Join a well-established General Contractor in Lake Forest, California that are growing year on year
Estimator – Commercial Construction (Orange County, California)
Powerstaff is partnering with a respected commercial builder in California to identify a strong Estimator to join their team. This is an opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced preconstruction environment, enjoys taking ownership, and can manage the full lifecycle of a bid with confidence on Retail, Healthcare projects and more.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Build out cost proposals from early design information through final submission
• Complete quantity breakdowns and material/labor assessments for all major building elements
• Develop clear work packages, draft trade scopes, and coordinate all proposal documentation
• Distribute invitations to bid and maintain strong communication with subcontractors and suppliers
• Track and integrate all plan updates, addenda, and clarifications into the estimating process
• Assist with or take charge of final proposal review activities, ensuring accurate numbers and comprehensive coverage
• Create initial conceptual budgets and refine them as drawings evolve and new information becomes available
• Collaborate closely with preconstruction and project teams to compile pricing, evaluate submissions
• Present cost breakdowns and rationale to internal stakeholders or clients, articulating key assumptions and project considerations
• Transition finalized estimates to the operations team, ensuring they fully understand the cost structure and project approach
• Send invitations to bid
ARE YOU THE RIGHT FIT?
• 3–10 years’ estimating experience in commercial construction ideally ground up projects
• Strong understanding of the estimating process and ability to explain it clearly
• Proficiency with take-offs, scopes of work, and CSI-formatted estimates
• Ability to read architectural drawings and understand full project lifecycle
• Self-starter who can manage deadlines and work independently
• Skilled communicator who can build strong subcontractor/vendor relationships
• Tertiary degree in Construction, Engineering, or related field is ideal
WHY THIS ROLE?
You’ll be part of a stable, respected commercial builder working on significant, ground-up projects ($10M+). The team values professionalism, accuracy, and people who take true ownership of their estimates.
COMPENSATION
Between $110k - $160k approximately per year.
NEXT STEPS
Press APPLY or email careers@powerstaff.com.au with any questions you may have.
WHY POWERSTAFF?
Powerstaff recruit many roles in the Construction Industry internationally. Our client base are Commercial General Contractors. We treat your details confidentially. If you are interested in keeping up with our ongoing vacancies, "Like" us on Facebook and "Follow" us on Linkedin.