Preconstruction Director

The Weitz Company is looking for an experienced Preconstruction Director to join our team in Des Moines, Iowa.


The Preconstruction Director is responsible for ensuring outstanding customer service is delivered through our preconstruction services on all of our projects. They provide leadership and direction to the entire preconstruction department by providing oversight on all preconstruction efforts on all projects and providing strategic direction for the future. They are charged with making assignments and developing staff to meet the needs of the business. They also work closely and coordinate with Business Development in procuring work. The Preconstruction Director is responsible for meeting all preconstruction needs of the General Manager for the Business Unit that they are assigned to. The Preconstruction Director reports to the Vice President of Preconstruction and Estimating.

The Weitz Company has been Building a Better Way since 1855. We are a full-service construction company, general contractor, design-builder, and construction manager with office locations throughout the United States. We believe our employees to be our most valuable asset, and we are committed to growing a diverse and inclusive culture that inspires, motivates, and continuously improves.

What You'll Do:

Safety

• Meet with operations staff to identify safety concerns.
• Communicate safety requirements to potential subcontractors.
• When estimating, continually ask, "How are we going to do this safely?"
• Verify there is adequate budget for required safety equipment.
• Verify subcontractors are able to meet prequalification requirements before using their number.

Business Development

• Respects the efforts required to develop, nurture, and maintain relationships.
• Support Business Development in the RFP process by developing schedules, GCs, scope of work, etc.
• Assist with interview preparation.
• Provide superior service to each owner so as to cultivate positive relationships and repeat business.
• Provide superior service to the design team in order to retain a recommendation for future projects.
• Develop and present sales materials on our preconstruction services in a competent manner.
• Experienced in formal sales presentations, having taken the lead in the closing of successful projects.
• Consistently supports Business Development personnel with information necessary to positively influence and strengthen the relationship with potential new clients.
• Develops captured data from projects that can be used to prove the value of preconstruction services and continually reinforces the value of our preconstruction services to our clients.
• Ensure all staff confidently presents information to others both internally and externally.

Customer Service/Customer Satisfaction

• Conduct all business in alignment with the company's core values.
• Manage the preconstruction process efficiently with a keen awareness and understanding of the needs of the clients as well as the goals of the company and the timely completion of the preconstruction process.
• Provide credible cost comparisons on different building systems.
• Understand local market logistics, subcontractor/supplier market, and how each impacts total work volume and project costs.
• Coordinate the participation of all required staff (accounting, legal, marketing, operations, estimating, field operations, etc.) in order to assure timely and accurate contribution to the process.
• Understand BIM, LEED, LEAN and how they can be used to service the customers.
• Has established Key Account relationships through superior customer service and the project results.
• Attends occasional owners meetings on projects assigned to other Preconstruction Managers to ensure consistency of customer service.

Preconstruction Management:

• Provide the most professional and appropriate estimating and documentation techniques relative to the owner's needs, team's expectations, acceptable risk, and time constraints throughout the preconstruction period.
• Document and communicate with the team, the progress during the preconstruction phase, especially at the formal conclusion of schematic, design development, and construction document phases.
• Monitor design documents for compliance with scope and value analysis incorporation.
• Analyze, assist, and provide suggestions for appropriate contract language that protects the company.
• Exhibit a professional understanding of cost, market impacts, governing authority, constructability, scheduling, design, and value.
• Review and provide reliable and timely feedback on all estimates, schedules, and other necessary documents throughout the design phase of assigned projects.
• Demonstrate consistent and creative evaluation of plans and specifications for best value and compliance with the project goals.
• Identify and assist with the development of strategies and correspondence required for successful fast-tracking opportunities.
• Comfortably speak with authority on a variety of building systems.
• Take the lead role in preconstruction team meetings when appropriate and demonstrate the value of incorporated communications and information-sharing throughout the process.
• Accept responsibility for accuracy of all estimating, scheduling, strategies, and communications documents throughout the preconstruction period, whether prepared individually or by the support staff.
• Demonstrate the ability to competently perform multiple assignments with subordinates without sacrificing the integrity of our service.
• Stay abreast of new technology, techniques, concepts, regulations, and materials in order to assure best value to the project and team and share them with department and staff.
• Capable of successfully managing preconstruction on larger and more complex projects.
• Ensure contracts are negotiated successfully.
• Capable of managing the most difficult and sophisticated architects and clients.
• Ensure consistency of products delivered to clients.
• Invests and/or aligns preconstruction products to meet the varying needs of the clients.
• Ensure Weitz preconstruction products are the recognized as best in the marketplace.

