Director, Estimating

ROLE OVERVIEW
Pivot Energy is in an exciting growth period, rapidly expanding both commercial and community-scale solar and energy storage pipelines across the US. The Director, Estimating is a new position with tremendous growth potential that will collaborate across multiple departments to develop a best-in-class estimating team.
In this role, the Director, Estimating is responsible for creating timely and accurate estimates for Pivot Energy’s renewable energy projects, incorporating knowledge of safety standards and construction best practices for solar PV rooftop, carport, ground mount, and battery storage projects. This role will also be responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic growth of the Estimating team. To be successful in this role, the candidate must be highly collaborative, and excited to create new and refine existing processes.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the day-to-day management of the Estimating team
• Identify and analyze, in collaboration with other Pivot teams, total lifecycle costs for Pivot projects
• Utilize knowledge of equipment, material, and labor costs to inform Pivot’s design and construction standards
• Establish market-level cost models for all Pivot projects nationwide to inform construction cost targets and project budgets. This includes market analytics, commodity and labor cost tracking, and risk analysis to establish baseline construction costs.
• Coordinate with Pivot Procurement and Engineering teams to identify value engineering opportunities within design standards and equipment procurements
• Establish scalable estimating tools and processes
• Coordinate with other Pivot teams to maintain estimating tools and databases – including equipment, material, and labor costs
• Review design drawings and specifications and have a clear understanding of Pivot's scope of work and schedule expectations.
• Work closely with Development, Engineering, Procurement, Preconstruction, Finance, and Project Management team members to understand how site conditions, safety, client goals, and other essential deal elements impact project budgets
• Perform quantity take-offs of DC/AC plant BOS, major equipment, and civil and site work construction.
• Determine total labor hours and labor rates, equipment rental needs, general conditions, general expenses, etc.
• Produce market-level cost estimates that highlight key assumptions, exclusions, and other deal elements that can be shared directly with our subcontractor partners for estimate alignment.
• Utilize market-level budgets to assist in “open book” subcontractor engagements.
• Support the review and analysis of EPC subcontractor bids.
• Assist Pivot sales and development teams to generate go-to-market strategies and sales proposals.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• 6+ years of experience in estimating, design, and/or construction management of community-scale solar and energy storage systems
• Ability to understand technical documentation related to renewable energy projects such as engineering drawings and specifications of solar PV systems, interconnection agreements, facilities studies, permitting documents, local codes and regulations, and civil and electrical construction specifications
• Experience evaluating subcontractor bid packages
• Self-motivated and able to work both individually and/or in a collaborative team environment with minimal guidance
• Exceptional communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills
• High degree of proficiency with estimating software
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage complex evaluation processes for a significant number of projects while anticipating project requirements across different development scopes and markets.
• Must have a constant sense of urgency and an “action-oriented” mentality with comfort operating in undefined spaces, and a desire to create systems to standardize undefined processes.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

• 2+ years of people management experience, demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence
• Experience or familiarity with various estimating and project management tools and software, i.e., Procore, Bluebeam, PV Bid, Accubid, etc.
• Basic knowledge of solar and energy storage project finance
• Bachelor of Science degree in a construction or engineering field of study
• Estimating certification from a nationally recognized professional organization

ABOUT PIVOT
Pivot Energy is a national renewable energy provider that develops, finances, builds, owns, and manages solar and energy storage projects that help decarbonize our nation’s electricity, increase equitable access to clean energy for local communities, and provide real cost-savings to American businesses and