Job Title: Residential & Commercial Estimate Desk Manager

Department: Estimating / Operations / Bid Desk

Reports To: VP of Operations

Position Summary The Residential & Commercial Estimate Desk Manager oversees the daily operations of the estimating desk, leading a team of estimators and coordinating the end-to-end pricing process for residential and commercial projects.

This role bridges sales, field operations, and client management to ensure all cost proposals, material takeoffs, and scope evaluations are accurate, competitive, and completed on schedule.

Key Responsibilities

Desk & Team Operations

Manage daily flow of incoming bid requests, distributing incoming residential and commercial leads to appropriate team members.

Enforce quality control on all outgoing bids, proposals, change orders, and material quantity takeoffs.

Establish standardized pricing models, software templates, and labor/material cost databases.

Monitor workflow capacity to hit tight client turnaround dead-lines without sacrificing estimate accuracy.

Commercial & Residential Cost Estimation

Analyze structural blueprints, architectural plans, specifications, and client scope requirements.

Develop detailed cost breakdowns covering direct labor, raw materials, equipment, site overhead, permits, and contingencies.

Evaluate trade partner quotes, compare subcontractor pricing, and negotiate favorable vendor rates.

Balance competitive pricing against target gross profit margins.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Client Relations

Serve as the primary contact point between the estimating department, sales team, field superintendents, and project managers.

Participate in pre-bid meetings, site assessments,



and initial scope interviews with commercial clients and homeowners.

Present complex proposals to clients, walking them through value-engineering options and budget adjustments.

Oversee project handoffs from the estimating desk to execution teams once bids are won.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Bid Accuracy: Low variance between estimated costs and actual project expenditures.

Turnaround Time: Average hours/days required to deliver proposals from initial inquiry.

Win Rate: Percentage of submitted commercial and residential proposals converted to contracts.

Profit Margin Maintenance: Protection of targeted profit margins through accurate pricing.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business, or equivalent quality experience.

Experience 5+ years in construction estimating, with at least 4 years in a managerial capacity.

Project Scope Proven track record handling both multi-family/single-family residential and commercial scope bids.

Technical Proficiency

Advanced mastery of estimating/takeoff software (e.g.,

Planswift, Bluebeam Revu, On-Screen Takeoff, Procore, or

RSMeans) and MS Excel.

Certifications

CPE (Certified Skilled Estimator) or PMP is a plus.

Core Competencies

Blueprint Reading: Expert fluency in reading architectural, structural, and MEP engineering drawings.

Vendor Negotiation: Strong network management and ability to negotiate pricing with trade subcontractors.

Leadership: Ability to mentor junior estimators and maintain process efficiency under tight deadline pressure.

Analytical Skills: Rigorous detail orientation for detecting missing plan details or hidden scope costs.

📌 Residential and Commercial Estimate Bid Desk Manager (Toronto)
🏢 Integricon
📍 Toronto