Estimating:

• Perform conceptual estimates and actively participate in the development and evaluation of owners' feasibility studies as requested or required.
• Provide the most professional and appropriate estimating and documentation techniques relative to the owner's needs, team's expectations, acceptable risk, and time constraints throughout the preconstruction period.
• Review all estimates for accuracy, appropriate level of detail, and high standard of expectations.
• Retain a thorough understanding of the project estimate and how it was developed.
• Ensure that preconstruction communication (estimates, schedules, narratives, etc.) reflect the agreed upon logistics plan and applicable company procedures.
• Ensure that adequate and appropriate subcontractor and supplier solicitation and utilization is pursued on assigned projects.
• When assigned to manage the estimating services, the Director shall also fulfill the role of "Chief Estimator" as it applies to his role. See role profile for a complete list of duties.

Scheduling

• Prepare a detailed schedule identifying the preconstruction tasks and activities.
• Review weekly preconstruction progress to ensure the progress is maintained on schedule. Initiate change to keep project on schedule. Advise Project Executive of issues that pose a potential cost or schedule impact, including issues with subs, designers, or owners.
• Prepare the initial project construction schedule (Preconstruction Project Schedule) with or without assistance from the director or assigned operations staff. Understand this schedule and provide information to the owner, designer, or project team of impacts based on decisions made during preconstruction.
• Meet with assigned Operations staff to create buy-in of the schedule approach and modify as necessary to meet the overall objectives of the project.
• Schedules preconstruction and estimating (when assigned) staff to balance skills and work loads.
• Ensures all preconstruction schedules are complete and realistic.

Preconstruction Operations Interface

• Solicit input from Director of Preconstruction or Operations staff on budget, schedule, and constructability during all phases of the preconstruction process.
• Manage the process of transitioning a project to operations so there is a seamless flow from preconstruction staff to operations staff.
• Coordinate with Operations capturing the project for historization upon its completion.
• Assist the construction team in developing an adequate project plan inclusive of the information and expertise gathered during the design period.
• Attends regularly scheduled Operations meetings.
• Takes part in monthly reporting meetings with CM and assigned PM quarterly.
• Ensures preconstruction managers transfer relationships and information effectively to operations.
• Ensures schedule history of completed operations is captured for future use.

Risk Management

• Understands risks associated within the industry (sub defaults, schedule delays, general liability exposure, builders risk, staffing, jobsite safety requirements, and project financing).
• Prepare a risk mitigation plan, as necessary.
• Understand the construction contract, including the general conditions, to ensure the project risks are accounted for in the estimates and scope of work.
• Advise and make recommendations to the project team on potential problems, including issues with subcontractors, designers, and owners.
• Identify, minimize, or eliminate high-risk scope items.
• Obtain quotations from other departments for specialty items such as payroll taxes, city tax, liability insurance, builders risk, permits, and performance bond premiums.
• Ensures prequalification process of subcontractors and vendors is utilized for all projects.
• Communicates the contractual preconstruction services requirements to the assigned staff.

Staff Development and Human Resource Management

• Takes advantage of all pertinent training opportunities and takes responsibility of their own self development.
• Provides feedback on staff performance to subordinates and to supervisor.
• Mentors less experienced staff and works with subordinates on development plans.
• Assists in recruiting employees.
• Makes recommendations for job assignments and promotions.
• Makes recommendations regarding staff development needs.
• Makes recommendations regarding staff disciplinary actions, if warranted.
• Completes performance appraisals for assigned staff.
• Ensures all personnel have development plans in place.
• Outlines departmental succession plans to executive management.
• Makes appropriate staffing decisions and assignments based on current and foreseeable workload.
• Attracts and retains the best possible staff in the department.
• Understands and discusses role profiles with direct reports.

What We're Looking For:

• Education:
  • High school diploma is required.
  • An industry-related collect degree is preferred.
• Experience:
  • Ten years of extensive estimating and/or project management construction experience is required.
  • Experience in a fast-paced business environment is helpful.
  • Proven history of leading, teaching, developing, and mentoring others successfully is required.
• Skills:
  • Business acumen, judgment, communication, solid leadership, client relations, negotiation, project management, solid construction knowledge, estimating skills, presentation skills, decision-making, conflict resolution, tact, adaptable, analytical, coach, and entrepreneurial are necessary.
  • Solid systems experience with On-Screen takeoff, WinEst, SureTrak, Prolog, BIM, and JDE is preferred for this role.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Pay
• Rewarding Bonus Program
• Comprehensive Benefits Package with Tax-Advantaged HSA and FSA offerings
• Employer-Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability Programs
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off Provisions
• 401K Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Fully Paid Parental Leave
• Voluntary Products Including: Critical Illness Insurance and Accident Insurance
• Corporate Wellness Program with Wellness Time Off and Rewards

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.


The Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of the Company without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of the Company. Please, no phone calls or emails.

The Weitz Company, LLC (and its U.S.-based subsidiaries and affiliates) recognizes the value of and is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and follow applicable affirmative action guidelines and policies. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment (including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected categories in accordance with applicable state and federal laws). The Company is a drug and alcohol-free workplace and background checks are required if applicable. Click here to review our Privacy Notice.


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