Estimating Manager - Critical Infrastructure Group

Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure™ with local service, nationwide®. As a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With over 370 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main’s 5,700 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.

Job Summary:

The Estimating Manager – Critical Infrastructure Group (CIG) is responsible for managing all day‑to‑day estimating operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and high‑quality material takeoffs for critical infrastructure projects nationwide. This role oversees the performance, development, and workload distribution.

The Estimating Manager partners closely with regional leadership, sales teams, and Pre‑Bid teams to drive consistent estimating practices, support strategic bid pursuits, and advance design‑build engagement efforts. The position ensures that estimating processes, material recommendations, and quantity takeoffs align with organizational standards and comply with project-specific requirements.

Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities

Estimating Operations Management

• Oversee daily estimating operations for all project types and complexity levels.
• Ensures accurate, consistent, and timely material quantity takeoffs across the regional estimating team.
• Assigns and monitors project workloads, balancing capacity across teams and regions.
• Manages work calendar.
• Reviews complex and high‑visibility takeoffs submitted by senior‑level estimators for accuracy and completeness.

Project Evaluation & Quality Assurance

• Ensure estimators interpret drawings, specifications, and bid documents according to standards.
• Implements quality control processes to validate takeoff accuracy and reduce risk.
• Engages on complex design build projects to provide technical direction on material selection, constructability considerations, and alternative solutions.

Design Build & Strategic Bid Support

• Guides teams on design build methodology, material recommendations, and early‑stage project input.
• Supports estimators on major regional pursuits.
• Works with sales leadership to develop strategic bid approaches.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Alignment

• Partners with regional estimating, sales, and engineering teams to ensure scope clarity and unified estimating practices.
• Coordinates with the Pre‑Bid team to resolve specification conflicts, RFIs, and scope discrepancies.
• Serves as escalation point for vendor, contractor, and engineering clarifications.

Leadership, Coaching & Team Development

• Supervises the full estimating team including Estimator I through Lead Estimator.
• Conducts skill assessments and identifies development needs.
• Provides coaching, performance feedback, and structured mentoring to elevate technical proficiency.
• Supports senior leadership in implementing training programs and career progression paths for estimators.

Data‑Driven Oversight & Reporting

• Reviews workflow data, and capacity dashboards to make informed management decisions.
• Collaborate with the Regional Sales Manager along with Senior Manager, Estimating on workload planning, resource allocation, and performance optimization.
• Provides regular reporting on productivity, accuracy, and team performance.

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership and people‑management skills
• Advanced technical expertise in infrastructure estimating
• High-level analytical and problem-solving ability
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex projects
• Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
• Ability to collaborate effectively across regional teams

Preferred Qualifications

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in estimating for water/wastewater, industrial, or critical infrastructure projects
• Demonstrated experience completing and reviewing complex takeoffs
• Prior responsibility for supervising, coaching, or leading estimating teams
• Strong experience with design build support and value engineering
• Experience working directly with contractors, engineering firms, vendors, and sales organizations
• Experience implementing standardized estimating practices or improvements across teams

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related discipline preferred
• Equivalent professional experience considered
• Professional certification

This information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by associates in this role. It is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this role. This description supersedes any previous or undated descriptions for this role. Management retains the right to add or change the duties of the position at any time.

Pay: $92,544.89 - $132,206.97 per year.

Core & Main is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment at Core & Main is based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence.  Core & Main does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship, or any other basis protected by law.

None of the questions in this application are intended to elicit information regarding any protected characteristics, nor imply any limitation, illegal preferences or discrimination based upon non-job-related information or protected characteristics.

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