Chief Estimator

About The Opportunity:

If you're passionate about construction and eager to lead exciting projects, this could be the perfect role for you. Prodigy is in search of a Chief Estimator to join our team! The Chief Estimator will be required to lead and manage the Estimating team utilizing very deep, local industry-based experience, providing unique and strategic insight into competitive bidding, detailed creation and review of budgets/estimates/quotes/bids, and assisting Prodigy in winning project opportunities in various sectors of the industry.

Who We Are:

Prodigy is a North American Construction Management firm based in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Vancouver, Montreal, and Chicago. We specialize in Institutional, Retail, Hospitality, and Corporate construction, focusing on the North American market.

At Prodigy, our people serve as the driving force behind our path towards greatness. This collective dedication, encompassing our executive team, senior management, and our highly talented field-level professionals, has propelled Prodigy to rapid success and a solid industry reputation. In doing so, we've built a diverse and inclusive team where each member's unique experiences and perspectives enrich our collective journey. Our commitment is to ensure that every team member feels empowered to embrace their authentic selves and to provide every team member with the opportunity to reach their full potential and make a meaningful contribution to the communities we serve.

If you're someone who finds inspiration in these types of projects and shares our commitment to relationships, trust, accountability, Inclusivity, and honesty, we invite you to become a part of our team.

Please visit to learn more about our organization.

As a Chief Estimator, you’ll be responsible for:

• Efficiently and effectively lead the estimating team, mentor, train less experienced team members
• Possess exceptionally strong organizational and time management skills
• Manage team resources based on project and company needs
• High degree of resourcefulness, flexibility, and adaptability
• Ability to work in and support a strong team concept and be highly self-motivated and directed; ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Possess exceptionally strong, professional, positive, effective, clear written and verbal communication skills
• Build effective relationships with specialty contractors, suppliers and user groups that reflect and support Prodigy’s core values that meet or exceed the customer’s expectations
• Research historical tendering and award data, compiling information requested in an organized and clear format for team reference
• Research and communicate data on construction industry labour and material cost trends
• Maintain and constantly update Tender/Supplier lists according to varying project and company requirements by: Sourcing and qualifying new subcontractors and suppliers, Reviewing and communicating with Prodigy team at initial project tender invite and at project completion to determine strengths and weakness of each subcontractor/supplier, AND Organizing and update the list to ensure each subcontractor/suppliers’ details are noted for future reference
• Thoroughly review bid/RFP invitations, as well as public/private tender sites/forums, and clearly and accurately present information to Prodigy senior leadership team to confirm bid/proposal intent
• Ensure the flow of project information is properly maintained and documented
• Attend project sites for walk throughs and meetings
• Manage and be responsible for the bid/proposal process and bid/proposal submission
• Possess an expert ability to independently prepare and manage the estimators to support the creation of finely detailed Class D to A construction cost estimates. The expectation of a finely detailed Class D Estimate is to provide experience based, unit rates (not lump sum costs per division) for each expected element, scope of work, etc. from a very preliminary schematic plan, and to continually refine the Class D Estimate as drawings and documents are further developed through to an Issued for Tender and Issued for Construction Set.
• Ensure, from a senior level of experience, that the following are completed within a timely and efficient manner, either independently and/or with the help of team estimators when directed by the Director, Pre-Construction: Drawings are fully coordinated, Errors and/or omissions are identified, Provide steps to rectifying, Reviews and provides possible solutions to constructability challenges, Coordinate and integrate site logistics and other conditions/elements, Analyze alternate means and methods to determine the most economical alternatives as required, Identify risk issues, assess and report them on their order of magnitude
• Intimately, efficiently and accurately manage the Tender and Bid process either independently and/or with the help of team estimators when directed by the Director, Pre-Construction, from start to finish, with subcontractors, suppliers, Clients, Consultants, Prodigy team members and all other parties with invested interests
• Prepare estimate documentation, either independently and/or with the help of team estimators when directed by the Director, Pre-Construction, including but not limited to:
• Project specific tender bidder’s list noting pre-qualified and/or appropriate subcontractors and suppliers
• Detailed, written scopes of work specific for each scope noting not only known inclusions and exclusions based on the project documents but also including for add all foreseeable unknowns and scope considerations not noted in the project documents
• Detailed bid forms with all Supplemental Conditions and/or Appendices accurately stipulated
• Completing and reviewing all quantity take-offs
• Drawing and document logs
• Accurate and thorough bid analyses and contract award recommendations

About You:

The successful candidate will have the following:

• A University Degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical) is preferred
• CEC certified through Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveying is considered an asset
• 15+ years’ experience relevant experience estimating in the Construction Industry
• Exceptionally strong experience using MS Office Suite, MS Project, Bluebeam, ProCore, On-Screen Take-Off and related estimating software
• Must have local experience in estimating interior renovation/fit-out and ground-up commercial construction as a general contractor and/or construction manager. Retail, hospitality, institutional estimating experience will be a preferred, notable, additional asset. Industrial and mid-high rise residential estimating experience will be considered a tertiary asset.
• Possess an intimate knowledge and demonstrates thorough understanding of:
• All disciplines of construction documents (Architectural, Design, Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, Civil and Landscaping, etc)
• Construction science
• Sequence of work
• Construction Contracts and Construction Law
• Construction Health & Safety, Ministry of Labour, Health Department, requirements
• Ontario and other regional/provincial building codes

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• Position primarily works at our head office, with occasional site visits.

What’s In It For You:

• Competitive Base Salary and Vacation
• Yearly bonus structure
• Employer-Paid Extended Health & Dental Benefits
• Ongoing company social activities and celebrations

To Apply:

Ready to take the next step in your career? Submit your resume today! If selected for an interview, your compensation will be market-competitive and dependent on your qualifications and experience.

A Criminal Record check will be required of the successful candidate to verify the absence of a criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted.

We know that fit for a role goes both ways, and you may have other questions – so feel free to contact us in advance of applying.

Prodigy Group is strongly committed to an inclusive selection process, being barrier-free, and fostering a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including applicants from all cultures, racialized communities, abilities, diverse sexual and gender identities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Prodigy Group provides accommodation, accessible formats, and communication support for the recruitment process upon request. Please contact us at hr@prodigy-group.com if you require accommodation at any stage in the recruitment process.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We request no unsolicited calls from recruitment agencies.

Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated on our exciting projects and company culture.