Estimator - Residential

country: US all locations: [Portage, MI] commitment: Full-time department: Partner Position location: Portage, MI team: 9675 What you will get to do:: Lead estimating for residential new homes, custom builds, and portfolio products, delivering accurate and competitive budgets. Review plans, specifications, and market data to set clear cost targets and maintain budget integrity throughout the project lifecycle. Run bid solicitations, evaluate proposals, and award work to trade partners to secure strong pricing and performance. Oversee the purchasing cycle—including POs, rebates, invoicing, and budget reconciliation—to keep projects financially on track. Build and maintain strong relationships with trades and suppliers, supporting reliable pricing, supply continuity, and partnership alignment. Drive value engineering and cost‑optimization efforts with sales, selections, and construction teams while protecting quality and the client experience. Monitor material and supply‑chain trends, identify cost or schedule risks, and recommend mitigation strategies. Maintain and improve job templates, cost codes, and databases in BuilderTrend and Sage; champion effective use of Bluebeam and other tools. Support pricing and approvals for change orders, and provide costing input for new product development and trade‑base expansion. Ensure compliance with company standards, scopes of work, contracts, and applicable codes and regulations in all estimates and purchases. What will make you successful:: 5–7+ years of progressive residential estimating and purchasing experience with a homebuilder (new homes, custom, or multi‑community). Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Strong ability to read and interpret residential construction drawings and specifications. Advanced proficiency in Excel and comfort working in BuilderTrend, Sage, and Bluebeam (or similar estimating/project management tools). Demonstrated strength in negotiation, analysis, organization, and follow‑through; driven by accuracy, quality, and accountability. Collaborative, service‑oriented approach to partnering with sales, design, construction, and leadership. Experience improving or standardizing estimating/purchasing processes and using data to drive better decisions. Familiarity with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) is a plus. Comfort working primarily in an office setting with periodic visits to active job sites.