Senior Estimator

Job Description

Location: Ottawa (preferred) or Toronto
Travel: Up to 1 day/month to Chalk River
Security Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain Reliability clearance. Candidates with recent residency history that supports timely completion of background checks will be strongly preferred.

Only applicants who meet all minimum qualifications will be considered.

The Opportunity

Chandos is seeking a Senior Estimator to lead estimating on a long-term nuclear project at Chalk River, supporting continued growth across Ontario.

This role is suited to a highly proactive Senior Estimator who takes ownership, a multiplier who drives timelines, and follows through relentlessly to close gaps, align stakeholders, and produce competitive, accurate bids in a complex environment.

Why This Role

A critical role on a long-standing nuclear project, where success depends on ownership, follow-through, and the ability to drive outcomes in a complex delivery environment.

What You’ll Own

• Full-cycle estimating for large-scale nuclear or industrial project
• Subtrade engagement, pricing strategy, and bid development
• Risk, contingency, and commercial assumptions that protect margin and win work
• Clear alignment between estimating, operations, and project leadership
• A disciplined, organized approach to delivering complete and accurate estimates

Qualifications

What Sets You Apart

• You drive progress without waiting, especially when inputs are incomplete or moving
• You follow up, close gaps, and keep people aligned to deadlines
• You balance detail with judgment, knowing when “complete” is better than “perfect”
• You are comfortable operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• You take ownership of outcomes, not just inputs

Core Capability Requirements

• Prepare and lead full-cost estimates across conceptual to detailed phases
• Develop labour, material, and equipment pricing with strong market awareness
• Evaluate risk, escalation, and contingency to support sound commercial decisions
• Lead subtrade solicitation, bid analysis, and pricing strategy
• Support bid strategy, value engineering, and client presentations

Minimum Qualifications (Non Negotiable)

• 10+ years of estimating experience in nuclear or heavy industrial construction
• Proven experience on large-scale ($1B+) projects or equivalent complexity
• Strong experience from a general contractor environment
• Demonstrable experience leading teams and driving for results
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and estimating tools
• Ability to lead estimating efforts and coordinate cross-functional input
• Full and valid driver’s license for site visits and local coordination
• Must be eligible to obtain Reliability Clearance and able to complete background verification within project timelines; candidates with recent, readily verifiable residency and employment history will be prioritized

Additional Information

Chandos is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and this includes our recruitment and hiring process.

We recognize that our differences are our greatest strengths. We uncover talent. We nurture talent. And then we give people the tools they need to use their talent to create a positive impact.

• We are 100% employee owned. Every person who works for Chandos can become an owner. There is only one class of units at Chandos, because we believe everyone should be treated equal. We talk about being an entrepreneurial-minded organization and you can be sure we mean it!
• Competitive wages
• Well rounded employer paid benefits program including health, dental, vision care and employee assistance program
• RRSP matching program to aid and prepare employees for long-term financial security
• Educational assistance for employees who wish to pursue job-performance enhancing education
• Recognition and annual salary reviews program
• Leadership conferences that allow employees to connect and collaborate
• Regular company-wide engagement opportunities

Vacancy Status

We are actively recruiting for this position.

AI Disclosure Statement: Chandos is committed to transparent recruitment. Our internal team does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants, although we do use AI tools for administrative interview transcription and AI tools may be integrated or embedded in third-party platforms and software. Some of Chandos' external staffing partners may use AI to screen, assess, or select candidates during their initial workflows. All final hiring decisions at Chandos are made personally by our hiring team.

Compensation Transparency

The base salary range for this role is listed above and may vary based on your experience. This position also includes a competitive bonus program. Throughout the interview process, we’ll discuss your background to determine the best alignment for your experience level.