Senior Estimator (Vertical Construction)

We are seeking a
Senior Estimator - General Contracting
to join the team in Maryland. This is a hands-on opportunity to become the company's primary dedicated estimator, take ownership of complete GC estimates, and help build a more formal preconstruction function as the business continues to grow.
What You'll Do as the Senior Estimator - General Contracting:
Own General Contracting estimates from early budgeting through final bid
Develop conceptual, schematic, design-development, negotiated, GMP, and hard-bid estimates
Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and pricing
Review drawings, specifications, contracts, addenda, and bid documents
Solicit, review, level, and negotiate subcontractor and vendor proposals
Develop clear scopes, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications
Evaluate labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor costs, and general conditions
Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, project risks, and value-engineering opportunities
Support bid strategy and go/no-go decisions
Participate in project turnover from preconstruction to Operations after award
Maintain and improve historical pricing and cost information
Build repeatable estimating workflows and standards
Improve estimating consistency, accuracy, and internal communication
Develop and maintain cost databases
Conduct bid post-mortems and evaluate estimating performance
Recommend improvements to estimating technology and process
Help establish stronger preconstruction meetings and handoff procedures
Build and maintain strong subcontractor and supplier relationships throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia
Expand the company's trade-partner network
Maintain awareness of local pricing, market conditions, and subcontractor capacity
Support smaller metal fabrication estimates during lighter GC bid periods when appropriate
Contribute to light business-development and market outreach as needed
Help determine future estimating and preconstruction staffing needs as the department grows
Must-Haves as the Senior Estimator - General Contracting:
Strong commercial General Contractor estimating experience
Ability to independently produce complete estimates without relying on a Chief Estimator
Strong understanding of construction means, methods, sequencing, scopes, and pricing
Experience soliciting and leveling subcontractor bids
Ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines simultaneously
Strong Excel skills
Hands-on takeoff and estimating capability
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
Ability to work autonomously in a smaller contractor environment
Comfort working in an organization where every process may not already be formalized
Willingness to challenge and improve existing processes constructively
Ability to work primarily onsite in Woodbine, Maryland
Nice-to-Haves as the Senior Estimator - General Contracting:
7-15+ years of GC estimating or preconstruction experience
Maryland, DC, or Northern Virginia market experience
Existing local subcontractor relationships
Government or federal estimating experience
Davis-Bacon or prevailing wage experience
Commercial tenant improvement experience
Commercial fit-out experience
Occupied renovation experience
Historic renovation experience
Higher education or institutional construction experience
Secure facility experience
Healthcare experience
Gaming or hospitality construction experience
Sacred-space or church construction experience
Design-build experience
Negotiated work experience
Conceptual budgeting experience
Experience improving estimating systems or processes
Structural steel or miscellaneous metals estimating exposure
Vista Viewpoint experience
ProContractor experience
Bluebeam experience
Benefits Offered:
Discretionary bonus opportunity
Senior-level discretionary bonuses have historically ranged approximately $5,000-$20,000 depending on contribution and performance
Medical insurance with approximately 80% of employee-only premium currently paid by the company
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) with company match
PTO with flexibility for senior hires
Professional hires often start around three weeks of PTO
Situational work-from-home flexibility
Potential car allowance or company vehicle under consideration
Direct access to executive leadership
High level of autonomy and visibility
Opportunity to become the company's primary dedicated estimator
Ability to shape estimating and preconstruction processes
Opportunity to influence technology selection and workflow
Potential to build and eventually lead a larger estimating team
Established family-owned company with strong recurring client relationships
Small-company environment with meaningful impact and limited bureaucracy
Trueline and its clients are unabashed equal-opportunity employers committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome smart and ambitious applicants and recruit, refer, hire, place, and promote without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.