Director of Preconstruction

Director Of Preconstruction

The Director of Preconstruction leads all design-assist, and early-stage project development activities for the company's large project and mission-critical portfolio. This role is a senior preconstruction leader who drives MMC's win strategy, owns the estimate-to-contract handoff, and builds the organizational capability (people, tools, and process). This position enables the company to compete and win in complex mechanical scopes including healthcare, industrial, large commercial construction, and hyperscale data centers.

The Director partners closely with Estimating, Operations, BIM/VDC, Procurement, and executive leadership to ensure that preconstruction deliverables are accurate, competitive, and position the project team for a profitable, buildable outcome.

Estimating & Bid Leadership

• Direct bid and proposal activity for many large, complex, and design-assist mechanical scopes from initial RFP through GMP or lump-sum award.
• Establish and enforce estimating standards: labor productivity benchmarks, material pricing strategy, escalation assumptions, and scope coverage checklists.
• Coordinate directly with Chief Estimator, to assign and review work product of estimating staff on concurrent bids.
• Own the proposal evaluation process, ensuring resource commitment aligns with win probability and strategic fit.

Design-Assist & Preconstruction Services

• Manage design-assist and design-build engagements from owner/GC relationship through construction documents, including scope coordination with MEP engineers, VDC teams, and trade partners.
• Lead or supervise the development of design-assist proposals, budgets, and value engineering recommendations that advance project design while protecting company margin.
• Coordinate with the BIM/VDC team to ensure constructability, prefabrication strategy, and system-level design decisions are incorporated into preconstruction deliverables.
• Develop and present owner and GC-facing technical proposals, including project approach narratives, schedule assumptions, qualifications, and staffing plans.

Commercial & Contract Strategy

• Review and provide input on subcontract terms, scope of work, and commercial structures during preconstruction; identify exposure items and recommend protective language before execution.
• Collaborate with operations leadership on project kickoff, ensuring estimate assumptions and scope inclusions/exclusions are clearly communicated to the project team.
• Develop and maintain standard qualifications, clarifications, and exclusion language for proposals across project types and delivery methods (lump sum, GMP, T&M, unit price).

Client & Market Development

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with general contractors, owners, developers, and design teams in the company's target markets, with an emphasis on mission-critical, hyperscale, and large commercial segments.
• Represent the company at industry events, client meetings, and pre-bid interviews; serve as a senior technical voice during owner presentations and GC selection processes.
• Maintain awareness of market pipeline, competitor positioning, labor market trends, and material cost drivers to inform pricing strategy and business development planning.
• Provide leadership input on target accounts, pursuit prioritization, and strategic partnership opportunities.

Team Leadership & Development

• Establish performance expectations, conduct regular reviews, and actively develop staff through mentorship, training, and stretch assignments.
• Partner with HR and executive leadership on recruiting, headcount planning, and compensation benchmarking for the preconstruction function.
• Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement across all preconstruction activities.

Requirements

• 7-10+ years of experience in mechanical contracting, with at least 5 years in a senior estimating or preconstruction leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience estimating large, complex mechanical scopes ($20M+) including HVAC, plumbing, process piping, and/or hydronic/chilled water systems.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems design and construction methods applicable to data centers, healthcare, or large commercial facilities.
• Proficiency with industry estimating tools and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proven ability to lead and manage client-facing presentations and GC/owner relationships at a senior level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce and review proposal documents, contract qualifications, and executive-level presentations.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License, a significant plus.
• Familiarity with BIM/VDC coordination workflows and prefabrication strategies in the context of estimating and design-assist.
• Knowledge of MCAA labor standards, and prevailing wage applications.
• Experience with design-assist and design-build delivery, including owner and GC contract structures (GMP, CMAR, IPD).
• Background with multi-site or multi-OpCo contracting organizations; experience working across shared-services or Centers of Excellence models.

Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based with regular travel to project sites, client offices, and industry events. Site visits may involve exposure to standard construction environments including noise, temperature extremes, and physical terrain.

Company Overview

For more than 60 years, Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (MMC) has been designing, building and maintaining complex mechanical systems for some of the most well-known buildings in the Midwest. We are a fully-integrated large commercial mechanical contractor. We employ some of the industry's best talent of engineers, tradesmen, project managers, and customer support. With over 1,400 years of combined experience, you'd be hard pressed to find a contractor who knows more about mechanical systems than we do.

MMC has been involved in the design and construction of some of the most prominent structures in the Midwest including, but not limited to: Walker Art Center, Target Field, Target Center, Xcel Energy Center, Mall of America, Radisson Blu Mall of America, Guthrie Theater, University of Minnesota (Multiple Buildings), Accenture Tower, LaSalle Plaza, and Wells Fargo Center.

Specialties

Temperature Controls, Plumbing, Pipefitting, Sheet Metal, Ventilation, Data Center Operations and Repairs, Mechanical Engineers, Mechanical Contracting, Mechanical Construction, Mechanical Engineering, Specialty Subcontractor, HVAC.

Why Work At MMC?

We Work As a Team. MMC fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. We operate as a team to design, build and maintain complex mechanical systems for some of the most well-known buildings in the Midwest.

Benefits

• Estimated Salary range of $140,000 to $170,000 (depending on experience) plus Incentive.
• 401(K) match
• Competitive salary and PTO package.
• Eligible for ESPP(Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• Profit Sharing
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Incentives for environmentally-friendly behavior
• Educational Opportunities

Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors is a division of APi Group, Inc., an energetic organization providing leadership to a diverse family of companies dedicated to delivering innovative solutions to the construction industry.

APi Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.