Estimator / Senior Estimator

Chicago, IL
Full Time
Executive

Estimator / Senior Estimator 

Nationwide Candidates Welcome | Chicago & Nashville Offices | Hybrid & Remote Opportunities 

We're Always Looking for Great Estimating Talent 

Hotel Rehabs is growing, and we're always actively looking to connect with experienced Estimators and Senior Estimators who could be a strong addition to our Preconstruction team. 

This is an ongoing search. Whether we're hiring for an immediate need or building relationships with great estimating talent for upcoming opportunities, we want to hear from people who know commercial construction and are excited about the type of work we do. 

We're open to nationwide candidates with estimating and preconstruction experience within the commercial general contracting industry, especially hospitality renovation, tenant improvement, interiors, and occupied renovation work. 

We have offices in Chicago and Nashville with hybrid and remote opportunities available depending on experience and location. 

If you have the experience, we'd love to hear from you — even if the timing isn't immediate. 

Own the Numbers. Drive the Win. Build the Experience. 

Who You Are 

You're analytical, competitive, resourceful, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where both precision and urgency matter. 

You're more than someone who produces estimates. You understand that a strong estimate is the foundation of a successful project and help shape projects before construction begins by identifying risks, building accurate budgets, developing strong subcontractor coverage, and helping position proposals to win profitable work. 

You enjoy digging into drawings, scopes, specifications, and project details to identify what others may miss. You think beyond the number and consider constructability, risk, sequencing, subcontractor availability, and how the project will ultimately be executed. 

You don't consider your work finished when the estimate is submitted. You stay engaged through client discussions, buyout, turnover, and preconstruction to help ensure the commitments made during estimating translate into a successful project. 

Depending on your experience, you may already be independently leading complex estimates and client conversations, or you may have strong estimating fundamentals and be ready to expand your strategic and client-facing capabilities. 

You're someone who: 

  • Takes ownership of opportunities from initial review through bid submission, award, and turnover. 

  • Can balance competitiveness with profitability. 

  • Builds relationships with subcontractors rather than simply collecting bids. 

  • Is comfortable making informed decisions when every answer isn't immediately available. 

  • Communicates clearly with clients, subcontractors, and internal teams. 

  • Can manage multiple active pursuits without sacrificing accuracy. 

  • Wants to continue developing both technically and strategically within Preconstruction. 

  • Enjoys competing to win while maintaining accuracy, integrity, and a strong customer experience. 

Who We Are 

Hotel Rehabs is a nationally recognized general contractor specializing in hospitality renovations for Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG properties across the United States. 

Our turnkey approach spans budgeting, design, procurement, construction, and closeout, helping hotel owners successfully complete complex renovation projects with minimal disruption to operations. 

We're a growing company where estimators have visibility, influence, and the opportunity to directly impact the projects we pursue and ultimately build. 

Our culture is built around four core values: 

Own It 
Be the Problem Solver 
Choose Hospitality 
Build Best in Class 

The Role 

As an Estimator at Hotel Rehabs, you'll play a key role in evaluating opportunities, developing competitive project estimates, and helping position the company to win profitable work. 

Our hospitality renovation projects typically range from approximately $100K to $5M+ and frequently take place within active, occupied hotel environments. 

We're intentionally open to different levels of estimating experience. The title and scope of the role will align with demonstrated capability. 

An Estimator earlier in their career may focus more heavily on bid production, scope development, subcontractor outreach, quantity takeoffs, and estimating execution while developing stronger strategic and client-facing capabilities. 

A more experienced or Senior Estimator will take greater ownership of complex opportunities, constructability and project risk, bid strategy, subcontractor and client relationships, and positioning opportunities to win. 

Regardless of level, we expect our Estimators to understand that their responsibility extends beyond submitting a bid. You'll stay connected through award, buyout, and turnover to help position Operations for successful execution. 

What You'll Do 

Preconstruction & Estimating 

  • Develop accurate, competitive estimates for hospitality renovation projects ranging from approximately $100K to $5M+. 

  • Review and analyze drawings, specifications, scopes of work, PIPs, and other project documentation. 

  • Perform digital takeoffs and develop detailed estimates, conceptual budgets, and bid packages. 

  • Solicit subcontractor and vendor proposals and proactively build appropriate trade coverage. 

  • Review, level, and analyze subcontractor proposals for scope completeness and competitiveness. 

  • Identify scope gaps, inconsistencies, constructability concerns, and project risks. 

  • Identify value-engineering opportunities and alternative solutions when appropriate. 

  • Maintain organized estimate documentation, assumptions, exclusions, and supporting information. 

  • Manage multiple active estimates while meeting internal and client deadlines. 

  • Participate in estimate reviews, buyout, and turnover to Operations. 

Strategic Bid Development 

  • Evaluate project opportunities to understand key drivers, risks, and competitive positioning. 

  • Partner with Preconstruction leadership to develop appropriate bid strategies. 

  • Balance competitive pricing with the need to protect project profitability. 

