Summit Federal Services, LLC

Chief Estimator

Miami, FL
Full Time
Mid Level
Chief Estimator, Miami, FL ($80k-130k)
A hybrid, high-impact role responsible for driving new business opportunities while managing procurement strategies and preparing accurate cost estimates for construction projects specializing in architectural panels (ACM), metal systems, and steel fabrication/installation. This position bridges sales strategy, supplier negotiations, and technical estimating to ensure profitable growth, competitive pricing, and strong client and vendor relationships.

Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Client Relations
  • Identify, pursue, and develop new business opportunities within commercial, architectural, and specialty construction markets.
  • Maintain and actively leverage relationships with clients, general contractors, architects, developers, and owners.
  • Participate in networking events, prequalification processes, and industry meetings.
  • Support proposal development, presentations, and pricing strategies to secure new projects.
  • Track leads, bids, and client interactions in coordination with leadership.
Estimating & Preconstruction
  • Prepare conceptual, budgetary, design-assist, and hard-bid estimates for ACM panels, steel framing, louvers, canopies, and custom metal systems.
  • Perform detailed quantity takeoffs from architectural and structural drawings.
  • Develop accurate labor, material, fabrication, logistics, equipment, and installation costs.
  • Assist with value engineering solutions to improve cost efficiency while maintaining design intent and performance.
  • Coordinate with engineering, fabrication, and field teams to validate constructability.
Procurement & Supplier Management
  • Source, evaluate, and negotiate with material suppliers, fabricators, and subcontractors.
  • Leverage established supplier relationships to secure competitive pricing, lead times, and favorable terms.
  • Issue RFQs, analyze vendor proposals, and support buyout decisions.
  • Monitor material pricing trends, availability, and supply chain risks.
  • Support procurement planning to align with project schedules and budgets.
Bid Strategy & Risk Management
  • Review bid documents, specifications, and contracts for scope clarity and risk exposure.
  • Assist leadership in go/no-go decisions based on pricing, capacity, and risk.
  • Prepare clear scope letters, inclusions, exclusions, and alternates.
  • Support change order pricing and negotiation as needed.
Reporting & Coordination
  • Maintain organized estimating and procurement records.
  • Track historical cost data to improve future estimates.
  • Coordinate closely with Project Management, Operations, and Finance teams to ensure alignment from bid to execution.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 5–10+ years of experience in construction estimating, procurement, or business development, preferably with ACM panels and steel systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain active relationships with clients and suppliers.
  • Strong understanding of construction drawings, specifications, and means and methods.
  • Experience negotiating pricing and managing vendor relationships.
  • Proficiency with estimating software, spreadsheets, and takeoff tools.
  • Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in specialty subcontracting, architectural metals, or steel fabrication.
  • Familiarity with design-build or design-assist projects.
  • Knowledge of South Florida or similar competitive construction markets.
  • Business development or sales performance tied to revenue growth.
Core Competencies
  • Relationship-driven business development
  • Cost analysis and estimating accuracy
  • Strategic sourcing and procurement
  • Negotiation and persuasion
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Time management and prioritization
Working Conditions
  • Office-based with site visits, client meetings, and supplier visits as required.
  • Fast-paced environment with multiple bids and deadlines.
  • Occasional travel for business development and procurement activities.
  • Full-time position with competitive salary based on experience.
  • Collaboration with a dynamic and experienced team.
Reporting Structure
Reports to Executive Leadership, Operations, or the Chief Estimating Manager, and works closely with Project Management, Fabrication, Field Operations, General Contractors (GCs), consultants, and engineers to ensure alignment from business development through procurement, estimating, and project execution.

Employee Benefits:
  • Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, vision)
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Holidays)
  • 401K matching contributions

Summit Federal Services, LLC is an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, on-the-job injury, sexual orientation, political affiliation or belief. Employment decisions are made without consideration of these or any other factors that employers are prohibited by law from considering. Any discriminatory action can be a cause for disciplinary action. Summit Federal Services, LLC also prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability.

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*