Preconstruction Specialist

The Pre-Construction Specialist is responsible for transforming project concepts, drawings, specifications, and owner requirements into comprehensive scopes of work that support accurate estimating, subcontractor procurement, project planning, and successful project execution. This role serves as a critical link between design, estimating, and operations by ensuring all project requirements are clearly defined, documented, and communicated before construction begins. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of commercial construction, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to identify scope gaps, risks, and constructability concerns early in the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Review architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings, specifications, and project requirements.
• Develop detailed scopes of work for all trade packages and construction disciplines.
• Break project requirements into bid-ready scope packages for subcontractor pricing and procurement.
• Define inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, and clarifications for each trade package.
• Ensure project documentation is complete, organized, and aligned across all project stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain standardized scope templates and procurement packages.

Design & Pre-Construction Coordination

• Work closely with architects, engineers, owners, and consultants to clarify design intent and project requirements.
• Identify scope gaps, inconsistencies, and coordination issues within design documents.
• Provide constructability feedback during design development.
• Participate in design review meetings and pre-construction planning sessions.
• Assist the estimating team in understanding project scope and identifying risk area
• Evaluate alternative materials, systems, and construction approaches with the Estimator to understand constructability, schedule, and cost impacts.

Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Identify potential scope gaps, budget risks, and coordination conflicts before project turnover.
• Document scope changes and revisions throughout design development.
• Support value engineering efforts by evaluating alternative solutions.
• Maintain quality control over all scope and procurement documents.
• Jointly lead project turnover to operations by ensuring scope alignment between pre-construction and construction teams.

Process Improvement

• Continuously improve scope development standards, templates, and best practices.
• Maintain historical scope libraries and project databases.
• Support implementation of pre-construction workflows and technology platforms.
• Contribute to department process improvement initiatives.

Theming Modeling & Visualization

• Develop and coordinate 3D models for themed-environment projects to translate owner concepts and design intent into usable project information.
• Work with clients, Arete/design resources, specialty designers, Estimators, and Operations to coordinate model development and revisions.
• Use models to support visualization, scope definition, constructability review, estimating, and construction planning.
• Incorporate available existing-condition scans and field information into themed-project modeling when appropriate.
• Support the future development of OCI's broader company-wide VDC approach as that strategy is established with the architectural and construction teams.

Project Turnover & Client Closeout

• Jointly lead internal project turnover with the Lead Estimator, owning the scope, design, constructability, and technical portions of the turnover package.
• Ensure current drawings, specifications, scope narratives, design decisions, site documentation, models, procurement requirements, risks, and open items are organized for the Project Manager and Superintendent.
• At project completion, lead development of the client turnover package with support from the Pre-Construction Coordinator, combining relevant preconstruction information with final drawings, submittals, RFIs, warranties, O&M information, and other construction closeout records.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent commercial construction experience may be substituted for formal education.

Experience

• 3-7+ years of experience in commercial construction, estimating, pre-construction, project management, architecture, or design coordination.
• Experience reviewing construction documents and specifications.
• Experience working with subcontractors and multiple construction trades.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off