Sales Estimator

Sales Estimator

Watterson is looking for a Sales Estimator who will work with owners, adjusters, property managers, directors, and potential clients after traumatic events such as a fire, flood, or mold to clean up and repair damage to commercial property. They will predominately work inan office setting and go to the potential job site to accurately scope projects and assign work for production teams to complete. The Sales Estimator will evaluate and estimate the costs, labor, and resources needed to complete the scoped project. The Sales Estimator plays a critical role in providing services that facilitate and support client operations with respect to property management in the context of navigating traumatic events. The Sales Estimator will follow up and gain approvals from the potential client and hold pre-production meetings to hand off new projects to the production team.

The ideal candidate is a proactive and strategic self-starter with strong organizational skills and a proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment independently and without supervision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage the full estimate lifecycle—from initial lead to final contract signing—and remain engaged through project handoff, execution, and closeout to support continuity and assist with payment collection if needed.
• Leverage professional experience to analyze and evaluate project scope, labor, materials, equipment, and timelines in order to customize and create accurate and quality estimates for commercial, large loss, and capital construction projects.
• Create detailed cost projections, budgets, and work assignments using tools like Xactimate, producing accurate takeoffs and forecasts for each estimate.
• Investigate, resolve, and troubleshoot issues related to client projects, including but not limited to quality control, budgeting, and timeliness.
• Conduct site inspections and meet with clients at various locations to assess damage, identify potential hazards (e.g., mold, asbestos), and develop restoration plans aligned with pre-loss conditions or client expectations.
• Collaborate with and advise architects, engineers, vendors, and subcontractors to ensure estimates meet all local building codes, permitting requirements, and reflect accurate market pricing.
• Oversee subcontractors to ensure proper performance of agreed scopes and ensure alignment with standard operating procedures, including discretion to termination subcontractors.
• Clearly communicate and present proposed scopes of work and timeframes to clients and stakeholders to set expectations before project approval and execution.
• Prepare comprehensive floor plans and supporting documentation when needed to support accurate estimates and clarify project requirements.
• Provide on-site support as needed to monitor progress, resolve issues, and ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Maintain clear documentation of communications with internal teams, insurance carriers, vendors, and clients throughout the estimating and project management process.
• Support administrative tasks and assist in project execution to help deliver an excellent client experience.
• Stay current with industry trends, building regulations, and best practices to maintain a high level of professional knowledge.
• Travel to job sites or client locations as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Decision Making - Exercise sound judgment and discretion in independently analyzing challenges, making informed decisions, and implementing creative solutions that enhance efficiency and outcomes across projects
• Commitment to Excellence - Maintains high personal standards and expectations and expects others to maintain a similar commitment. Knows own strengths and how to employ them. Knows own weaknesses and limits; works to neutralize or compensate for some and to improve others. Is personally committed and actively works to continuously improve him/herself.
• Attention to Detail - Directs attention to the task at hand in order to avoid making mistakes. Prepares and carefully reviews figures, computations, reports, etc., to identify any errors or problems; ensures consistency and that information can be understood by all who read it. Shows concern for all aspects of the job no matter how small.
• Organizing - Mobilizes appropriate resources (People, funding, materials, and support) to get things done. Manages multiple activities simultaneously to accomplish goals, establishes efficient work procedures to meet objectives. Forms the right structures, processes, and/or teams to enhance productivity.
• Initiative - Is self-starting. Does not wait for signals. Seizes opportunities when they arise. Takes action beyond what is required. Completes assignments independently without constant supervision. Volunteers to take on new assignments. Contributes to others' initiatives without being asked.
• Effective Communicator – Consistently communicates clearly and thoroughly, optimizing audience understanding with concise, timely, and effective speaking and presentation skills.
• Collaboration/Relationship Building – Cultivates strong working relationships through interpersonal skills, secures cooperation, promotes win-win solutions, and collaborates effectively with individuals beyond formal authority to achieve goals.
• Adaptability – Adapts by adjusting behavior, routines, and habits to meet goals and changing circumstances, maintaining balance amid conflicting demands.
• Problem solving – Poses insightful questions, explores all sources for answers, uncovers hidden patterns, goes beyond the obvious, employs rigorous logic to understand problem origins, and devises creative, cost-effective solutions.
• Analytical thinking – Leverages facts and data for logical assumptions, discerns significance, identifies inconsistencies, and draws accurate inferences through differentiation, comparison, contrast, linking, and research.
• Project Management - Effectively uses the company's systematic approach to planning, organizing, directing, supervising and accomplishing the goals of a project(s) requirements and activities to meet objectives. Includes balancing the task requirements within the constraints of schedules and budgets.
• Customer Commitment - Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect. Proactively addresses customer needs. Follows through on identified problems until resolved. Meets negotiated delivery commitments or advises customers when delays are necessary.
• Self-Sufficiency and Autonomy: Has the ability and expertise to operate independently and with minimal oversight with respect to all job requirements.
• Leadership: Is an effective leader and articulates clear and compelling standards and expectations. Provides day-to-day leadership by supporting team members through coaching and guidance; manages performance through regular feedback and goal-setting; serves as a knowledgeable resource for project and process-related inquiries; acts as the primary escalation point to resolve high-priority or complex issues efficiently.
• Problem Solving: Uses rigorous logic and methods to analyze and understand why problems occur; generates and implements creative, cost effective and realistic solutions and/or makes recommendations to clients with respect to the same.

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• EAP
• STD/LTD
• Basic Life and AD&D
• Voluntary Life
• Supplemental: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
• Cell Phone Stipend
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays

Watterson is an Equal Employment Opportunity and E-Verify employer.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or competencies. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description based on business need.

Requirements:

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• May be subject to prolonged periods of driving.
• Operating a computer.

Experience/Education/Qualifications:

• 2+ years of emergency, restoration, or reconstruction experience including construction related sales/customer service experience.
• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Experience with Xactimate, preferred.
• General knowledge of building codes.
• Ability to read and understand blueprints and structural documents, as applicable.
• Valid Driver's license in good standing without restrictions.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Sales Force, Encircle and Outlook.
• Experience with ERP or other CRM software, preferred.