Ambassador Group
About Manhattan Plumbing & Heating (MPH)
MPH is a 90+ person construction and service company serving some of Southwest Montana’s most demanding residential and commercial clients. With revenues exceeding $20 MM, a strong reputation, and a deeply integrated Sage 100 environment, we self-perform mechanical and civil scopes that require precision, planning, and discipline.
Our excavation group tackles complex projects in challenging terrain: steep slopes, tight access, weather swings, and long-haul logistics. We are building the next chapter of our civil capabilities and need a dedicated estimator to anchor that growth.
We are disciplined, team-oriented, and focused on doing things the right way. This role is central to pricing work intelligently and setting the field up to execute safely and profitably.
Why This Role Matters MPH’s excavation work has reached the point where estimating and preconstruction are strategic, not just transactional. We have an experienced Excavation Manager, strong field leadership, and solid systems. What we need is a civil-focused partner who:
Brings rigor and realism to how we price and sequence work
Understands how mountain terrain changes production, risk, and logistics
Helps re-establish a competitive edge in the local market without giving away margin
If you enjoy thinking in sequence, challenging assumptions respectfully, and turning drawings, contours, and haul roads into grounded numbers, this is a high-impact seat where your judgment will be visible every day.
The Opportunity: What You’ll Lead You will own civil estimating and preconstruction for complex excavation projects, partnering closely with the Excavation Manager and operations to price work accurately, sequence it intelligently, and set projects up to win before the first bucket hits the ground.
1. Civil / Excavation Estimating Excellence
Prepare accurate, defensible estimates for excavation and civil scopes, including foundations, hillside work, site development, utilities, and infrastructure
Build estimates grounded in real-world production assumptions that reflect terrain, access, weather, elevation, and long-haul logistics
Identify and quantify major cost drivers (rock, groundwater, traffic control, trucking, export/import, etc.) before bids go out
Surface viable alternates and VE options early so leadership can make informed decisions on scope and strategy
2. Preconstruction Planning, Sequencing & Risk
Price projects with realistic sequencing, staging, and site constraints fully accounted for
Flag constructability issues early and collaborate with the Excavation Manager on means and methods
Call out risk factors (schedule, access, utilities, geotech, third parties) and frame options, not just problems
Provide leadership with a trusted second opinion on cost, duration, and risk for key pursuits
3. Handoff & Field Partnership
Own a clean, well-documented handoff from estimate to field that sets operations up to execute as planned
Translate the estimate into quantities, production targets, and simple, field-usable narratives
Participate in pre-job meetings to align on scope, assumptions, and sequence
Close the loop at job closeout: compare estimated vs. actual and help sharpen the next estimate
4. Systems, Data & Sage 100 Integration
Ensure estimating workflows integrate smoothly with Sage 100 and existing financial systems
Maintain and improve historical cost data, production rates, and template assemblies
Help refine how excavation estimates map into job-cost structures so that field performance is visible to ownership
Suggest and implement incremental process improvements rather than one-off workarounds
What Success Looks Like (12–18 Months) By the end of year one, success in this role looks like:
Tighter, more defensible excavation and civil estimates that leadership trusts
Bid hit rate improves without margin erosion
Field execution tracks closely to estimated cost and schedule on the majority of awarded work
Clear visibility into the main cost and risk drivers on each bid, with alternatives considered upfront
Estimating inputs flow cleanly into Sage 100 and job-cost reporting
The Excavation Manager and field teams see you as a go‑to partner, not a spreadsheet in a different room
Who You Are Technical Excellence
Civil / excavation estimating experience in mountain or alpine environments (Southwest Montana, Idaho, Colorado, or similar regions)
Strong plan reading, site visualization, and comfort working from incomplete or evolving information
Hands‑on experience with earthwork, foundations, utilities, and infrastructure takeoffs
Cost modeling for trucking, export/import, and material movement; understanding how terrain and haul distance change the math
Solid grasp of production rates in steep terrain and harsh conditions
Familiarity with estimating and accounting systems; Sage 100 experience is a plus but not required
Mindset & Soft Skills
Operational mindset: you think in sequence, not just quantities
Comfortable challenging assumptions respectfully and constructively with both office and field
Clear communicator with field leaders, PMs, and ownership; can translate between plans, numbers, and real-world conditions
Sound judgment under ambiguity and complex site conditions; willing to slow down the conversation when risk is being underweighted
Collaborative by default; no silos between estimating and operations
Long‑term, ownership mentality: you care about what happens after the bid is won
Who This Is For This role is well suited for someone who:
Has real experience in mountain or alpine environments and understands how they change risk and production
Wants to own excavation and civil estimating, not just assist occasionally
Enjoys being in dialogue with operations, not working in a spreadsheet‑only vacuum
It is not a fit for candidates who:
Have only flatwork, paving, or strictly residential‑only estimating backgrounds with no exposure to complex civil scopes
Come from non‑civil trades and want to “learn excavation on the fly” in a senior seat
Prefer a detached, spreadsheet‑only estimating role without close collaboration with field operations
Compensation & Details
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience
Bonus: Performance‑based, tied to company and individual results
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, retirement match, PTO
Location: Onsite in the Gallatin Valley (Manhattan/Bozeman), MT
Environment: Founder‑led, field‑oriented, high‑trust; close partnership with Excavation Manager and operations
Join Us If you’re energized by complex civil work in real mountains, enjoy sharpening numbers with the people who have to live with them, and want real ownership of estimating and preconstruction, we would love to meet you.
