Pave Talent
Ready to shape the future of California's educational infrastructure? Build schools that serve communities for generations while gaining ownership in a 135-year legacy company.
Are you ready to apply Make sure you understand all the responsibilities and tasks associated with this role before proceeding.
About Our Client Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of a prestigious general contractor ranked in the ENR Top 20 with over 135 years of building excellence. This 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company specializes in high-stakes, complex construction including hospitals, data centers, airports, and educational facilities across California. Known for stability, employee retention, and a people-first culture where team members build careers, not just projects.
The Opportunity As Senior Estimator for Education and Public Works, you'll lead preconstruction services for $20M-$50M+ K-12 and university projects across the San Diego region. This role puts you at the forefront of California's education construction pipeline, managing complex DSA compliance, navigating district relationships, and delivering competitive estimates that win work while maintaining profitability. Your expertise will directly impact project outcomes from concept through GMP delivery.
What You'll Do Manage preconstruction phase for education projects including cost models, conceptual estimates, and detailed project budgets for K-12 schools and universities Navigate California Division of State Architect (DSA) requirements and ensure all estimates comply with state education building codes Prepare and negotiate GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) and Lump Sum contracts with school districts and public agencies Lead estimating staff and project engineers through bid preparation, subcontractor coordination, and buyout processes Collaborate with architects, school boards, and district facilities teams to develop trust and deliver value engineering solutions Set up job procedures ensuring timely buyout, shop drawing approval, and material delivery coordination Utilize Procore and Bluebeam for takeoffs, cost tracking, and project documentation Support business development efforts through client meetings and project interviews with educational institutions
Required Qualifications 8-10+ years of commercial construction estimating experience with general contractors Proven DSA (Division of State Architect) project experience on California K-12 or university projects Strong background in education construction including ground-up schools, modernizations, or campus buildings Demonstrated expertise with GMP and Lump Sum contract estimating Proficiency with Procore and Bluebeam software for estimating and takeoffs Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or equivalent field experience Local San Diego or Southern California market knowledge with recent project history
Preferred Qualifications Experience with alternative delivery methods (Design-Build, CMAR, Progressive Design-Build) Background with other public works sectors (civic buildings, government facilities) Previous work with major California school districts (San Diego Unified, LAUSD, etc.) Familiarity with prevailing wage requirements and CMAS contracting
Compensation and Benefits Competitive annual salary based on experience, plus comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company matching, Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) giving you literal ownership stake in company profits, paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, financial wellness coaching, educational assistance, and ClassPass fitness membership. This is a rare opportunity to join an employee-owned company where your contributions directly impact your financial future.
Why This Role Matters Join a close-knit estimating team that values precision, collaboration, and professional growth. This company invests in building leaders, not just buildings, with high retention rates and clear advancement paths. You'll work on meaningful projects that serve students and communities for decades while gaining equity ownership through their 100% ESOP structure.
Ready to Make an Impact? Apply via LinkedIn and Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates within 48 hours. This is a confidential search - your application is fully private and will be handled with complete discretion. xsgimln
Hiring Reimagined. Apply now!
Are you ready to apply Make sure you understand all the responsibilities and tasks associated with this role before proceeding.
About Our Client Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of a prestigious general contractor ranked in the ENR Top 20 with over 135 years of building excellence. This 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company specializes in high-stakes, complex construction including hospitals, data centers, airports, and educational facilities across California. Known for stability, employee retention, and a people-first culture where team members build careers, not just projects.
The Opportunity As Senior Estimator for Education and Public Works, you'll lead preconstruction services for $20M-$50M+ K-12 and university projects across the San Diego region. This role puts you at the forefront of California's education construction pipeline, managing complex DSA compliance, navigating district relationships, and delivering competitive estimates that win work while maintaining profitability. Your expertise will directly impact project outcomes from concept through GMP delivery.
What You'll Do Manage preconstruction phase for education projects including cost models, conceptual estimates, and detailed project budgets for K-12 schools and universities Navigate California Division of State Architect (DSA) requirements and ensure all estimates comply with state education building codes Prepare and negotiate GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) and Lump Sum contracts with school districts and public agencies Lead estimating staff and project engineers through bid preparation, subcontractor coordination, and buyout processes Collaborate with architects, school boards, and district facilities teams to develop trust and deliver value engineering solutions Set up job procedures ensuring timely buyout, shop drawing approval, and material delivery coordination Utilize Procore and Bluebeam for takeoffs, cost tracking, and project documentation Support business development efforts through client meetings and project interviews with educational institutions
Required Qualifications 8-10+ years of commercial construction estimating experience with general contractors Proven DSA (Division of State Architect) project experience on California K-12 or university projects Strong background in education construction including ground-up schools, modernizations, or campus buildings Demonstrated expertise with GMP and Lump Sum contract estimating Proficiency with Procore and Bluebeam software for estimating and takeoffs Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or equivalent field experience Local San Diego or Southern California market knowledge with recent project history
Preferred Qualifications Experience with alternative delivery methods (Design-Build, CMAR, Progressive Design-Build) Background with other public works sectors (civic buildings, government facilities) Previous work with major California school districts (San Diego Unified, LAUSD, etc.) Familiarity with prevailing wage requirements and CMAS contracting
Compensation and Benefits Competitive annual salary based on experience, plus comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company matching, Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) giving you literal ownership stake in company profits, paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, financial wellness coaching, educational assistance, and ClassPass fitness membership. This is a rare opportunity to join an employee-owned company where your contributions directly impact your financial future.
Why This Role Matters Join a close-knit estimating team that values precision, collaboration, and professional growth. This company invests in building leaders, not just buildings, with high retention rates and clear advancement paths. You'll work on meaningful projects that serve students and communities for decades while gaining equity ownership through their 100% ESOP structure.
Ready to Make an Impact? Apply via LinkedIn and Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates within 48 hours. This is a confidential search - your application is fully private and will be handled with complete discretion. xsgimln
Hiring Reimagined. Apply now!