Chief Estimator – Electrical Construction

Houston, TX | Preconstruction & Estimating Leadership

We’re partnering with a well-established, PE-backed electrical contractor in Houston to identify a Chief Estimator who can help lead the estimating function through an exciting period of continued growth.

The company has built a strong reputation in the Houston market and is positioned for significant expansion. This role will lead an experienced, tenured estimating team and work directly alongside a highly respected Director of Preconstruction & Estimating, providing an opportunity to step into meaningful leadership without walking into a department that needs to be rebuilt.

We’re looking for someone who brings strong electrical estimating knowledge first and foremost, along with the leadership presence, commercial judgment, and preconstruction expertise to help the team continue to scale. Healthcare project experience is highly preferred, particularly experience working within complex, occupied, or technically demanding environments.

Our benchmark for the level of talent we're targeting includes significant preconstruction experience across large, complex projects, conceptual through GMP estimating, value engineering, bid strategy, scope analysis, risk assessment, subcontractor coordination, and strong relationships with owners, design teams, and trade partners.

The Opportunity

As Chief Estimator, you’ll play a key leadership role within the preconstruction and estimating organization, partnering closely with the Director of Preconstruction & Estimating while helping lead and develop an established team.

This is an opportunity to combine deep electrical knowledge with broader preconstruction leadership, helping shape pursuit strategy, strengthen estimating processes, mentor the team, and ensure the organization is positioned to successfully pursue increasingly complex and high-profile work.

What You’ll Do

Lead and support electrical estimating efforts from early conceptual budgeting through final bid
Partner closely with the Director of Preconstruction & Estimating on strategy, workload, pursuits, and team development
Provide leadership and mentorship to an experienced, tenured estimating team
Review estimates, takeoffs, scopes, pricing, and bid packages for accuracy and completeness
Develop conceptual, schematic, design-development, and detailed estimates
Analyze drawings and specifications to identify scope, risk, constructability concerns, and potential cost exposure
Lead value engineering and alternative-system discussions
Develop competitive bid strategies while protecting appropriate margins and managing risk
Maintain current knowledge of electrical material, equipment, labor, and subcontractor pricing
Build and maintain strong relationships with general contractors, owners, vendors, subcontractors, and other industry partners
Collaborate with operations and project leadership to ensure a successful transition from preconstruction through execution
Help strengthen estimating standards, processes, technology, and best practices as the company continues to scale
Support the evaluation and pursuit of larger, more complex projects and strategic growth opportunities

What We’re Looking For

Significant electrical estimating and preconstruction experience within commercial construction
Deep working knowledge of electrical systems, scopes, labor, materials, equipment, and constructability
Experience estimating large and technically complex projects
Healthcare construction experience highly preferred
Experience leading, mentoring, or developing estimators
Strong conceptual estimating capabilities in addition to detailed takeoff and pricing experience
Proven understanding of bid strategy, value engineering, scope analysis, risk management, and competitive pricing
Ability to confidently review and challenge estimates rather than simply compile numbers
Strong relationships and credibility with operations teams, general contractors, vendors, and trade partners
Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent pursuits
Strong communication and leadership presence
Technology-forward mindset and willingness to leverage modern estimating and preconstruction tools

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is not an opportunity to inherit a struggling estimating department.

You’ll be joining a strong, tenured team under established preconstruction leadership at a company that already has a successful foundation and is now positioned for its next stage of growth.

The organization is backed by private equity, creating additional resources and investment to support continued expansion while maintaining the entrepreneurial environment and industry expertise that built the business.

For the right person, this offers an attractive combination: a strong existing team, respected leadership, significant project opportunities, and the chance to play an important role in scaling the estimating and preconstruction function as the company grows.

If you’re an experienced electrical estimator or preconstruction leader who knows the Houston construction market, understands how to competitively pursue complex work, and wants an opportunity where your expertise can have a meaningful impact on the future of the business, we’d like to speak with you.