Estimator, Chief

Job Title: Chief Estimator

Location: Los Alamitos

Reports to: Vice President of Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Prepared By: Human Resources

Salary range: $175K - $225K

Prepared Date: June 14, 2023

About Us:

KDC Inc. has been in the electrical contracting business since 1950. Since that time, we have developed many strong, long-term relationships with general contractors, architects, and engineers in Southern California. Our skill, experience, purchasing power, and access to technical and financial resources enable us to complete your project in a timely manner with cost competitive performance. Owned by EMCOR, the largest U.S. specialty contractor, KDC Inc. has a nationwide network of sister companies experienced in working together, linking our strengths to meet our customers' needs.

KDC Inc. provides electrical, transportation, telecommunications, and control system integration services. Our electrical division performs specialty electrical contracting work as well as design/build projects. Our transportation division performs all phases of underground network and traffic control technology. Our telecommunications division specializes in the installation of voice-data systems and DC power plants and cabling. KDC Systems, our controls division, provides products and services for environmental monitoring, HVAC, lighting control, process control, security and U.L. panel fabrication.

KDC Inc. can handle a variety of projects from small and simple to the most advanced and complex. Our project experience includes arenas, college campuses, communication centers, convention centers, data centers, energy performance contracts, generation and co-generation facilities, high rise office and commercial buildings, hospitals, manufacturing and aerospace complexes, Metro stations and tunnels, parking structures, research laboratories, thermal energy storage, toll roads, and wastewater treatment facilities.

KDC Inc. maintains its excellent reputation by consistently meeting the needs of its clients, producing quality work on time and in a cost competitive manner. We welcome the opportunity to work with you on your upcoming projects and are ready to meet the challenges unique to your needs.

Job Summary:

The Chief Estimator (CE) is responsible for establishing and maintaining estimating systems and procedures. This includes but is not limited to building and maintaining professional relationships with customers, peers, supervisors, and administrative staff, field craft workers, field supervision, vendors, suppliers, manufacturers, and subcontractors based on mutual respect, trust, and integrity.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Include the following. Other duties will likely be assigned.

Collaboration with the CEO & Divisional Managers:

• Updating & Submission of weekly EMCOR “Bid Log” (report via ECS to corporate every Monday with list of projects bidding/pending/budgeting)
• When required to, compose executive summaries for submission to EMCOR for review (identification of areas of risk within drawings, schedule, contract documents i.e., subcontracts, insurance requirements, etc.).
• Prepare “Risk Assessment Forms” for EMCOR and Company review (process risk assessment forms per EMCOR requirements)
• Schedule and prioritizes with staff to organize estimating schedule (with department staff and estimating staff; Schedule projects for estimating and assign projects to department estimators including assessing the matrix of responsibilities)
• Participate in Division Manager Meetings on and off-site (work with Department Managers to implement estimating policy, procedures, and systems consistent with the company mission and competitive practices, maintain estimating bid log for weekly management discussion)
• Collaboration with the Project Management team (communicate with Project Mangers & Superintendents to keep current with new and different field practices, attend project visits to compare estimated and actual costs)
• Attend/participate in industry related events (as needed/required)

Estimating

• Develop budgets with clarifications/assumptions (develops budgets for projects while providing high levels of details/clarifications)
• Identify budget constraints (Presents value engineering and cost savings opportunities to clients as required to meet budget constraints)
• Maintain/update Accubid databases and default jobs (update wage rates bi-annually, labor factoring, incidental labor, labor escalation, direct labor, subcontractors, general expenses, equipment rentals and key project indicators)
• Schedule bid kick-off meetings (Initiate estimate strategy & approach soliciting of subcontractors and suppliers)
• Oversee tracking M/W/ESB/SDVBE business solicitations during the estimating process.
• Review all estimates with the CEO and Divisional manager/PM 24-hours prior to bid.
• Review & approve final estimates for all projects (Review for potential cost savings & opportunities Accuracy Schedule Subcontract & Vendor Proposals, assist in composition and review of scope letter and bid form)
• Manage bid day activities (support estimating and other departments with BOM review, proposal review, final estimate review)
• Oversee & maintain the estimating archives
• Coordinate post-bid turnover meetings for awarded projects (present to PM/superintendent for construction)
• Historical reference (compare estimated costs with building type and classification and keep the figures in a historical cost data spreadsheet)
• Ensure Estimating Department year end housekeeping and maintenance duties are completed

Manage estimating department staff

• Train/ensure that guidelines, policies, and procedures are established and implemented for various types of estimates.
• Monitor, review and perform department employee evaluations.
• Approve time-off requests

Collaborate with:

• Pre-Construction division (to identify opportunities for pre-fab during estimate/preconstruction effort & bid turn over)
• Safety Manager (to address safety requirements during estimating process)
• QA/QC (to address QA/QC/Cx requirements during estimating process)
• Owner/Clients (meet regularly with clients/customers to maintain relationships/establish expectations

Preferred Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in and Master of Science in engineering or construction related field desirable. (High School diploma or GED required.)
• Minimum of 3 years of Electrical Estimating experience with an Engineering Degree or Trade School Diploma or Electrical Field Installation experience
• Excellent customer service skills
• Working knowledge of municipal jurisdictional permits, codes, etc.
• Must be able and willing to educate and support staff
• Knowledge of the NEC
• Ability to handle stress & prioritize workload
• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications required for preparing, analyzing, and monitoring, reporting, and presenting and additional computer skills within Windows OS.
• Utilization of Accubid estimating & database management, TRA-SER Supplier Exchange, Microsoft Excel & Word Scheduling and Blue Beam software.
• Regular use of various FTP sites and virtual plan rooms.
• Familiarity with project management/document control software.
• Familiarity with construction/financial software packages.

Required Attributes:

The requirements listed below are representative of characteristics and demonstrated capabilities sought to perform this job successfully.

• Must demonstrate integrity, honesty, professionalism, and commitment to company values.
• Must have high standards of quality with attention to detail.
• Must possess ability to manage and supervise personnel.
• Must build positive working relationships with multiple levels of employees, management, suppliers, and customers.
• Excellent judgment, make sound decisions, and produce accurate and timely result.
• Solve problems on a strategic and tactical level.
• Be a hands-on, interactive team member who shares information and is a contributor.
• Understanding of customer expectations.
• Highly credible and persuasive in face-to-face settings, and ensure communication is succinct and tailored to the audience
• Exhibit confidence in self and others, inspire and motivate team to perform well and effectively influence the actions of others.
• Encourage department personnel’s participation in programs for professional development.
• Must be adaptable and take new circumstances in stride, maintain composure when challenged and open to new ideas.

Language Skills:

Must have the demonstrated ability to effectively communicate in English, cooperate, and collaborate with multiple levels of customer, employees, unions, government agencies, vendors and suppliers, and other contractor organizations.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, see, talk, and hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is regularly required to walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to commute to field locations to accurately perform takeoffs. The employee must have the ability to navigate around job site locations.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee should expect to sit for long periods in front of a computer and travel to field locations as needed.

While visiting field locations, the employee may be required to work outdoors, be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical and electrical parts; high, precarious places; dust, fumes, or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions, extended exposure to sunlight; cold and heat; risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

We offer our employees a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package and are always looking for individuals with the talent and skills required to contribute to our continued growth and success. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.