Estimator, heavy civil

About the role

The Estimator owns the front end of every project, from invitation to bid through award and handoff to the project management team. You'll be responsible for accurate quantity take-offs, competitive cost build-ups and well-organized proposals that win the right work for Ryan Contracting. You'll work closely with subcontractors, suppliers, owners, general contractors, design engineers, and our project managers and field leadership to turn plans and specifications into a defensible bid and a smooth handoff into construction.

The Estimator does not run awarded projects in the field. Once a project is awarded, you hand it to a project manager and remain a bid-knowledge and cost-basis resource for the life of the job. Unlike shops that require a decade of estimating experience, we are open to talent across experience levels and set compensation accordingly.

This is a remote or hybrid position. We maintain offices in the north metro and south metro, and estimators split their time between the office of their choice, pre-bid site visits and remote work as the bid calendar allows.

What you'll do

Bid strategy and project selection

• Review incoming invitations from public agencies, general contractors and private developers, and flag the projects that fit our capabilities, capacity and risk profile.
• Lead bid and no-bid discussions with leadership and project managers, weighing scope, schedule, market conditions, geography and competition.
• Keep a clean bid calendar with deadlines, addenda and required submittals: bonds, insurance, certifications and DBE goals where they apply.

Quantity take-offs and cost estimating

• Read and interpret plans, specifications and contract documents, including civil drawings, geotechnical reports and MnDOT and municipal standard plates.
• Perform detailed take-offs for earthwork, sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer, grading, paving, curb and gutter, and site development.
• Build full estimates in HCSS HeavyBid (or B2W), accounting for production rates, labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors and project risk.
• Identify permitting, bonding, insurance, traffic control, dewatering and environmental requirements early and price them.

Subcontractors and suppliers

• Solicit, evaluate and negotiate subcontractor, supplier and equipment quotes.
• Maintain our directory of qualified subcontractors and suppliers and build relationships that improve coverage and pricing.
• Vet sub scopes for coverage, exclusions, lead times and bonding capacity before relying on their numbers.

Proposals, handoff and continuous improvement

• Prepare clear, professional proposals and represent the company at pre-bid meetings and site visits.
• Hand awarded work to the project manager with the bid documents, cost basis, assumptions and commitments they need to start strong.
• Support change-order pricing and cost-to-complete forecasts, and feed lessons learned back into estimating.
• Keep organized bid files so any bid can be reconstructed and audited, and use modern AI-assisted estimating tools.

What we're looking for

• Experience in construction estimating, project management or a closely related role in heavy civil, highway or site development. We are open to multiple experience levels.
• Field and estimating experience matters most. A degree in construction management or civil engineering is welcome but not required.
• Proficiency with HCSS (HeavyBid, HeavyJob, Plans) or B2W, plus working familiarity with Sage 300 CRE, Adobe Acrobat, Excel and Word.
• Working knowledge of MnDOT specifications, municipal sewer and water standards, and safety and environmental regulations.
• Strong quantitative skills, attention to detail and clear communication under deadline pressure.
• Valid driver's license and the ability to pass a background check and drug screen.

Preferred

• Field experience in heavy civil construction.
• Experience estimating public-bid work for Minnesota cities, counties or MnDOT.
• Relationships with regional subcontractors, suppliers and utility owners.

Compensation and benefits

A compensation package of $110,000 to $160,000+ depending on experience, with 10 to 25% annual bonus potential tied to project profitability, safety and client satisfaction. Company vehicle and phone. Choose one of two benefit paths:

Non-union path

• Medical, dental, vision and short-term disability
• Company-paid basic term life and long-term disability
• 401(k) with company match
• PTO, earned sick and safe time, and company-paid holidays

Union path

• Non-bargaining union member through Operating Engineers Local 49 or Laborers Local 563
• Health and welfare, pension, vacation and PTO through your union
• Mental health and wellness support through TEAM EAP
• Company-paid holidays