Alarm Subcontractor Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About Us

Founded in 1972, Bancare evolved into two focused divisions: Construction and Equipment.

Bancare Construction provides construction services. Bancare Equipment provides alarm, security, and tech services.

Bancare, Inc. was originally created to service customers of Bankers Co-op, a cooperative of bank equipment salesmen. In 2002, the companies merged and Bancare, Inc. became a collaboration of service and sales for bank equipment and construction services.

Total Construction. Total Bank Equipment. Total Peace of Mind

Benefits

Bancare provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to help you stay healthy, feel secure, and maintain a sustainable work/life balance. Our benefits include paid time off (PTO), medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

You will also have the opportunity to grow your career in a supportive culture that empowers self-starters and values collaboration, learning, and having fun in a fast-paced environment.

The Role

The Estimator is responsible for developing accurate, timely, and competitive estimates and proposals for commercial construction projects. This position reviews project documents, analyzes scope, prepares quantity take-offs, obtains and evaluates subcontractor and supplier pricing, and develops complete project budgets for early budgeting, negotiated, design-build, construction management, and hard-bid opportunities.

The Estimator works closely with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, and the operations team throughout the preconstruction process. This role also supports constructability reviews, project turnover, and the preparation of information needed for successful project execution.

Job Responsibilities

1. Document Review and Scope Analysis

• Review and analyze construction documents, including drawings, specifications, proposals, addenda, and other project information.
• Develop a thorough understanding of project scope, schedule requirements, general conditions, and bidding requirements.
• Identify scope gaps, conflicts, discrepancies, omissions, and constructability concerns.
• Review drawing revisions and addenda to identify changes that may affect scope, schedule, cost, or subcontractor pricing.
• Prepare and maintain scope sheets, bid forms, estimate templates, and other preconstruction documents.
• Coordinate requests for information and document clarifications required to complete accurate estimates.
• Review project requirements related to materials, labor, equipment, subcontractors, permits, scheduling, and general conditions.

2. Estimating and Bid Development

• Prepare detailed quantity take-offs from architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and other applicable construction documents.
• Develop accurate estimates for labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, overhead, and other project costs.
• Prepare time, cost, and labor estimates for commercial construction projects.
• Input and organize take-off quantities and pricing in estimating software, spreadsheets, and company databases.
• Prepare preliminary budgets, conceptual estimates, negotiated proposals, and final hard bids.
• Develop cost analyses by recapitulating material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, general condition, overhead, and other project costs.
• Make informed estimates when predetermined standards, historical costs, or database information are unavailable.
• Review estimate details for accuracy, completeness, scope coverage, and alignment with project requirements.
• Report inaccuracies, omissions, outdated pricing, or other issues within estimating databases and cost information.
• Prepare bid presentations, proposal documents, bid forms, alternates, exclusions, clarifications, and value-engineering options.
• Review estimates with leadership before submission to confirm overall strategy, pricing, risk, and profitability.

3. Subcontractor and Vendor Coordination

• Prepare and distribute bid invitations to qualified subcontractors and suppliers.
• Develop subcontractor and supplier coverage for assigned scopes of work.
• Obtain, review, and compare subcontractor and supplier bids for completeness, scope alignment, exclusions, qualifications, and pricing.
• Schedule and coordinate site visits with subcontractors and suppliers to review project conditions and scope.
• Follow up with subcontractors and suppliers to obtain missing information, clarify scope, and secure best-value pricing.
• Solicit revised pricing during budgeting, negotiation, best-and-final, and final bid phases.
• Maintain current resource information on products, vendors, subcontractors, suppliers, and specialty trades.
• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with subcontractors and suppliers.
• Support subcontractor prequalification and qualification efforts in accordance with company procedures.

4. Preconstruction and Operations Collaboration

• Coordinate and perform preconstruction activities for current and potential clients, architects, engineers, and project partners.
• Work with the operations team to review plans and specifications for constructability, sequencing, staffing, and schedule requirements.
• Study project specifications and schedules to support planning for construction start dates, completion dates, and staffing requirements.
• Identify project risks, procurement concerns, long-lead materials, and other conditions that may affect cost or schedule.
• Prepare project documents, material release schedules, client information, preliminary project schedules, and other documentation needed by the Project Management team.
• Participate in Project Management Turnover meetings to communicate scope, assumptions, pricing, subcontractor coverage, exclusions, clarifications, and other estimating information.
• Support the transition from estimating and preconstruction into project operations.
• Assist with the development and improvement of estimating procedures, templates, standards, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

5. Client and Team Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong relationships with current and potential clients.
• Communicate professionally and responsively with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal team members.
• Attend pre-bid meetings, site visits, project interviews, scope reviews, and best-and-final meetings as required.
• Prepare meeting notes, bid clarifications, follow-up items, and required estimate revisions.
• Present estimates, proposals, scope reviews, alternates, and value-engineering options to clients and company leadership.
• Provide timely updates regarding bid status, subcontractor coverage, pricing, project risks, and outstanding information.
• Attend departmental meetings and contribute to continuous improvement of estimating and preconstruction processes.
• Support Junior Estimators and other team members by providing guidance, reviewing work, and sharing estimating knowledge as appropriate.

6. Other Responsibilities

• Maintain organized and complete project files in the appropriate software systems.
• Ensure estimates, proposals, bid documents, and supporting information are properly documented and retained.
• Stay informed about construction materials, labor conditions, subcontractor markets, industry practices, and relevant building requirements.
• Perform other estimating, preconstruction, and construction support duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience supporting or performing estimating, preconstruction, design-related activities, or project management in commercial construction.
• Experience preparing bids and estimates for ground-up commercial construction projects.
• Experience preparing estimates for design-build, construction management, negotiated, and hard-bid projects.
• Experience coordinating subcontractor and supplier pricing for commercial construction projects.
• Experience reviewing plans, specifications, proposals, schedules, and other technical project documents.
• Experience working with project management or operations teams during preconstruction and project turnover.

Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Technical Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and other construction drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and cloud-based applications.
• Experience with Procore, Bluebeam, OpenSpace, One Team, or similar construction and estimating platforms preferred.
• Ability to perform detailed quantity take-offs and accurately transfer quantities into estimating software or spreadsheets.
• Ability to monitor project costs, perform cost analysis, and prepare project reports.
• Understanding of commercial construction means, methods, materials, sequencing, and scheduling.
• Knowledge of subcontractor procurement, supplier pricing, labor costs, equipment costs, general conditions, overhead, and project risk.
• Ability to develop and maintain organized estimating templates, cost databases, scope sheets, and bid documentation.
• Ability to learn and apply company estimating procedures, software systems, and standard workflows.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to estimate accuracy.
• Effective collaboration with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, project managers, and internal teams.
• Strong organization and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional, dependable, and responsive approach to internal and external communication.
• Ability to identify potential risks, ask appropriate questions, and follow through on open issues.
• Positive attitude and willingness to contribute to a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to provide direction and support to Junior Estimators and less-experienced team members.

Career Path and Development

This role provides opportunities for continued growth within Bancare’s estimating and preconstruction team based on performance, skills, leadership, and initiative:

• Estimator → Senior Estimator → Team Lead Estimator

Estimators will continue developing their skills through exposure to a variety of commercial construction projects, increasingly complex estimates, client presentations, subcontractor negotiations, project turnover, and mentoring responsibilities. As proficiency and leadership capabilities grow, the Estimator may assume responsibility for larger and more complex pursuits, lead estimating efforts, and support the development of estimating processes and team members.