Designer & Material Estimator
3 days ago
Knoxville
Job Description We are seeking a detail-oriented and design-focused Outdoor Living Designer & Material Estimator to support the successful planning, pricing, and preparation of custom outdoor living projects. This role is responsible for translating client needs, site conditions, and project scope into accurate designs, specifications, material lists, and supplier estimates. The ideal candidate has strong attention to detail, understands residential outdoor construction, and can identify scope gaps, material requirements, permitting needs, and cost risks before a project moves into production. This role is critical to protecting project accuracy, client expectations, and company margin through high-quality design, estimating, documentation, and material planning. Compensation: $55,000 - $60,000 Responsibilities: Design & Pre-Construction • Review the sold scope, budget, drawings, and site conditions during project handoff., • Participate in and support pre-construction meetings with the Sales Designer, Project Manager, Superintendent, and client as needed., • Validate field sketches, drawings, site measurements, and project assumptions to identify potential construction challenges before production., • Identify scope gaps, permitting needs, engineering requirements, access issues, site constraints, and cost risks prior to production., • Collaborate with draftsmen and internal team members to produce accurate, code-compliant drawings., • Ensure drawings, specifications, selections, and assumptions are clear, complete, and properly documented., • Help prevent design errors that could reasonably be identified before construction., • Produce accurate and detailed material lists within required timelines., • Create, review, and upload comprehensive material lists in JobTread, tagging them appropriately as “Material List.”, • Request, review, and reconcile supplier estimates against project budgets., • Verify quantities, selections, materials, and specifications before production., • Escalate catalog, pricing, supplier, quantity, or underbid discrepancies immediately., • Identify missing or incorrect quantities before construction begins., • Confirm all materials, supplier estimates, permits, and supporting documentation are approved prior to production., • Review contracts, drawings, and project documentation for accuracy as they relate to design, scope, selections, and materials., • Document assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and material selections clearly., • Help ensure all required work, materials, site conditions, and project requirements are included before handoff to production., • Identify pricing, estimating, or scope issues that could impact project margin., • Support the team in preventing margin erosion caused by estimating, pricing, quantity, scope, or documentation errors., • Maintain JobTread as the system of record for material lists, supplier estimates, approvals, project documentation, photos, and related communication., • Experience using JobTread, Monday.com, or other construction/project management software., • Familiarity with local building codes, permitting requirements, inspections, and manufacturer installation standards., • Experience creating or reconciling supplier estimates and detailed material lists for deck or outdoor living projects., • Ability to collaborate with Sales Designers, Project Managers, Superintendents, draftsmen, suppliers, and trade partners., • Strong understanding of outdoor living materials, deck components, framing concepts, finishes, selections, and supplier estimating., • Familiarity with building codes, permits, manufacturer requirements, and construction documentation., • Ability to manage multiple project estimates, material lists, and documentation deadlines at the same time. At Smoky Mountain Deck Builders, we redefine outdoor living. As a fast-paced and goal-oriented company, we do not just build decks; we create breathtaking outdoor spaces that exceed clients’ expectations. Our work has been featured on national television, and our strong reputation is reflected through social media, search engine rankings, and client satisfaction. We take pride in our craftsmanship, communication, and the quality of our projects. We are looking for trade partners who share those same standards and can help us deliver exceptional outdoor living spaces throughout East Tennessee.