Solar Estimator

4 months ago

Effingham, United States Erin Barr Consulting Full time $90,000 - $115,000
Our client - a solar company in Effingham IL, is seeking a Solar Project Estimator

The Estimator is responsible for preparing final cost estimates for commercial, farm, and residential solar projects in a design-build, conceptual estimating environment. The position is fast-paced and demanding, requiring working closely with sales, engineering, and vendors.  The job requires attention to detail, including compiling equipment cost estimates, estimating electrical details, and ensuring all job costs are fully accounted for.  It is an essential function of this position to have the ability to manage multiple estimates at once and work closely with Senior Management to ensure profitable and cost-effective quotes. PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:
  • Assist sales team in identifying cost-effective solar solutions and lead turning initial concepts into final solutions with support of internal and external engineering and technical resources. 
  • Travel to jobsites, meet with customers, evaluate site conditions, identify constructability issues, evaluates building electrical infrastructure such as switchgear, transformers, utility-owned equipment, and develops interconnection options. Must be comfortable opening and inspecting electrical panels and switchgear to identify points of interconnection and related details. 
  • Work directly and collaboratively with the sales and project management teams, engineering consultants, material & product vendors, and customers to formulate scope of work, and project needs in terms of labor, time, and materials. 
  • Evaluate bidding risks, pricing strategies, prepare estimates, lead bid reviews with ownership / Sr. Management, and actively evaluate equipment, materials prices and market conditions to support strategic buying. 
  • Have primary responsibility for timely and accurate completion of cost estimates. Actively coordinate with ownership team for checking final cost estimates and proposals for accuracy. 
  • Provides insight into opportunities for hidden profit, as well as areas of potential loss in our estimating and construction process. 
  • Assists in identifying product solutions/materials to be used for projects, as well as appropriate alternatives and substitutes. 
  • Sizes electrical wiring, conduit, and electrical gear, identifies electrical labor needs, and identifies all other job factors that require costing. Assist manage internal engineering resources assigned to project development to ensure pre-engineering scopes are complete, accurate, cost-effective, and in alignment with customer goals. 
  • Reviews electrical drawings, specifications, calculations, and electrical studies for accuracy. 
  • Keeps current with latest estimating technology and techniques. 
  • Help grow our cost estimating resources including software tools, hire new estimating staff, and more to help continue to scale our business and support an expanding sales team. 
  • After contracts are awarded, support project engineering, procurement, and all other preconstruction activities to ensure smooth handoff to project management team. 
  • Help foster a positive culture.
  • Other duties as assigned. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES DESIRED:
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal skills. 
  • Understanding of electrical construction, electrical theory, proficient understanding of the National Electric Code (NEC), design-build construction, and solar applications. 
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills; attention to detail, with a strong sense of urgency and follow-through; thorough. 
  • Solid understanding of design-build construction.
  • Computer skills.  Must be familiar with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office products, including Word and Outlook.  Estimating software experience is not required but is a plus.
  • Demonstrated analytical ability, critical thinking, and problem-resolution skills. 
  • Ability to be a team player who appreciates a unique, entrepreneurial, and collaborative environment. 
  • Strong and accurate calculation skills, quick with numbers, and understanding of project sequences. 
  • Ability to read and understand blueprints, project specifications, and drawings. 
  • Ability to handle a demanding workload and multiple job estimates simultaneously. 
  • Solid interpersonal and communication skills. 
  • Ability to take and maintain a “value-added” approach to estimating. 
  • Knowledge of electrical principles and processes. 
  • Ability to read and interpret drawings and specifications. 
  • Knowledge of negotiated bids, hard bids, and GMP processes. 
  • Working knowledge of estimating technology and tools, as well as project management or construction management programs; AutoCAD. 
  • Ability to create numerical and written documents quickly and accurately. 

MINIMUM LEVEL OF PREPARATION AND TRAINING NORMALLY REQUIRED:
  • Journeyman wireman who has graduated from the NECA IBEW apprenticeship program
  • Master Electrician with at least 5 years of hands-on field installations followed by experience in project management and/or estimating preferred.
  • Electrical contracting and construction expertise are required. 
  • 1+ year of experience with solar PV project estimating or project management preferred. 
  • Associate or bachelor's Degree helpful
  • Minimum 2 years solar photovoltaic (PV) installation experience or ability to learn rapidly. 
  • Experience with solar project development / estimating software and familiarity with AutoCAD, solar modeling tools such as Aurora or Helioscope is preferred. 
  • NABCEP certified, or the ability to obtain certification, is preferred.

TRAVEL: The home office is based out of Effingham, IL. This position requires occasional travel within 150 miles of Effingham, IL, and further as necessary.

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