• Support estimating activities for the company's growing paving and civil division.
• Estimate hydro excavation and related site-support work.
• Apply appropriate production rates, equipment costs, labor requirements, and material pricing to each opportunity.

Subcontractor & Vendor Management

• Solicit competitive proposals from subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors.
• Evaluate subcontractor and vendor bids for completeness, scope alignment, pricing, and qualifications.
• Level competing proposals and identify exclusions or scope discrepancies.
• Negotiate pricing and scope with subcontractors and suppliers when appropriate.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with reliable subcontractors and vendors.

Plan & Specification Review

• Interpret civil, utility, site, and construction drawings.
• Read and understand technical specifications and contract documents.
• Identify constructability issues and potential estimating risks.
• Communicate questions and discrepancies to appropriate internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain detailed and organized estimating documentation.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with operations and leadership during the estimating and handoff process.
• Clearly communicate assumptions, exclusions, risks, and pricing strategies.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site visits, and scope reviews as needed.
• Assist with project turnover following successful bids to ensure estimating information is effectively communicated to the project team.

Requirements

• 8–10+ years of heavy civil, utility infrastructure, industrial, or related construction estimating experience.
• Currently functioning primarily as a Senior Estimator or Estimator, with estimating as the core responsibility.
• Strong background in heavy civil and/or utility infrastructure estimating.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent estimates, rather than focusing on a single large project at a time.
• Strong ability to read and interpret construction drawings, blueprints, specifications, and bid documents.
• Experience performing detailed quantity takeoffs and developing complete project estimates.
• Strong experience evaluating, leveling, and negotiating subcontractor and vendor bids.
• Proficiency with HCSS, Bluebeam, or comparable estimating/takeoff software.

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with paving and civil construction.
• Experience with utility infrastructure and power-line construction support.
• Experience with hydro excavation.
• Familiarity with public works, industrial, or utility contracting environments.
• Experience with shorter-cycle, site-specific civil projects.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a career estimator, not a project manager who occasionally estimates. You should enjoy the estimating process—from studying plans and specifications through takeoffs, pricing, subcontractor negotiations, risk analysis, and final bid preparation.

The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between approximately five active estimates at different stages and will have the organizational discipline to maintain accuracy, responsiveness, and competitive pricing across all of them.

Candidates should be located in Baton Rouge, LA, or be willing to relocate. Qualified candidates in the Sulphur/Lake Charles area may also be considered.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on experience
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunity to join a growing heavy civil and industrial organization
• Career growth opportunities as the company's civil and paving operations expand
• Collaborative environment with experienced construction professionals
• Opportunity to work across diverse heavy civil, utility, industrial, and infrastructure projects