Chief Estimator

Brice Highway LLCRegular

Why choose us?

As a proud subsidiary of Calista Brice, we're part of a family of 20+ companies tackling tough construction, environmental, and technical challenges. Working at a Calista Brice company means joining a team where cultural values and practical innovation come together to create meaningful impact. You'll experience the stability of a large organization while enjoying the tight-knit community and entrepreneurial spirit of a smaller company, with opportunities to grow your career across our diverse family of businesses.

Calista Brice is owned by Calista Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. ANCs were created to support economic development and self-determination for Alaska's Indigenous peoples. Our work directly contributes to advancing the social, cultural, and economic welfare of over 35,000 Alaska Natives in the Calista Region.

What does Brice Highway LLC do?

Brice Highway specializes in vertical and horizontal construction, supporting transportation and utility projects that stand the test of time. Our design-build delivery methods bring together team members with diverse backgrounds and skills, creating an environment where mentorships form naturally and where your contributions are visible in the completed projects that people depend on daily.

Brice Highway is a proud subsidiary of Calista Brice, a group of 20+ companies delivering construction, engineering, and environmental solutions across the United States.

What can you expect?

As the Chief Estimator, you will work onsite in Houston, Texas and is the primary lead of the estimating team who has overall responsibility for the creation of estimates produced by the Estimating Department. The Chief Estimator is responsible for the oversight of the estimating process for all projects bid and awarded, and will follow and help establish new standardized procedures, methods, and processes for estimating and training estimating resources.

How will you do it?

• Oversee analysis of past performance on projects and establish estimating standards for all future estimates.
• Assist in oversight of historical cost database and bid management and estimating software.
• Work with senior company managers to oversee department standards for deliverables such as bid packages, deliverable formats, and budget tracking tools.
• Work directly with the senior company managers to finalize all processes when using HCSS Heavy Bid.
• Administrator of all HCSS Heavy Bid Libraries.
• Update equipment rates on an annual basis.
• Update labor rates on a quarterly basis at a minimum and understand and account for project specific wage rate criteria if any.
• Manage the conformity of all project bids estimates for the creation and use of budget cost data.
• Assign responsibilities for estimating team on each project.
• Review project plans and specifications and coordinates with the team to confirm complete scope.
• Identify risk issues and their order of magnitude along with long lead time procurement concerns.
• Solicit subcontractor and/or supplier information and pricing and save data in appropriate locations within software.
• Manage and maintain companies bid history and prospective work opportunities.
• Prepares instructions to bidders, bid form and other bid solicitation information as required.
• Review general conditions, schedule, scopes of work, site logistics and other exhibits as prepared by Operations.
• Ensure the flow of project information is maintained and documented from estimate to budget.
• Review and/or manage the review and scoping of specialty contractor bids.
• Coordinate technical proposal requirements with Marketing Department.
• Review constructability issues with operational staff.
• Maintain and communicate data on construction and material cost trends affecting project costs.
• Analyze alternate means and methods to determine the most economical alternative.
• Builds effective relationships with customers, design team, specialty contractors, suppliers, and user groups that reflect and support company core values and meets or exceeds the customer's expectations.
• Work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Supervisory Functions:  

