Director of Estimating

Position overview

The Director of Estimating leads the preconstruction and estimating function as a strategic partner to Operations and Business Development, ensuring the company’s purpose, process, and wins work that aligns with company goals for profitability, client relationships, and execution excellence.

 Key responsibilities

 Strategic Leadership & Alignment

• Align estimating priorities with company growth strategy — focusing on the right work, not just more work.
• Use data from Foundation, B2W, and TopBuilder to analyze win/loss trends, backlog mix, and margin performance.
• Develop pricing strategies that balance competitiveness with sustainable margins and resource capacity.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Manage and mentor the estimating team to build accountability, ownership, and engagement.
• Conduct regular 1-on-1s focused on performance, professional development, and project execution quality.
• Set clear expectations for presence, responsiveness, and collaboration with Operations and clients.
• Create advancement paths for high performers through skill development and cross-training.

Process & Data Management

• Oversee implementation and adoption of TopBuilder and other estimating tools to ensure data accuracy and transparency.
• Develop and enforce standardized estimating procedures, templates, and cost databases.
• Monitor data integrity and KPI reliability- ensuring leadership can make decisions based on accurate, real-time information.

Operational Integration

• Ensure smooth, timely project handoffs from Estimating to Operations through a formalized checklist and documentation process.
• Support PMs with pricing methodology for change orders while reinforcing clear ownership boundaries.
• Partner with Operations to evaluate actual vs. estimated performance and adjust production rates accordingly.

Client & Market Engagement

• Strengthen AME’s position as a trusted partner to GCs, owners, and designers by providing proactive solutions and realistic budgets.
• Lead participation in pre-bid meetings, client presentations, and value-engineering sessions.
• Maintain relationships with key vendors and subcontractors to ensure reliable cost and market insight.

Continuous Improvement & Reporting

• Lead post-bid reviews to evaluate estimating accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Develop department metrics and dashboards to track throughput, conversion, and margin trends.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and cost optimization across divisions.

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and operational mindset.
• Hands-on leader who sets expectations through coaching, accountability, and example.
• Skilled communicator who builds trust across departments and with clients.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo to improve accuracy, efficiency, and profitability.

Preferred qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in estimating, including at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
• Strong knowledge of landscape construction practices, materials, equipment, and labor requirements.
• Proficiency in estimating software, and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team in a deadline-driven environment.

A successful candidate must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check.