Chief Electrical Estimator

SearchWorks has been retained by a rapidly growing, union electrical contractor in the Chicago metro area to identify their next Chief Electrical Estimator. Our client is on a steep growth curve — expanding both its service lines and its geographic footprint across the Midwest and into new markets including solar and data centers. This is a department leadership role reporting directly to the Vice President, with a team of estimators reporting to you. You will own estimating strategy company-wide at a firm where the bid pipeline is expanding into unfamiliar territories and project types, making the accuracy and discipline of your department directly consequential to the business. What you'll ownDepartment leadership— Lead, mentor, and set direction for a team of electrical estimators; establish workflows and best practices across all bids. Blueprint and specification analysis— Oversee review of construction documents across active projects to determine full scope of work: lighting, power, low voltage, and fire alarm systems. Cost strategy— Establish and validate the methodology for calculating material quantities (conduit, wire, fixtures) and labor hours, ensuring consistency across the team. Bid proposal approval— Provide final sign-off on detailed proposals covering materials, labor, subcontractors, permitting, and overhead prior to submission. Supplier and subcontractor relationships— Build and maintain strategic vendor relationships to secure competitive pricing. Risk assessment— Identify design gaps, difficult site conditions, and other exposures, and ensure appropriate contingencies are built into every proposal. Software standards— Set team standards for estimating software (ConEst, Accubid, or comparable). Project typesCommercial, industrial, and manufacturing (power distribution, lighting, life safety, low voltage, controls) and data center / mission-critical work (backup power, generators, UPS, low-voltage cabling, security systems).