  • Ask questions early and engage the right resources to resolve scope, pricing, or constructability concerns. 

  • Help develop proposals that clearly communicate Hotel Rehabs' understanding of the project and value to the client. 

  • Contribute to bids that not only win work but set the project up for successful execution. 

More experienced Estimators will take greater ownership of bid strategy, risk evaluation, constructability reviews, and complex project opportunities. 

Subcontractor Engagement 

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors across multiple markets. 

  • Expand subcontractor networks where coverage is limited. 

  • Communicate scopes and expectations clearly to trade partners. 

  • Evaluate subcontractor pricing, capabilities, historical performance, and overall fit. 

  • Proactively follow up with trade partners to improve bid participation and competitive coverage. 

  • Develop relationships that strengthen Hotel Rehabs' ability to compete across markets. 

Client & Business Development 

  • Participate in owner meetings, scope reviews, and preconstruction discussions. 

  • Build credibility with clients through responsiveness, accuracy, and follow-through. 

  • Help position proposals competitively while protecting project profitability. 

  • Support client relationships throughout the pursuit and preconstruction process. 

  • Represent Hotel Rehabs professionally with owners, consultants, subcontractors, and industry partners. 

More senior candidates will have greater responsibility for client-facing conversations, relationship development, and helping position Hotel Rehabs for repeat work. 

Collaboration & Project Handoff 

  • Partner closely with Project Management, Purchasing, Design, and Construction teams throughout the estimating process. 

  • Continue supporting projects after award through buyout, turnover, and preconstruction. 

  • Ensure Operations understands project scope, pricing assumptions, exclusions, risks, and commitments made during the estimating process. 

  • Participate in strong, organized project handoffs that set the Operations team up for success. 

  • Help improve estimating tools, cost databases, processes, and internal best practices. 

What You Bring 

  • 3+ years of commercial estimating or preconstruction experience within a General Contractor or related construction environment. 

  • Hospitality renovation, tenant improvement, interiors, multifamily, healthcare, or commercial renovation experience preferred. 

  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience. 

  • Strong understanding of construction drawings, specifications, estimating, subcontractor management, and budgeting. 

  • Experience developing estimates, quantity takeoffs, scopes, and subcontractor bid comparisons. 

  • Understanding of construction means, methods, materials, and sequencing. 

  • Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and estimating/construction software such as Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, Procore, BuildingConnected, or similar platforms. 

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy. 

  • Comfort communicating directly with subcontractors, clients, and internal project teams. 

  • Willingness to travel as needed for client meetings and project site visits. 

For More Experienced / Senior Candidates 

Candidates considered at the Senior Estimator level should also demonstrate: 

  • Experience independently leading complex commercial construction estimates. 

  • Strong understanding of project risk, constructability, and bid strategy. 

  • Proven ability to develop and maintain strong subcontractor relationships. 

  • Experience participating in or leading client-facing preconstruction conversations. 

  • Ability to identify opportunities to improve scope, pricing strategy, or project delivery. 

  • Strong ownership from pursuit through award, buyout, and project handoff. 

  • A track record of helping convert estimating opportunities into profitable construction projects. 

  • The ability to operate with greater independence and make sound decisions when complete information isn't available. 

What Makes Someone Successful Here 

Our strongest Estimators are: 

  • Technically disciplined. Accuracy matters, and they take pride in understanding the details. 

  • Commercially minded. They understand we're estimating to win profitable work, not simply produce a number. 

  • Comfortable making decisions. They gather the right information, assess risk, and keep things moving. 

  • Curious. They ask questions and continuously build their construction knowledge. 

  • Strong communicators. They're comfortable communicating with everyone from a subcontractor to an owner. 

  • Comfortable picking up the phone. They don't rely exclusively on email to build relationships or solve problems. 

  • Organized under pressure. They can manage multiple active opportunities and deadlines. 

  • Competitive without sacrificing quality. They want to win, but not at the expense of accuracy or project success. 

  • Accountable beyond the bid. They care about whether the project they estimated ultimately performs. 

What Success Looks Like 

Success in this role isn't measured by bid volume alone. We look at how our Estimators contribute across the full preconstruction process: 

  • Targeted Project Sales 

  • Strategic Bid Development 

  • Subcontractor Engagement 

  • Client Capture & Retention 

  • Estimating Accuracy 

  • Awarded Contracts 

  • Preconstruction Execution 

  • Buyout & Handoff Quality 

Why Join Hotel Rehabs? 

Ownership & Impact 

Your work directly influences the projects we pursue, the work we win, and the success of our Operations teams. Estimators have visibility and influence throughout the project lifecycle. 

Growth 

We are continuing to grow our Estimating and Preconstruction capabilities. Whether you're developing toward a Senior Estimator position or already operating at that level, there is room to expand your technical, strategic, and client-facing responsibilities. 

Flexibility 

Hybrid and remote options are available depending on experience and location. Preference is given to candidates located near our Chicago, Nashville, or Phoenix. 

We are also open to experienced candidates nationwide who have the background and ability to be successful working remotely. 

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