Director of Estimating – UL Manufacturing - 5K Power in Houston, Texas at Hays Electrical Services

About 5K Power

5K Power is a multi-disciplinary electrical solutions company operating across four business units: Electrical Prefab, Skidding, Temp Power Solutions, and UL Manufacturing. This position sits within the UL Manufacturing business unit, which designs and builds UL-listed and UL-labeled electrical panels, switchboards, switchgear, and control panel assemblies for industrial and commercial customers.

Position Summary

The Director of Estimating leads the estimating function for 5K Power's UL Manufacturing business unit. This role owns the strategy, accuracy, and consistency of cost estimates and proposals for Electrical Prefab, Skidding, Temp Power Solutions, and UL Manufacturing, Electrical Prefab, Skidding, Temp Power Solutions, and UL Manufacturing UL-listed panels, switchboards, switchgear, and control panel assemblies; manages and develops a team of estimators; and works closely with engineering, production, sales, and executive leadership to ensure bids are competitive, accurate, and aligned with shop capacity and UL compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage the UL Manufacturing estimating team, setting workload priorities and ensuring bid deadlines are consistently met.

• Oversee development of accurate cost estimates and proposals for UL-listed and UL-labeled panels, switchboards, switchgear, and control panel assemblies.

• Establish and maintain standardized estimating processes, templates, and tools to improve consistency, speed, and accuracy across the team.

• Review and approve high-value or complex bids prior to submission, ensuring pricing accuracy, scope completeness, and profitability targets are met.

• Partner with engineering and production leadership to validate constructability, UL508A/labeling requirements, and lead times used in estimates.

• Maintain and continuously refine pricing databases, unit costs, labor rates, and vendor/component pricing specific to UL manufacturing.

• Analyze historical job costs against estimates to identify variances and drive continuous improvement in estimating accuracy.

• Collaborate with sales and business development on pricing strategy, win/loss analysis, and competitive positioning.

• Lead and participate in contract negotiations, scope clarifications, and bid reviews with customers.

• Track and report estimating KPIs (bid volume, win rate, estimate accuracy, turnaround time) to operations and executive leadership.

• Build and maintain relationships with key component vendors and suppliers to secure competitive, reliable pricing.

• Support hiring, training, and professional development of estimating staff.

• Ensure all estimates account for applicable codes and standards (e.g., UL508A, UL891, NEC).

Qualifications

• 7+ years of estimating experience in electrical panel/switchgear manufacturing, UL panel shops, or related industrial manufacturing, including 2+ years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.

• Strong knowledge of UL508A (and ideally UL891, UL1558, or similar) panel, switchboard, and switchgear standards, along with NEC requirements.

• Proven experience managing or mentoring a team of estimators.

• Proficient reading electrical schematics, one-line diagrams, panel/switchgear layout drawings, and bills of material.

• Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills, including experience with margin and profitability analysis.

• Experience with estimating software, ERP systems, and advanced MS Excel.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills; comfortable presenting to executive leadership and customers.

• Track record of improving estimating accuracy, turnaround time, and win rates.

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, construction management, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Physical Requirements

Primarily an office environment; may require occasional time on the shop floor to verify scope, constructability, or production status, and occasional travel to customer sites [Insert travel expectations, if applicable]. Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.