Ryan Contracting Company · Celebrating 35 Years

Estimator

Heavy Civil Construction  |  Sewer, Water & Roadway Reconstruction

About Ryan Contracting Company

For 35 years, Ryan Contracting Company has been building the underground and surface infrastructure that Minnesota communities depend on. We specialize in sewer and water reconstruction, road building, curb and gutter, and grading work for municipalities, counties, state agencies, and private developers across the region. Our reputation is built on quality craftsmanship, schedule reliability, and a workforce that takes ownership of every project.

Position Summary

The Estimator owns the front end of every project — from invitation to bid through award and handoff to the Project Management team. This role is responsible for accurate quantity take-offs, competitive cost build-ups, and well-organized proposals that win the right work for Ryan Contracting Company. The Estimator works closely with subcontractors, suppliers, owners, general contractors, design engineers, and Ryan Contracting’s Project Managers and field leadership to translate 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, the Estimator hands the work to a Project Manager and remains available as a bid-knowledge and cost-basis resource throughout the lifecycle of the job. Unlike shops that demand a decade of estimating experience before they will look at a candidate, we are open to talent across experience levels and tailor compensation accordingly.

This is a remote / hybrid position. Ryan Contracting Company maintains offices in both the north metro and south metro for the convenience of our team, and Estimators split their time between the office of their choice, occasional pre-bid site visits, and remote work as the bid calendar allows.

Key Responsibilities

Bid Strategy & Project Selection

• Review incoming bid invitations from public agencies, GCs, and private developers; flag the projects best aligned with Ryan Contracting’s capabilities, capacity, and risk profile.
• Lead bid / no-bid discussions in partnership with leadership and Project Managers; weigh project scope, schedule pressure, market conditions, geography, and competitive landscape.
• Maintain a clean bid calendar with deadlines, addenda tracking, and required submission documents (bonds, insurance, certifications, MBE / WBE / DBE goals where applicable).

Quantity Take-offs & Cost Estimating

• Read and interpret plans, specifications, and contract documents — including civil drawings, geotechnical reports, and MnDOT / municipal standard plates.
• Perform detailed quantity take-offs for earthwork, underground utilities (sanitary sewer, watermain, storm), grading, paving, curb and gutter, and site development.
• Build full-scope cost estimates using HCSS HeavyBid (or Bid2Win), accounting for production rates, labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, and project-specific risk.
• Identify project-specific requirements early — permitting, licensing, bonding, insurance, traffic control, dewatering, environmental controls — and price them appropriately.

Subcontractor & Supplier Management

• Solicit, evaluate, and negotiate proposals from subcontractors, material suppliers, and equipment vendors to land competitive, accurate pricing.
• Maintain Ryan Contracting’s directory of qualified subcontractors and suppliers; cultivate relationships that improve coverage and pricing on future bids.
• Vet sub scopes carefully — confirm scope coverage, exclusions, lead times, and bonding capacity before relying on numbers in the bid.

Proposal Preparation & Client Communication

• Prepare clear, professional proposals — accurate, well-organized, and easy for owners and general contractors to evaluate.
• Attend pre-bid meetings, ask the right questions, and follow up on addenda and clarifications before bid day.
• Visit project sites as needed to verify site conditions, access, staging, and constraints that materially affect cost or schedule.
• Represent Ryan Contracting Company professionally in every interaction with owners, GCs, subs, suppliers, design engineers, and inspectors.

Project Handoff & Constructability Support

• Lead a clean handoff of awarded projects to the assigned Project Manager — bid documents, cost basis, scope assumptions, sub commitments, and material commitments — so the PM can hit the ground running.
• Stay available as a bid-knowledge resource through the life of the job: explain assumptions, support change-order pricing, and help validate or adjust cost-to-complete forecasts.
• Capture lessons learned from completed projects and feed them back into estimating practice — production rates, sub performance, plan-quality issues, scope gaps.

Bid Documentation & Cost Systems

• Maintain accurate, organized bid files — take-offs, sub quotes, supplier quotes, RFIs, and assumption logs — so any bid can be reconstructed and audited later.
• Partner with the CFO on project setup (HCSS to Sage 300 CRE) so awarded jobs flow cleanly into job-cost tracking.
• Maintain proficiency with modern AI-assisted estimating tools — we invest in technology so our people can work smarter, not harder.

Team Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work collaboratively with fellow Estimators on bid strategy, peer review, and load balancing during heavy bid weeks.
• Partner with Project Managers, Superintendents, and Foremen to make sure bid assumptions reflect how the work actually gets executed in the field.
• Be a positive influence on others within the organization. Lead with integrity — be professional and respectful, and maintain appropriate confidentiality.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: Demonstrated experience in construction estimating, project management, or a closely related role within heavy civil, highway, or site development. We are open to multiple experience levels and will tailor compensation accordingly.
• Education: Real-life field and estimating experience is what we value most. A Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Construction Engineering, or Civil Engineering is welcomed but not required — proven hands-on experience matters more to us than a diploma.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with construction estimating and management software, including HCSS (HeavyBid, HeavyJob, Plans) or B2W. Working familiarity with Sage 300 CRE, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word.
• Knowledge: Working understanding of MnDOT specifications, municipal sewer and water standards, and applicable environmental and safety regulations.
• Skills: Strong quantitative and analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail. Confident reading construction drawings, specs, and contract documents. Proactive, responsive, and professional communicator who thrives under deadline pressure.
• Other: Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a background check and drug screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct field experience in heavy civil construction operations.
• Prior experience estimating public-bid projects for Minnesota municipalities, counties, or MnDOT.
• Established relationships with regional subcontractors, suppliers, and utility owners.
• Demonstrated success winning multi-million dollar heavy civil projects at competitive margins.
• Comfort with modern AI-assisted estimating workflows and a continuous-improvement mindset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $110,000 – $160,000+ per year, commensurate with experience and demonstrated estimating skill.
• Performance Bonus: 10–25% annual bonus potential tied to project profitability, safety, and client satisfaction metrics.

Ryan Contracting Company offers two benefit paths for this position. Candidates may choose between the Non-Union path and the Union path based on their preference and eligibility.

Option 1: Non-Union Benefits

• Health Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, and Short-Term Disability (STD).
• Company-Paid Benefits: Basic Term Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (LTD).
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid Time Off: PTO and Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST).
• Company-paid holidays.
• Referral bonuses — earn rewards to help us recruit new talent.
• Annual Performance Bonus opportunity.
• Company vehicle and company phone.

Option 2: Union Benefits

• Ryan Contracting Company is signatory with Operating Engineers Local 49 and Laborers Local 563.
• Health & Welfare benefits and pension are administered through your union.
• As a salaried employee, you will be a non-bargaining union member.
• Mental Health & Wellness support provided through TEAM EAP.
• Vacation and PTO administered through your union.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Referral bonuses — earn rewards to help us recruit new talent.
• Annual Performance Bonus opportunity.
• Company vehicle and company phone.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to Ryan Contracting Company. Please include relevant project experience, software proficiencies, and references.

Ryan Contracting Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.