This is a chance to anchor the estimating function for a growing excavation group inside a company that is ready for and excited about the expertise you bring.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
MPH is a 90+ person construction and service company serving some of Southwest Montana’s most demanding residential and commercial clients. With revenues exceeding $20 MM, a strong reputation, and a deeply integrated Sage 100 environment, we self-perform mechanical and civil scopes that require precision, planning, and discipline.
Our excavation group tackles complex projects in challenging terrain: steep slopes, tight access, weather swings, and long-haul logistics. We are building the next chapter of our civil capabilities and need a dedicated estimator to anchor that growth.
We are disciplined, team-oriented, and focused on doing things the right way. This role is central to pricing work intelligently and setting the field up to execute safely and profitably.
Why This Role Matters MPH’s excavation work has reached the point where estimating and preconstruction are strategic, not just transactional. We have an experienced Excavation Manager, strong field leadership, and solid systems. What we need is a civil-focused partner who:
Brings rigor and realism to how we price and sequence work
Understands how mountain terrain changes production, risk, and logistics
Helps re-establish a competitive edge in the local market without giving away margin
If you enjoy thinking in sequence, challenging assumptions respectfully, and turning drawings, contours, and haul roads into grounded numbers, this is a high-impact seat where your judgment will be visible every day.
The Opportunity: What You’ll Lead You will own civil estimating and preconstruction for complex excavation projects, partnering closely with the Excavation Manager and operations to price work accurately, sequence it intelligently, and set projects up to win before the first bucket hits the ground.
1. Civil / Excavation Estimating Excellence
Prepare accurate, defensible estimates for excavation and civil scopes, including foundations, hillside work, site development, utilities, and infrastructure
Build estimates grounded in real-world production assumptions that reflect terrain, access, weather, elevation, and long-haul logistics
Identify and quantify major cost drivers (rock, groundwater, traffic control, trucking, export/import, etc.) before bids go out
Surface viable alternates and VE options early so leadership can make informed decisions on scope and strategy
2. Preconstruction Planning, Sequencing & Risk
Price projects with realistic sequencing, staging, and site constraints fully accounted for
Flag constructability issues early and collaborate with the Excavation Manager on means and methods
Call out risk factors (schedule, access, utilities, geotech, third parties) and frame options, not just problems
Provide leadership with a trusted second opinion on cost, duration, and risk for key pursuits
3. Handoff & Field Partnership
Own a clean, well-documented handoff from estimate to field that sets operations up to execute as planned
Translate the estimate into quantities, production targets, and simple, field-usable narratives
Participate in pre-job meetings to align on scope, assumptions, and sequence
Close the loop at job closeout: compare estimated vs. actual and help sharpen the next estimate
4. Systems, Data & Sage 100 Integration
Ensure estimating workflows integrate smoothly with Sage 100 and existing financial systems
Maintain and improve historical cost data, production rates, and template assemblies
Help refine how excavation estimates map into job-cost structures so that field performance is visible to ownership
Suggest and implement incremental process improvements rather than one-off workarounds
What Success Looks Like (12–18 Months) By the end of year one, success in this role looks like:
Tighter, more defensible excavation and civil estimates that leadership trusts
Bid hit rate improves without margin erosion
Field execution tracks closely to estimated cost and schedule on the majority of awarded work
Clear visibility into the main cost and risk drivers on each bid, with alternatives considered upfront
Estimating inputs flow cleanly into Sage 100 and job-cost reporting
The Excavation Manager and field teams see you as a go‑to partner, not a spreadsheet in a different room
Who You Are Technical Excellence
Civil / excavation estimating experience in mountain or alpine environments (Southwest Montana, Idaho, Colorado, or similar regions)
Strong plan reading, site visualization, and comfort working from incomplete or evolving information
Hands‑on experience with earthwork, foundations, utilities, and infrastructure takeoffs
Cost modeling for trucking, export/import, and material movement; understanding how terrain and haul distance change the math
Solid grasp of production rates in steep terrain and harsh conditions
Familiarity with estimating and accounting systems; Sage 100 experience is a plus but not required
Mindset & Soft Skills
Operational mindset: you think in sequence, not just quantities
Comfortable challenging assumptions respectfully and constructively with both office and field
Clear communicator with field leaders, PMs, and ownership; can translate between plans, numbers, and real-world conditions
Sound judgment under ambiguity and complex site conditions; willing to slow down the conversation when risk is being underweighted
Collaborative by default; no silos between estimating and operations
Long‑term, ownership mentality: you care about what happens after the bid is won
Who This Is For This role is well suited for someone who:
Has real experience in mountain or alpine environments and understands how they change risk and production
Wants to own excavation and civil estimating, not just assist occasionally
Enjoys being in dialogue with operations, not working in a spreadsheet‑only vacuum
It is not a fit for candidates who:
Have only flatwork, paving, or strictly residential‑only estimating backgrounds with no exposure to complex civil scopes
Come from non‑civil trades and want to “learn excavation on the fly” in a senior seat
Prefer a detached, spreadsheet‑only estimating role without close collaboration with field operations
Compensation & Details
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience
Bonus: Performance‑based, tied to company and individual results
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, retirement match, PTO
Location: Onsite in the Gallatin Valley (Manhattan/Bozeman), MT
Environment: Founder‑led, field‑oriented, high‑trust; close partnership with Excavation Manager and operations
Join Us If you’re energized by complex civil work in real mountains, enjoy sharpening numbers with the people who have to live with them, and want real ownership of estimating and preconstruction, we would love to meet you.
This is a chance to anchor the estimating function for a growing excavation group inside a company that is ready for and excited about the expertise you bring.
#J-18808-Ljbffr