Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist - 65213806223

Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist Employment Type: Full-Time Work Arrangement: 100% Remote Target Sourcing Locations: South Africa & Philippines Working Hours: Full-Time (EST) schedule preferred (Minimum 6 hours daily overlap required during U.S. EST business hours) Target Compensation Range: $1,000 – $1,500 USD / month (Up to $2,000/month max for exceptional candidate fit) About the Company Our client is a well-established, highly regarded signage franchise. Having served commercial businesses, property managers, institutions, and real estate developers for over 12 years, the company combines an agile local shop presence with the backing of a premier national brand network. Operating on a hybrid production model—50% in-house light manufacturing and 50% project-managed through strategic wholesale fabrication partners—the center delivers a broad spectrum of visual solutions, including dimensional lettering, custom illuminated channel letters, architectural graphics, digital print products, and complex exterior sign packages. To support rapid sales growth, manage high volumes of inbound web leads, and maintain fast turnaround times for custom quotes, the company is seeking an experienced, tech-savvy Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist. Role Overview As a Signage Estimator & Vendor Sourcing Specialist, you will serve as the operational backbone for the inside and outside sales team. In this role, you will take full ownership of processing inbound project leads, interpreting job specifications, building detailed estimates in CoreBridge, sourcing third-party wholesale fabricators, and driving projects smoothly from estimate approval through customer proofing and production release. You will leverage modern AI tools (specifically Gemini) alongside internal corporate vendor portals to rapidly research, scrape, qualify, and negotiate quotes with specialized wholesale sign manufacturers across North America. Key Responsibilities Technical Estimating & CoreBridge Management * Generate Estimates: Produce accurate, competitive, and timely cost estimates for complex custom interior and exterior signage projects using CoreBridge software. * Interpret Project Specs: Analyze architectural drawings, artwork proofs, site survey notes, and customer requests to determine optimal fabrication techniques and material choices. * Material & Labor Calculations: Calculate exact material yields (substrates, vinyls, laminates, LEDs), print machine running times, fabrication labor hours, finishing processes, and mounting hardware requirements. * Maintain Pricing Databases: Keep estimating templates, unit rates, and raw material price sheets up to date inside CoreBridge. Outsourced Vendor Sourcing & AI Problem-Solving * Wholesale Vendor Management: Identify, contact, and negotiate competitive pricing and turnaround times with third-party wholesale sign fabricators for outsourced jobs (~50% of total production volume). * AI-Assisted Sourcing: Utilize custom Gemini AI prompts/agents and web research techniques to scrape corporate vendor portals, evaluate specialized manufacturer capabilities, and find optimal production partners in minutes. * Quote Evaluation: Review third-party wholesale quotes against project specifications, quality standards, delivery schedules, and target gross margin goals before finalizing customer pricing. * Vendor Order Tracking: Maintain direct contact with wholesale suppliers to monitor production progress, proof releases, and delivery timetables. Project Coordination & Handoffs * Lifecycle Management: Manage jobs through the full sales-to-production pipeline: Initial Inquiry → CoreBridge Estimate → Customer Proofing → Wholesale Vendor Sourcing → Production Handoff. * Proof Verification: Review digital customer proofs for dimension callouts, material callouts, and installation details prior to sending them for client approval. * Stakeholder Communication: Maintain professional, clear written and verbal communication with internal sales reps, in-house production teams, external vendors, and commercial clients regarding project updates or spec clarifications. Required Qualifications * Sign Industry Experience: 2–5 years of professional experience in sign shop estimation, pre-production coordination, print operations, or sign project management. * Deep Construction Knowledge: Strong technical knowledge of custom sign building methods, including substrates (acrylic, ACM, PVC, HDU), digital printing, laminates, vinyl applications, illuminated/non-illuminated channel letters, dimensional graphics, and installation hardware. * Estimating Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience using CoreBridge (or equivalent sign management software such as ShopVox, Cyrious/Control, or SignWorks). * AI Tooling & Sourcing Skills: Practical experience using Gemini or ChatGPT for data scraping, technical research, and rapid vendor selection. * Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal English communication skills for effective vendor negotiations and professional customer updates via email, phone, or chat. * Workspace Setup: Dedicated quiet workspace equipped with high-speed internet and reliable hardware capable of handling web-based software and video calls. Preferred Qualifications * Prior experience working directly with a U.S.-based custom sign shop, Fastsigns franchise, or commercial printing center. * Direct experience communicating sign specifications with general contractors, commercial property managers, and corporate accounts. * Proven track record of optimizing gross margins through strategic vendor negotiations. Technology & Tools Utilized * CoreBridge (Sign Estimating & Workflow Software) * Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Chat, Google Meet) * Gemini AI (Custom Gems, Vendor Portal Scraping & Sourcing Prompting) * Adobe Creative Cloud / PDF Markup (Acrobat, Bluebeam, or Illustrator awareness) * Wholesale Vendor Portals & Corporate Supplier Networks Why Join Us? * Stable U.S. Alignment: Work full-time with a established U.S. Fastsigns franchise owner and leadership team. * Modern Tech Stack: Leverage cutting-edge workflows incorporating CoreBridge and custom Gemini AI agents. * Long-Term Growth: Opportunity to build a stable career with an essential, growing business in the commercial signage industry.