Senior Estimator – Commercial GC|CM - Wayne, NJ - $165k - $185k

Your new company
I am partnered with a well-established commercial General Contractor and Construction Manager headquartered in Northern New Jersey. The business delivers ground-up construction, renovation and interior projects across the commercial, institutional, hospitality and private-client markets.

With an active pipeline across New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, the company is looking to strengthen its preconstruction department by appointing an experienced Construction Estimator. This is a confidential replacement search created following the departure of a long-tenured member of the estimating team.

The company has built its reputation around quality, integrity, collaboration and long-term client relationships. It offers the stability of an established contractor alongside continued regional growth and the opportunity to work closely with senior operational leadership.

Your new role
As a Senior Construction Estimator, you will take ownership of competitive bids and negotiated preconstruction assignments from initial document review through final submission and handover to the project team.

You will be expected to manage the following:

Review and interpret architectural, structural, civil and MEP drawings, specifications and bid documents.
Complete detailed quantity take-offs and develop accurate, fully scoped construction estimates.
Identify scope gaps, exclusions, clarifications and potential cost exposure before bid submission.
Solicit, level and evaluate subcontractor and supplier proposals across all major trades.
Prepare conceptual, schematic and detailed estimates at different stages of design development.
Develop competitive lump-sum, negotiated and GMP proposals.
Participate in bid strategy meetings with senior operations and project leadership.
Produce clear bid packages, proposal documents, scope sheets and estimate summaries.
Develop practical value-engineering alternatives without compromising design intent or construction quality.
Maintain accurate historical cost information and apply current subcontractor pricing and market intelligence.
Support the transition of successful bids from preconstruction into project operations.
Build and maintain productive relationships with subcontractors, consultants, clients and internal project teams.

What you’ll need to succeed
To be successful as a Construction Estimator, you should have at least eight 8 years of estimating or preconstruction experience within a commercial GC or CM environment.

You must be capable of independently developing a complete estimate rather than relying solely on subcontractor coverage. You should understand how the individual trades interact, recognize missing scope and identify commercial or constructability risks before they affect a project.

The successful candidate will ideally offer:

Strong experience estimating commercial ground-up, renovation and interior construction projects.
A detailed understanding of architectural, structural and MEP systems.
Demonstrated experience producing quantity take-offs and complete cost estimates.
The ability to evaluate subcontractor proposals and recognize incomplete or inconsistent coverage.
Experience creating conceptual estimates from preliminary drawings, sketches or incomplete design information.
Knowledge of lump-sum, negotiated, design-build and GMP delivery methods.
Strong relationships within the New Jersey and wider tri-state subcontractor market.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
A consistent employment history and a reputation for accuracy, accountability and follow-through.
Proficiency with established estimating, take-off and construction-management software.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific projects they have estimated, their personal involvement in each bid and the process they use to validate scope and pricing. Relevant work examples or project lists may be requested during the interview process.

What you’ll get in return
You will join a stable, well-regarded contractor with an established New Jersey presence, an active regional pipeline and clear opportunities for continued professional development.

The position offers:

A competitive base salary aligned with experience.
Annual performance-related bonus potential.
Medical, dental and vision insurance.
A company-supported 401(k) plan.
Paid time off and company holidays.
Exposure to a diverse portfolio of commercial construction projects.
Direct interaction with senior operational and preconstruction leadership.
The opportunity to play an important role in strengthening and developing the company’s estimating function.
Long-term career potential within a growing regional construction business.

What you need to do now
If you are interested in this opportunity, please forward an up-to-date copy of your resume via LinkedIn or contact Callum Hewitt on 646-942-6769 for a confidential discussion.
All enquiries will be handled in strict confidence, and the identity of the hiring company will only be disclosed to suitably qualified candidates following an initial conversation.

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