Job Description

Estimator – Role Description

What if the work you did every day was collaborating with architects, designers, artists, fabricators, engineers and developers across North America to facilitate the development and execution of Bold visions? At Heavy, our goal is to enrich the community and the lives of the individuals that live within by creating experience pieces that exceed expectations.

Connecting people through placemaking is what drives us every day. Since 2003, Heavy has evolved from a custom fabricator to a hub for unique projects. Our team is responsible for facilitating some of North America’s most iconic public art, delivering unique experiences to thousands of communities across the continent.

You will be a part of a team that is pioneering a new industry at the intersection of art and architecture. You will set high standards while working with remarkably skilled creative professionals to deliver a world class experience that helps each client tell their unique story. You recognize that every client touch point needs to be an exceptional experience and you understand the value of a handshake.

At Heavy we like to have fun and our culture is strong. You will be working with a motivated group of enjoyable personalities while you contribute to the team’s success.

Are you ready to learn more?

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Development & Estimating Manager or Lead Estimator, the Estimator will be responsible for the accurate and timely preparation of full-cost estimates for custom fabrication, public art, placemaking, and design-build projects. This role requires strong collaboration with vendors, clients, consultants, and internal team members to develop budgets, clarify scope, identify risk, and support successful project development.

• Prepare accurate takeoffs, quantity summaries, budgets, and full-cost estimates for assigned projects, considering labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors, shipping, installation, overhead, markups, escalation, and other relevant factors.
• Review drawings, specifications, addenda, sketches, contracts, and reference information to understand scope, identify gaps, and develop estimate assumptions and clarifications.
• Obtain, compile, and compare quotes from vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors; review exclusions, lead times, alternates, and pricing risks with the team.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors to support reliable pricing, material availability, and scope clarity.
• Identify project risks, opportunities, exclusions, assumptions, and mitigation strategies during pursuit, estimating, and project development phases.
• Work closely with Studio Development, Project Development, design, production, procurement, and project teams to develop design details, specifications, fabrication strategies, and scopes of work.
• Maintain iterative estimates as projects progress through concept, schematic, development, detailed design, contract review, and change phases.
• Support proposal production with clear pricing backup, scope narratives, assumptions, alternates, exclusions, and supporting documentation.
• Participate in internal estimate reviews, pursuit reviews, proposal reviews, budget reviews, project handoffs, and lessons learned.
• Follow up with clients, consultants, vendors, and internal stakeholders on project scope, pricing questions, clarifications, and outstanding information.
• Maintain organized estimating files, quote logs, pricing backup, templates, historical data, vendor information, and project records in accordance with Heavy processes.
• Research and stay informed on new materials, fabrication techniques, suppliers, subcontractors, and processes applicable to custom fabrication and design-build work.
• Manage workload and deadlines effectively, communicating workload conflicts, missing information, and support requirements early.

What’s in it for you?

• Job Satisfaction: You will get to directly participate in some of Canada’s most interesting (and high profile) creative construction and art projects.
• Job Variation: You will never get bored in this fast-paced environment. Every project is different, and every day comes complete with its own unique challenges and problems for you to solve.
• Job Opportunity: You will be exposed to opportunities to grow and develop our relatively young business into one of the world’s premiere manufacturing companies. We have not plateaued and do not plan on doing so any time soon.
• Culture: You will get to work with fun, dynamic and highly skilled people that are driven to succeed.
• Remuneration: You will be paid relative to the experience you bring and your accomplishments; you will be rewarded with company success. You will get plenty of vacation and be added to our benefits program.

Why Heavy?

We owe our success to the last 18 years of continually asking “why” instead of abiding by the status quo. We’ve learned to ask the right questions at the right time to uncover opportunities that otherwise would have been missed. Our Plan-Build process is the result of 15 years and 500+ projects where we’ve raised the bar on what a client experience should look and feel like. Simply put, we are a creative hub that delivers solutions and experiences because we are really good at asking why.

Our Plan-Build process is tailored to provide our clients with efficiencies right out of the gate. We serve as their hub, kicking off work earlier than in a typical process, even before a concept has been developed, and freeing up our clients to focus on their vision.

With Plan-Build we lock in critical project details like cost and schedule certainty early. We remove the constraints and amplify creativity by fully integrating with our client’s team and collaborating with them to bring the right people to the table at the right time. We work with artists, architects, designers, engineers and emerging creative talent, including students. Creativity comes from everywhere and we don’t rely on a portfolio of work or an academic designation to prove it.

We thrive on challenges and when we are at the table early, we can fully understand the “why” of a project and bring it to life in the most impactful way. Our Plan-Build process is the key to bringing complex visions to life.

Qualifications / Required Knowledge & Skills

Heavy is looking for an Estimator who can turn complex drawings, sketches, specifications, and conversations into clear, buildable, full-cost estimates. The right candidate brings estimating or preconstruction experience, strong technical curiosity, and the ability to organize information without losing the important details that drive cost, scope, and risk.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in construction, fabrication, architecture, engineering, estimating, project coordination, or a related field.
• Previous estimating or preconstruction experience, including preparation of quantity takeoffs, budgets, or estimate summaries.
• Must be proficient with Bluebeam and Excel; comfortable using Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and organized file management systems.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, and shop drawings, specifications, addenda, and scope documents accurately.
• Strong working knowledge of construction materials, fabrication methods, subcontractor scopes, and vendor pricing processes.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and ability to identify scope gaps, exclusions, assumptions, alternates, and risk items.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including professional communication with vendors, subcontractors, clients, consultants, and internal team members.
• Experience in custom fabrication, design-build, public art, architectural features, specialty construction, or project development is considered a strong asset.