Estimator - Civil & Public Works

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview:

We are seeking a proactive Estimator to support a planned retirement transition and strengthen our preconstruction team. This role focuses almost entirely on public works projects under Massachusetts Chapter 149, with a concentration in water & wastewater, treatment systems, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

This position is not only about producing accurate estimates. It is about building a consistent, reliable bidding process that supports both winning work and delivering it successfully. The Estimator will be expected to take ownership of projects in the $1M to $9M range, develop complete and defensible bid packages and help reduce uncertainty and last-minute issues during bid day.

Our work is centered around treatment plants and related facilities but it also includes a meaningful amount of associated civil construction. This includes site work within active and occupied facilities, underground utility installation such as yard piping and water and sewer repairs and extensions. The Estimator must be comfortable understanding both process-driven facility work and the civil components that support it, including coordination between the two.

In addition to estimating responsibilities, this role will support and help maintain the company's DCAMM prequalification efforts. This includes contributing project experience narratives, supporting documentation, and ensuring the company is well positioned to pursue and win public work opportunities.

Given the upcoming transition, this role includes a critical knowledge transfer component. The Estimator will work closely with the outgoing team member to absorb historical cost data, project lessons learned, subcontractor relationships, and the specific risks associated with wastewater and complex phased rehabilitation work. The goal is to ensure continuity and avoid disruption to the company’s bidding performance.

Success in this role requires more than technical ability. The right candidate will be someone who anticipates problems early, communicates clearly and works effectively with both office and field teams. They must be comfortable operating in an environment where bid documents are often incomplete and where judgment, assumptions, and risk awareness play a major role in building an estimate.

Over time, this individual will be expected to fully own the estimating process, manage multiple opportunities at once and contribute to improving both win rate and margin quality. Just as importantly, they will help strengthen relationships with subcontractors, vendors, and public agencies, ensuring consistent coverage and better outcomes across all projects.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to step into a meaningful role, take responsibility for their work, and play a key part in shaping the company’s preconstruction efforts moving forward.

Project Profile:

• Project value range: $1M to $9M
• Types of work:
• • Water and wastewater treatment facilities
  • PFAS and chemical treatment systems
  • Active infrastructure rehabilitation and phased construction projects
  • Flood control facilities
  • Pumping stations
  • Underground/Horizontal utilities
  • Water piping
  • Sewer repair and extensions
  • Site work
• Owners and clients:
• • Municipalities
  • MassDOT
  • MWRA
  • DCR
  • Some Private

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare detailed cost estimates using SAGE Estimating and Bluebeam
• Perform quantity takeoffs and scope reviews from plans and specifications
• Develop subcontractor and vendor coverage
• Manage bid schedules and ensure timely submission
• Analyze risk including phasing, site constraints/conditions, and existing operations
• Coordinate with operations for constructability input
• Support prequalification submissions for public work
• Build and maintain relationships with:
• • Subcontractors
  • Vendors
  • Owners and agencies
• Identify gaps, ambiguities, and cost drivers in bid documents

Qualifications:

Required:

• 10+ years estimating in heavy civil, utility, or wastewater construction
• Strong understanding of public bidding (Chapter 149 preferred)
• Experience with:
• • SAGE Estimating (or similar systems)
  • Bluebeam for digital takeoffs
• Ability to read and interpret complex plans and specifications
• Experience with phased work and live facility construction

Preferred:

• Experience with wastewater treatment plants or process work
• Familiarity with PFAS or chemical treatment systems
• Experience with DCAMM or MassDOT work
• Existing subcontractor network in New England

The Ideal Candidate:

· Anticipates problems instead of reacting

· Builds strong subcontractor coverage early

· Understands how public work risk affects pricing

· Communicates clearly with both office and field teams

· Produces consistent, defensible numbers

Clear Success Metrics:

First 6 Months -

· Produces complete bid packages with minimal gaps

· Demonstrates strong understanding of Chapter 149 requirements

· Builds initial subcontractor coverage independently

12 Months -

• Fully owns $2M–$9M bids
• Improves hit rate and/or margin quality
• Has a reliable subcontractor network
• Reduces bid-day chaos

D&C Construction is an established general contractor performing construction, renovation, and repair services to water, wastewater, and other infrastructure facilities throughout New England. Since 1985 D&C has completed hundreds of public sector projects helping to deliver clean water, manage waste and stormwater, and build for a more resilient future.

Company Description

D&C Construction is an established general contractor performing construction, renovation, and repair services to water, wastewater, and other infrastructure facilities throughout New England. Since 1985 D&C has completed hundreds of public sector projects helping to deliver clean water, manage waste and stormwater, and build for a more resilient future.