This position may supervise employees in the Estimating department, under the direction of the General Manager.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Advance ability to prepare accurate budgets and cost estimates, in-depth knowledge of fiscal management principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of construction, architectural, and building industry standard operating practices/procedures with a focused and proven track record for civil construction.
• Knowledge of basic revenue models, project ledger, and cost-to-completion projections.
• Knowledge in all computer software programs used in estimating with particular emphasis on HCSS and other estimating software, with pre-solicitation knowledge using online bid data.
• Actively participates in industry, client, and community relations to enhance company image.
• Participate in the transfer of information on successful projects including the Job Kick-off Meeting(s).
• Assist in the preparation and review of work plans as requested.
• Participate in periodic reviews and visits to projects as appropriate.
• Track pricing of change impacts as required.
• Ability to prepare and maintain bid calendar and ensure timely completion of estimates and job hand off.
• Ability to manage the estimating job folders.
• Compile and manage database for information on products, vendors, subcontractors, and government requirements.
• Possess strong mathematical and computer skills. Proficiency with HCSS, Bluebeam, OS Take Off, and all MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledgeable in one or more areas of construction.
• Ability to breakdown construction operations into a logical sequence of activities.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to professionally communicate the basis for individual work product when in a highly stressed environment.
• Ability and willingness to abide by companies’ policies and core values daily. 
• Must be able to meet deadlines and put in the time needed to meet all pre-planned site visits, correspondences, bid bond submissions and ultimately, timely, responsive estimates.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Must possess a strong work ethic and desire to be an active participant in the company’s path ahead.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and team building skills.
• Good attention to detail with the ability to recognize discrepancies.
• Ability to travel for work related purposes up to 25% of the time.

Who is Brice Highway LLC looking for?

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or similar degree required. Applicable combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid state driver’s license and must be qualified to operate a vehicle under the conditions of the Brice Highway’s Driving Policy is required.
• Ability to pass a drug, driving and background screenings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ten (10) years of related construction experience preferred.
• US Army Corps of Engineers and other federal construction estimating experience is preferred.

Working Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Brice Highway has a fast-paced multi-tasking office environment requiring a high degree of efficient and effective performance.  At times, work is performed outside of the office at indoor and outdoor job sites. It is anticipated that this role will be performed working in the office Monday through Friday; however, adaptability regarding schedule and design changes, and occasional overtime for immediate field support or bid processing may be necessary.

More reasons you will love working with Brice Highway LCC:

• Competitive wages and bonus programs – We believe in developing our employees to progressively advance in their careers.  We achieve this by providing you with annual performance reviews with recommendations on training to achieve your goals.
• Mentorship Program designed for employees to formalize a working relationship between seasoned professionals and young professionals to develop specific areas of knowledge to grow their careers within the family of companies.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Health insurance through the Federal Employee Benefit Program (FEHB) with many plans to choose from with ridiculously low employee premiums.
• FSA health care and/or dependent care/HSA with HDHP.
• Dental and Vision Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program for you and your family.
• Company paid Life Insurance, AD&D, and LTD.
• Voluntary paid Life Insurance and AD&D as well as STD, Accident, Cancer/Critical illness, and Whole Life Insurance.
• Paid time off is based on an employee working 2080 regular hours per year [40 hours per week]. May increase per years of service with the Company in eligible status.
• 0-2 years 15 days
• 3-5 years 23 days
• 6-9 years 27 days
• 10-14 years 30 days
• 15-19 years 33 days
• 20 or more years 37.5 days
• 10 Regular Holidays, 1 Bonus – Work Anniversary “Floating” Holiday. Eligible after 1 year of service, must be taken within the calendar year.
• 401(K) match at $0.50 on the dollar up to 6% of your contribution.

*Benefits may vary based on status of position and subject to associated plan eligibility provisions, or company handbook. For questions, please email the Human Resources Department at [email protected]  

How do you apply?

Please visit our careers page at www.calistabrice.com/open-positions and use the Company tab to filter by subsidiary company.

You have questions, or need assistance with applicant accommodation, how do you reach a recruiter from Brice Highway LLC? Simply reach out to [email protected]  

As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

Join us and let’s get started!

For the full job description including physical and environmental demands please reach out to [email protected]

PREFERENCE STATEMENT
Preference will be given to Calista shareholders and their descendants and to spouses of Calista shareholders, and to shareholders of other corporations created pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, in accordance with Title 43 U.S. Code 1626(g).

EEO STATEMENT
Additionally, it is our policy to select, place, train and promote the most qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude and experience, so as to provide equal employment opportunity for all employees in compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and without regard to non-work related factors such as race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status. When applicable, our policy of non-discrimination applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, placement, layoff, compensation, termination, reduction in force and benefits.
 
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
It is Calista and Subsidiaries' business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
 
The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.
 
This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.