What does an estimating manager do?
An estimating manager will oversee the day-to-day activities of the estimating department. Your duties typically include implementing technical estimating procedures and standards and overseeing the project estimator's work. As an estimating manager, you will be responsible for soliciting proposals and bids for labor, equipment, and material from different suppliers. Aside from these, you will be the one responsible for coordinating bid inputs from other departments. You are also responsible for reviewing and evaluating the performance of junior and senior estimators.
Estimating manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real estimating manager resumes:
- Lead contract negotiations with DCAA and DCMA contracting officials.
- Manage the HVAC and layout of the conceptual HVAC design, procurement of the HVAC equipment, and compliance review.
- Manage RFP process from invitation through proposal and ultimately e-auction when necessary.
- Develop RFP s and construction bid packages for all trades in each division of construction necessary for each project.
- Work with CCC, Mitchell and Audatex collision software.
- Prepare estimates for walk-in customers using CCC or Audatex.
- Solicit MBE requirements for bids as required per specs.
- Prepare D/B and EPC proposal request, evaluations and awards for client.
- Assist accounting with monthly AIA billing and entry of QuickBooks invoices for payments.
- Prepare AIA pay applications to GC/Owner as well as collected lien releases from vendors.
- Company point of contact for DCAA audits of proposals including audits of the company estimating system.
- Create templates and build all indirect costs, home office, and site relate costs for EPC proposals.
- Insure compliance with all commercial contract issues and completion of RFQ's in a timely and error free manner.
- Supervise a team of cost estimators for a diverse product line of harden and ruggedize HVAC and military sustainment systems.
- Advance purchasing responsible for creating RFQ's to vendor base for all new materials, components, purchase services and tooling.
Estimating manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Estimating Managers are proficient in Cost Estimates, Construction Management, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Estimating Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cost Estimates, 19%
Served as Estimator and Manager preparing cost estimates by analyzing proposals and managing staff operations.
- Construction Management, 14%
Expanded usage of construction management system (FAST) into the areas of estimating, purchasing and scheduling.
- Project Management, 6%
Reviewed the estimates prior to negotiation and prepared comparative estimate analysis for Project Management.
- Phone Calls, 6%
Captured phone calls from company salesmen, contractors and customers to gather estimating information.
- Business Development, 5%
Involved in proposal presentations and business development.
- Historical Data, 5%
Maintain a historical database of construction costs with emphasis on time, schedule, size and labor markets.
Common skills that an estimating manager uses to do their job include "cost estimates," "construction management," and "project management." You can find details on the most important estimating manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an estimating manager to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "cost estimators must review and evaluate different construction and manufacturing methods to find cost-effective options." Additionally, an estimating manager resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "review and incorporate historical data from past projects cost reports and productivity analysis reports into unit and labor hour figures. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for estimating managers to perform their duties. For an example of how estimating manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "cost estimators must be precise, because minor changes may greatly affect the overall expense of a project or product." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an estimating manager: "supervised seven body and paint technicians, ensuring attention to detail to meet delivery deadlines and quality standards. ".
Math skills. estimating manager responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "cost estimators need excellent math skills to calculate labor, material, and equipment estimates for construction projects." This resume example shows what estimating managers do with math skills on a typical day: "job required a proficiency in basic math functions and communication. "
Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in estimating manager job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what estimating managers do. Estimating manager responsibilities rely on this skill because "cost estimators must plan in advance and work efficiently to meet their deadlines." You can also see how estimating manager duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "job track (insure project progresses on time and budget) maintain customer relations with contractors. "
The three companies that hire the most estimating managers are:
- Meta54 estimating managers jobs
- JE Dunn Construction14 estimating managers jobs
- Commercial Construction Services12 estimating managers jobs
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Compare different estimating managers
Estimating manager vs. Crating and moving estimator
A construction estimator is responsible for determining project requirements, estimating metrics, including cost-analysis procedures and area inspection to spot potential inconsistencies, mitigate risks, and address production gaps. Construction estimators work closely with the engineers to identify construction requirements and specifications for forecasting. They also coordinate with construction suppliers and third-party vendors to negotiate pricing contracts for high-quality materials according to budget limitations. A construction estimator reports findings to management, recommending solutions and adjustments to achieve desired output and deadlines.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an estimating manager are more likely to require skills like "cost estimates," "construction management," "project management," and "phone calls." On the other hand, a job as a crating and moving estimator requires skills like "extraordinary customer service," "household goods," "cost effectiveness," and "government procedures." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, crating and moving estimators reach similar levels of education than estimating managers. Crating and moving estimators are 3.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Estimating manager vs. Production cost estimator
Electrical estimators are electrical system professionals who are responsible for creating the approximate cost of various electrical installations for both industrial and residential projects. These estimators must analyze blueprints to determine wire lengths as well as the amount and cost of all materials and fixtures needed for their electrical projects. They are required to improve cost-estimating procedures so that they can reduce inconsistencies between the estimated and actual project costs. Electrical estimators must also participate in project biddings by completing and submitting their proposals by following established guidelines.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that estimating manager responsibilities requires skills like "construction management," "project management," "phone calls," and "business development." But a production cost estimator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cost effectiveness," "cnc," "account executives," and "material planning."
In general, production cost estimators achieve similar levels of education than estimating managers. They're 2.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Estimating manager vs. Construction estimator
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an estimating manager is likely to be skilled in "phone calls," "business development," "good communication," and "oil gas," while a typical construction estimator is skilled in "customer service," "quantity take-offs," "sage," and "timberline."
Construction estimators make a very good living in the start-up industry with an average annual salary of $74,829. On the other hand, estimating managers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $100,987.construction estimators typically earn similar educational levels compared to estimating managers. Specifically, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Estimating manager vs. Electrical estimator
Types of estimating manager
Updated January 8, 2025
