About this opportunity
Trueline lists this Chief Estimator opportunity in charlotte, North Carolina. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Chief Estimator
An established family-owned General Contractor with a growing Southeast operation, is seeking a Chief Estimator to join its Charlotte, NC team. This is a hands-on opportunity for an experienced GC estimator to take ownership of estimating and preconstruction in the region today, then build and lead a Charlotte-based estimating team as the business continues to expand.
What You'll Do as the Chief Estimator:
Own estimating and preconstruction for projects throughout Charlotte and the broader Southeast
Develop conceptual estimates, budgets, GMPs, and competitive bids from early design through final construction documents
Perform and oversee quantity takeoffs, cost analysis, bid leveling, and scope development
Review drawings and specifications to identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, and value-engineering opportunities
Solicit, evaluate, level, and negotiate subcontractor and supplier proposals
Maintain strong subcontractor coverage and current knowledge of Charlotte and Southeast market pricing
Develop clear scopes, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications
Collaborate closely with Project Management, field operations, ownership, and regional leadership
Participate in pre-bid meetings, site walks, and client meetings
Build and maintain relationships with subcontractors, developers, owners, and other construction partners
Support efforts to generate, estimate, and win additional work throughout the Southeast
Operate independently while leveraging established estimating resources elsewhere in the organization when useful
Establish estimating workflows, standards, and infrastructure for the Charlotte office
Help improve estimating consistency, historical pricing, and preconstruction processes
Recruit, develop, and eventually lead a Charlotte-based estimating team as the regional operation grows
Help create a scalable estimating function that can support continued Southeast expansion
Must-Haves as the Chief Estimator:
Approximately 10+ years of construction estimating or preconstruction experience
Strong General Contractor background
Career primarily focused on estimating and preconstruction
Proven ability to independently develop complete GC estimates and bids
Strong understanding of construction means and methods
Strong knowledge of subcontractor trades, materials, sequencing, and market pricing
Experience with conceptual estimating, budgeting, value engineering, and preconstruction
Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, and construction documents
Experience soliciting, leveling, and negotiating subcontractor proposals
Ability to work independently without significant day-to-day oversight
Strong communication, organization, and analytical skills
Leadership ability and interest in eventually building and managing an estimating team
Ability to work onsite five days per week in Charlotte
Willingness to travel occasionally throughout the Southeast
Nice-to-Haves as the Chief Estimator:
Charlotte-area estimating experience
Established Charlotte or Southeast subcontractor relationships
Existing developer, owner, or client relationships
Ground-up commercial construction experience
Retail construction experience
Multifamily construction experience
Industrial construction experience
Institutional construction experience
Experience estimating projects in the $5 million-$50 million+ range
Experience building or improving estimating systems and processes
Experience mentoring or developing estimators
Prior Lead Estimator, Estimating Manager, or Preconstruction Manager experience
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field
Bluebeam experience
The Company Offers:
Target base salary of approximately $170,000-$190,000
Potential flexibility toward $200,000 for an exceptional candidate
Annual performance and company bonus opportunity
Bonus has historically ranged approximately $10,000-$25,000 depending on company and individual performance
Auto allowance
Phone allowance
Medical insurance with approximately 65% of premium paid by the company
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Employer-paid life insurance
Employer-paid disability insurance
401(k) with company match
Paid business travel expenses
Significant autonomy
Limited micromanagement
Direct visibility with ownership and senior leadership
Opportunity to become the primary estimating leader for the Southeast operation
Opportunity to build a future Charlotte estimating team of approximately 3-5 people
Long-term regional or Director-level leadership potential
Established and growing Southeast business
Close-knit environment compared with larger national contractors
Manageable workload and emphasis on work-life balance
Opportunity to directly influence regional growth and revenue
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Worksite address
charlotte, NC, 28245, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.