Director of Preconstruction

Director of Preconstruction

Position Summary

The Director of Preconstruction provides leadership and strategic direction for the company’s preconstruction and estimating functions and reports directly to the Executive Vice President of Preconstruction. This position is responsible for leading preconstruction efforts from initial project pursuit through turnover to the operations team.

The Director of Preconstruction works collaboratively with clients, design professionals, subcontractors, suppliers, business development, and operations to develop accurate budgets, identify project risks and opportunities, evaluate constructability, and provide solutions that support successful project outcomes.

This position requires strong leadership and communication skills, extensive commercial construction and estimating knowledge, and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities. The Director must maintain a strong understanding of current construction costs, market conditions, estimating technology, and industry trends while ensuring preconstruction deliverables are accurate, timely, and professional.

The Director is also responsible for developing and mentoring preconstruction and estimating team members, improving department processes, and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide leadership and direction to the preconstruction team while fostering a collaborative, positive, accountable, and responsive work environment.
• Coordinate, schedule, manage, and supervise the workload of preconstruction and estimating staff.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing preconstruction and estimating professionals.
• Establish training and professional development plans to improve individual performance and strengthen the overall preconstruction process.
• Collaborate with the EVP of Preconstruction in developing departmental strategy, vision, goals, and annual business plans.
• Promote collaboration between preconstruction, operations, business development, and other company departments.

Preconstruction & Estimating

• Lead preconstruction strategy meetings and establish the overall approach for projects and estimates.
• Review estimates and schedules for negotiated projects, competitive bids, and other assigned opportunities.
• Ensure estimates, including general conditions and project-specific requirements, are accurate, complete, competitive, and reflective of the anticipated scope of work.
• Review estimates at key design milestones and evaluate unit pricing, material costs, building systems, subcontractor pricing, and overall market conditions.
• Review final estimates for accuracy, scope gaps, insufficient coverage, allowances, and non-procured items.
• Review GMP submittals and presentation packages prior to submission.
• Review variance reports to clearly identify and communicate changes to project estimates.
• Develop and maintain historical cost databases and cost-history resources to improve estimating accuracy and consistency.
• Identify and evaluate project risks and opportunities and communicate significant findings to senior management.
• Work with project teams to develop alternative solutions to budget challenges, including value engineering, life-cycle cost analysis, and alternative materials or systems.

Planning, Scheduling & Constructability

• Ensure preliminary construction schedules are developed as part of the estimating and preconstruction process.
• Develop realistic schedules for design, approvals, estimating, bidding, procurement, and other preconstruction activities.
• Understand and evaluate project logistics, phasing, site constraints, and overall construction schedules.
• Coordinate with preconstruction, operations, and design teams to provide constructability reviews throughout all phases of design.
• Review scopes of work and bid packages for completeness, clarity, coordination, and risk.
• Ensure bidding documents contain clear budget and bidding clarifications along with appropriate supporting information.

Clients, Design Teams & Trade Partners

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, architects, engineers, consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Serve as a senior preconstruction representative during client interviews, presentations, and project pursuits.
• Participate in owner and design-team meetings throughout project development.
• Provide clients with preconstruction leadership, planning, budgeting, value analysis, constructability guidance, and other advisory services.
• Build and maintain strong subcontractor and vendor relationships to ensure competitive and reliable market participation.
• Review bidder lists and ensure new subcontractors and suppliers have been appropriately prequalified.

Business Development & Strategy

• Partner with Business Development and company leadership on RFPs, RFQs, interviews, and project pursuits.
• Provide preconstruction expertise and strategy during the pursuit and proposal process.
• Participate in business meetings, industry events, conferences, and professional organizations to strengthen relationships and support company growth.
• Assist leadership in evaluating potential projects and determining appropriate preconstruction strategies.

Financial & Department Management

• Allocate and track preconstruction fees and resources with the goal of maximizing department efficiency and minimizing unnecessary overhead.
• Monitor department workload and allocate resources appropriately across active projects and pursuits.
• Maintain historical project and estimating information to improve the consistency, effectiveness, and efficiency of preconstruction services.

Minimum Education, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of commercial construction experience with significant experience in estimating and/or preconstruction.
• Demonstrated experience leading commercial construction preconstruction and estimating efforts.
• Extensive knowledge of construction costs, estimating practices, building systems, and pricing across multiple commercial building markets.
• Strong understanding of conceptual estimating, detailed estimating, GMP development, value engineering, constructability, procurement, and project scheduling.
• Ability to lead client, design, budgeting, and preconstruction meetings.
• Strong leadership and team-development capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Smartsheet, On-Screen Takeoff, scheduling software, and other applicable estimating and construction-management technology.
• Field construction experience is preferred.

Company Policies & Expectations

• Support and promote the company’s safety standards and safety culture.
• Comply with and consistently enforce company policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct.
• Support the company’s mission, values, culture, and commitment to clients.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration across preconstruction, operations, business development, and other company departments.