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
families.
We are fiercely dedicated to accelerating the rapid transition taking place in the energy industry to a more decentralized and cleaner approach to power generation. We are committed to positively contributing to the local communities and people we serve with more than clean energy. We believe global warming poses an existential threat to our planet and that we have a responsibility to help mitigate the threat. Our portfolio includes projects that reduce energy burden for income-limited families, create workforce pathways for under-represented groups within the solar industry, and include robust community investment opportunities.
As a Certified B Corporation and one of Denver’s “Best Places to Work”, we believe that company success is driven by a healthy environment, thriving society, and workplace where all individuals are respected. We evaluate every internal decision on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to determine if our actions will result in a net positive impact on the community, our employees, customers, shareholders, and the environment. Learn more in our annual ESG Report.
At Pivot, our core values guide our work internally and externally:
- Impact – We hold ourselves accountable to having a measurable impact on our people, communities, and the planet
- Balance – Put family first; work hard/have fun
- Determination – Find ways to be successful no matter how difficult the challenge
- Professionalism – Impress everyone we touch, be a team player
- Honesty – Be truthful and transparent, externally and internally
- Kindness – Create an environment where kindness, empathy, and vulnerability are embraced
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION and JUSTICE STATEMENT
At Pivot, we are proactively developing and maintaining an inclusive culture, rooted in mutual respect, that supports a workforce of different generations, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, ability statuses, religions, and cultures to work collaboratively together for greater impact. We seek to build a team that invests in relationship building, celebrates each other’s successes, and makes space for the unique contributions and working styles people bring into Pivot.
Pivot invests in company-wide trainings, assessments, and programs to advance internal inclusion and equity practices, such as employee allyship building, cross-cultural communications, and equitable hiring and management protocols to increasingly recognize bias and ensure mutual respect and belonging.
EEO STATEMENT
Pivot Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce. We actively work to cultivate an inclusive culture that welcomes, empowers, and enables equitable career growth for employees regardless of background.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS The base salary range for this position is $105,000-$175,000 depending on relevant experience, along with eligibility for the company’s substantial bonus plan, with a target bonus of 30% of annual salary (prorated in first year based on start date). Pivot Energy is dedicated to providing a great work experience for all employees, placing an emphasis on company culture, and a focus on our people. To that end, Pivot offers an outstanding benefits package that includes:
- Excellent health/dental/vision insurance benefits with up to 100% of premiums covered by the company
- Four weeks of vacation plus employment milestone bonus vacations
- Company paid life insurance and short- & long-term disability coverage
- Generous parental leave
- 401(k) matching (after vesting period)
- Work from home stipend for new employees
- Public transit reimbursement
- PTO for volunteering in the community
- Charitable donation matching up to $500/year
- Professional development and educational reimbursements A complete list of all the benefits Pivot offers may be provided upon request