25% travel and 75% remote work. Candidate must live in the Carolinas or Georgia.
The Substation Estimator/Project Manager owns a substation construction project across its full lifecycle — from bid development through award, execution, and closeout.
This role prepares accurate, competitive cost estimates for electrical substation construction projects, including transmission and distribution substations, switchyards, and related civil, structural, and electrical scopes, then carries the awarded project through planning, execution, and profitable delivery. Working closely with preconstruction, operations, and clients, this person performs quantity takeoffs and bid pricing, manages budget and schedule during execution, and directs field operations, procurement, subcontractors, and project staff. This role is central to both winning new work and delivering it on time, on budget, and to the standards our utility clients expect.
Duties
- Estimating & Preconstruction
- Review and analyze bid documents, drawings, specifications, one-line diagrams, and scopes of work to develop a complete understanding of project requirements.
- Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for substation scopes including foundations, grounding grids, structural steel, bus and conductor, major equipment (transformers, breakers, switchgear, disconnects, capacitor banks), control enclosures, conduit and cable, and protection & control.
- Prepare comprehensive cost estimates covering direct labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, indirect costs, and general conditions.
- Develop and apply labor productivity rates, crew compositions, and unit pricing based on historical data, field input, and industry standards.
- Solicit, evaluate, and level quotes from suppliers and subcontractors; identify the most competitive and qualified pricing.
- Identify project risks, exclusions, assumptions, and clarifications, and communicate them clearly in the bid package.
- Participate in bid strategy and estimate review meetings; present cost breakdowns and assumptions to leadership.
- Attend pre-bid meetings and site walks; document existing conditions and site-specific factors affecting cost.
- Prepare and submit complete, accurate bid proposals within established deadlines.
Project Delivery & Financial Management
- Own overall project performance — safety, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction — from award through closeout.
- Review the estimate at buyout, establish the project budget, and manage cost to the budget throughout execution.
- Procure materials necessary for jobs, ensuring timely delivery to support the project schedule.
- Ensure compliance with contract terms, including prevailing wage / Davis-Bacon and certified payroll requirements where applicable.
- Track bid results and analyze estimate accuracy against actual project costs to drive continuous improvement.
- Maintain and improve cost databases, historical unit costs, and estimating templates.
Planning & Scheduling
- Develop, maintain, and update the project schedule; sequence work, identify the critical path, and manage float.
- Lead procurement and material planning for long-lead equipment (transformers, breakers, switchgear, structural steel) to protect the schedule.
- Coordinate with the client, utility, and internal operations on outage windows, energization milestones, and testing/commissioning.
Field & Team Leadership
- Direct and support superintendents, foremen, and field crews to execute work safely and productively.
- Champion a strong safety culture; ensure job hazard analyses, site-specific safety plans, and compliance with company and OSHA/NESC standards.
- Manage subcontractors and vendors — scope, contracts, performance, and coordination.
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the client; build and maintain strong relationships.
- Manage submittals, RFIs, and project documentation to keep the project moving and the record complete.
- Support closeout — punch list, as-builts, final documentation, warranty, and lessons learned.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant field experience.
- 3–5+ years of combined estimating and/or project management experience in substation, transmission & distribution, or high-voltage electrical construction (experience adjusted to job level).
- Demonstrated knowledge of substation construction methods, components, and utility standards, with a track record of accurate bids and/or on-schedule, on-budget project delivery.
Technial Skills
- Proficiency with construction estimating software (e.g., HCSS HeavyBid, Accubid, Bid2Win) and project management/scheduling software (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project, HCSS, Procore, or comparable).
- Strong takeoff skills using digital tools (e.g., On-Screen Takeoff, Bluebeam).
- Strong command of project controls — budgeting, cost forecasting, scheduling, and reporting.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical one-lines, civil/structural drawings, and technical specifications.
- Working knowledge of applicable codes and standards (NEC, NESC, IEEE, and utility client specifications).
- Solid Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
Preferred
- Experience with investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and municipal clients.
- Familiarity with prevailing wage / Davis-Bacon labor requirements and certified payroll.
- Understanding of self-perform vs. subcontracted scope strategy and craft labor management.
- PMP, OSHA 30, or relevant industry certifications.
Competencies
- Ownership – accountable for outcomes; drives results and follows through.
- Analytical rigor – strong math, cost analysis, and attention to detail.
- Leadership – motivates and directs field and office teams effectively.
- Financial acumen – manages budgets, forecasts, and margin with discipline.
- Communication – clearly conveys assumptions, risks, and pricing logic to clients, crews, and leadership alike.
- Judgment & problem-solving – sound decision-making under deadline pressure and anticipates issues before they escalate.
- Organization – manages multiple bids, deadlines, and project priorities simultaneously without sacrificing accuracy.
- Safety focus – leads by example and holds the team to the highest standard.
- Integrity – honest, transparent, and dependable in every interaction; produces defensible estimates and stands behind the numbers.
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
- Split between office and active construction sites; regular travel to project locations, pre-bid meetings, and site walks required.
- Ability to traverse active construction sites, including uneven terrain and elevated or energized environments, in compliance with safety requirements.
- Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
- Extended periods at a computer workstation, with work occasionally requiring extended hours, including nights or weekends, to meet bid deadlines or outage windows and project milestones.
Join us to lead innovative substation projects that power communities while advancing your career in a fast-paced environment committed to excellence!
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: On the road
