Senior Estimator

Company: JT Thorpe & Son, Inc

Position: Senior Estimator - Insulation

Location: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or Salt Lake City

Position Summary:

The Senior Estimator is responsible for developing accurate, complete, and competitive estimates for industrial insulation projects, including new construction, maintenance, turnarounds, shutdowns, and capital improvements. This position evaluates labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, access, schedule, and risk requirements for piping, vessels, tanks, ductwork, and related industrial systems. The Senior Estimator leads complex bids from initial review through turnover, collaborates with operations and business development, and supports profitable project selection and execution. Must have Insulation experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

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• Review plans, specifications, insulation schedules, scope documents, addenda, bid instructions, and contract requirements to determine the complete scope of work.
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• Prepare detailed quantity takeoffs for insulation, jacketing, cladding, vapor barriers, removable blankets, fireproofing interfaces, and related accessories using drawings, models, field measurements, and client-provided data.
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• Develop labor estimates using applicable productivity factors, crew compositions, wage rates, overtime assumptions, site conditions, and jurisdictional or union requirements.
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• Price insulation materials and systems, including calcium silicate, mineral wool, cellular glass, fiberglass, elastomeric products, aerogel, refractory-adjacent systems, aluminum and stainless-steel jacketing, mastics, sealants, and accessories.
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• Identify and quantify indirect costs such as supervision, safety, quality control, scaffolding or other access, equipment, mobilization, per diem, travel, freight, consumables, temporary facilities, and project controls.
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• Solicit, evaluate, level, and document vendor and subcontractor quotations; maintain current pricing relationships with suppliers and specialty partners.
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• Perform site visits and pre-bid walkdowns to validate field conditions, access limitations, congestion, operating-unit restrictions, hazardous-area requirements, and constructability concerns.
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• Prepare bid clarifications, assumptions, exclusions, alternates, value-engineering options, cash-flow considerations, and risk/opportunity summaries.
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• Lead internal estimate reviews and present pricing strategy, scope coverage, labor approach, schedule assumptions, and key risks to leadership.
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• Coordinate with operations, project management, scheduling, procurement, safety, quality, and business development to ensure estimates reflect executable work plans.
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• Support proposal development, client interviews, negotiations, scope reconciliation, and final pricing revisions.
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• Complete estimate handoff packages for awarded projects, including quantities, production assumptions, vendor quotes, clarifications, budgets, and risk items.
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• Track estimate performance against actual project costs and productivity; incorporate lessons learned into estimating databases, labor factors, and future bids.
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• Maintain organized estimate files, historical cost data, supplier pricing, bid logs, and market intelligence while protecting confidential information.
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• Mentor junior estimators and review their takeoffs, pricing, scope interpretation, and bid documentation for accuracy and completeness.
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Required Qualifications:

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• Seven or more years of estimating, project management, or field experience in industrial insulation or a closely related industrial specialty-construction trade.
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• Demonstrated experience estimating work in refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical facilities, power generation, pulp and paper, mining, manufacturing, LNG, terminals, or similar heavy-industrial environments.
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• Strong knowledge of insulation systems, materials, installation methods, metal jacketing, specifications, industry terminology, and field productivity drivers.
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• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, isometrics, equipment drawings, plot plans, insulation schedules, specifications, and construction documents.
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• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with estimating or takeoff software (MIKE or other as applicable). Familiarity with Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, Autodesk products, or comparable platforms is preferred.
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• Working knowledge of labor rates, crew structures, prevailing-wage requirements, union considerations, material pricing, and industrial safety expectations.
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• Strong analytical, mathematical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
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• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a bid-driven environment.
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• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites, client meetings, and pre-bid walkdowns as needed.
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Preferred Qualifications:

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• Field supervision, project management, or craft experience in industrial insulation.
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• Experience estimating multidiscipline industrial projects or coordinating insulation with scaffolding, coatings, fireproofing, refractory, asbestos abatement, or mechanical scopes.
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• Knowledge of applicable ASTM, NIA, OSHA, client, and project-specific standards and quality requirements.
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• Experience with conceptual estimating, unit-rate contracts, time-and-material work, lump-sum bids, maintenance agreements, turnarounds, and negotiated projects.
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Education:

Bachelors Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field; equivalent industrial trade experience will be considered.

Core Competencies:

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• Estimating accuracy and disciplined scope review
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• Commercial awareness and sound judgment
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• Planning, prioritization, and deadline management
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• Collaboration across estimating and operations
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• Client and supplier relationship management
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• Risk identification and constructability awareness
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• Leadership, accountability, and mentoring
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• Continuous improvement and cost-data discipline
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Performance Expectations:

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• Submits complete, accurate, and timely estimates with clearly documented assumptions and exclusions.
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• Produces pricing that is competitive, executable, and aligned with company margin and risk expectations.
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• Maintains reliable historical cost and productivity data and applies lessons learned to future estimates.
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• Provides thorough turnover information that supports effective project startup and cost control.
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• Builds credibility with clients, vendors, operations teams, and company leadership.
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About Us:

JT Thorpe & Son, Inc. (JT THORPE) was founded in 1906, and is one of the largest specialty industrial construction companies in North America, specializing in refractory, fireproofing, painting, coatings, scaffolding, and insulation. We differentiate ourselves from the competition with safety, professionalism, engineering, high quality and customer service.

At JT THORPE, we build industrial plants (facilities) that fuel our nation with power, gas, steel, cement, biofuels, and a wide variety of crucial products. We strive to design and deliver the best and most reliable facilities in the world, and we are responsible for creating the linings to withstand the products that flows through these facilities.

At JT THORPE, we put our customers first. Our project management team is the key to achieving success. The project management team owns and leads the project every step of the way, guiding the project from concept, to construction, to customer hand-off. An excited and grateful customer for a project expertly delivered from beginning to end is a most satisfying undertaking.