SENIOR ESTIMATOR

Marine & Heavy Civil Construction | North Vancouver, BC

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a senior estimating role within one of British Columbia's most recognized specialty contractors, a family-owned group with a standing history delivering landmark marine, heavy civil, and industrial infrastructure projects across Canada. They hold one of the largest marine and heavy lift fleets on the West Coast and have built some of the most technically complex projects in the country.

The estimating team is growing. A newly appointed Estimating Manager is actively building structure, process, and permanent senior capacity, this hire is the cornerstone of that effort. They need someone who has genuinely spent their career estimating and who is ready to own large, complex bids independently while helping develop the estimators around them.

If marine and heavy civil estimating is your craft, not a line on your resume, this is the role.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Reporting to the Estimating Manager, you will lead the full bid lifecycle on complex marine, piling, and heavy civil construction projects, from tender receipt through submission. You will work largely independently on major pursuits, coordinating with Operations, Project Management, Engineering, and Procurement teams, and presenting your work directly to senior leadership.

Estimating & Bid Leadership

• Lead complex tenders through the full bid lifecycle, accuracy, competitiveness, and on-time delivery are non-negotiable

• Review and analyze tender documents to identify risks, opportunities, and constructability considerations specific to marine and heavy civil environments

• Prepare detailed quantity take-offs, comprehensive cost estimates, and bid submissions for lump-sum, design-build, and construction management projects

• Prepare risk assessments and recommend appropriate contingency strategies

• Coordinate and review subcontractor and supplier quotations, ensure scope clarity and alignment before submission

• Manage RFIs and tender clarifications through to resolution

• Support procurement and buy-out planning during the tender phase

• Participate in site visits, pre-bid meetings, and project review sessions as required

• Present bid recommendations to senior management and defend your numbers with clarity and confidence

• Support project handover to Operations following successful bid awards

Process, Data & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and update pricing databases, labour rates, equipment costs, and productivity metrics

• Track project outcomes and integrate lessons learned into future pricing strategies

• Work within established estimating templates and processes, and contribute to improving them

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and technical support to junior estimators

• Review estimates prepared by other team members and ensure quality and accuracy

• Step in to lead the estimating function when the Estimating Manager is unavailable

• Contribute to a structured, high-performance team environment

WHO THEY ARE

This role has one non-negotiable: your estimating experience must be in marine construction, heavy civil infrastructure, or closely related sectors. Residential, commercial, and electrical estimating backgrounds are not transferable and will not be considered. Equally important, your resume must reflect actual estimating work, not project management or operations with 'estimator' appended to a title.

Experience

• 8–10 years of total construction experience, with meaningful years in a senior estimating capacity

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage estimates and tenders from receipt through submission

• Proven experience in one or more of the following sectors:

• Marine construction: pile driving, wharves, docks, marine terminals, dredging (first priority)

• Heavy civil infrastructure: bridges, highways, major earthworks

• Deep foundations, piling, shoring, or excavation

• Industrial construction: terminals, port facilities, LNG, bulk handling systems

• Experience supporting projects ranging from capital works to large-scale infrastructure bids

• Background in proposals for provincial or federal clients, ability to produce and lead full technical proposal packages

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline

• Engineering Technology diploma or equivalent technical education considered

• P.Eng. designation is an asset

• Mechanical engineering background considered where construction estimating experience is strong

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with HeavyBid estimating software, or demonstrated ability to learn quickly

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (estimating in this sector ultimately lives in numbers and linked sheets)

• AutoCAD and MS Project proficiency

• Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, schedules, and contract documents

• Knowledge of union agreements, wage structures, and regional cost considerations in BC construction

What This Team Is Looking For

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH

This search is being conducted on a confidential basis on behalf of our client. The organization name, project portfolio, team structure, and reporting relationships will be disclosed to qualified candidates during the interview process. All inquiries and applications are handled with complete discretion.