Director of PreConstruction

Opportunity Profile

Location: Orlando, Florida

Position Title: Director of Preconstruction

The Opportunity:

A highly successful and well-established mechanical contracting organization is seeking a proven construction leader to take ownership of one of its most strategically important functions. This role presents a rare opportunity to step into a succession-focused leadership position where the successful candidate will have a direct impact on the future growth, profitability, and operational success of the business.

The Director of Preconstruction will lead the department responsible for evaluating opportunities, developing winning strategies, managing risk, and ensuring that projects enter operations with accurate budgets and clear execution plans. This individual will play a critical role in shaping how the organization pursues work, allocates resources, develops estimating talent, and positions itself in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The opportunity is particularly attractive because it combines leadership, technical expertise, and long-term career growth. The incoming leader will work closely with a highly respected industry veteran who has led the department for many years and is approaching retirement. The organization is proactively investing in a transition plan that allows the successful candidate to learn the business, understand established processes, build relationships, and ultimately assume full responsibility for a department that serves as a cornerstone of the operation.

A talented group of estimators and support personnel is already in place. The next leader is expected to elevate the team by implementing best practices, strengthening consistency, mentoring developing talent, improving departmental processes, and creating greater accountability throughout the preconstruction function. While strong estimating skills are essential, the company ultimately seeks a leader who can develop people, create structure, and drive performance.

The ideal candidate will possess deep mechanical construction knowledge, broad estimating experience, and the leadership ability to improve processes while maintaining the entrepreneurial and collaborative culture that has contributed to the organization's long-standing success.

The Company:

This organization is a full-service mechanical contractor with more than five decades of success serving customers throughout Florida. The company delivers comprehensive mechanical solutions from concept through completion, including design, installation, maintenance, retrofit, repair, and specialty project services.

Over the years, the organization has earned a reputation for technical excellence, superior craftsmanship, and long-term customer relationships. The company specializes in retrofit and special-project work rather than large-scale ground-up construction, allowing it to develop specialized expertise in complex occupied facilities and technically demanding environments.

Its diverse portfolio includes healthcare facilities, educational institutions, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, data centers, and other specialized environments. Projects range from smaller tenant improvement assignments to major multimillion-dollar mechanical installations.

The business benefits from the resources, stability, and support of a larger parent organization while maintaining the culture, flexibility, and responsiveness of a locally managed company. Employees enjoy the advantages of a larger platform without sacrificing the close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere that has become part of the company's identity.

With approximately 250 employees and operations across multiple Florida markets, the organization offers the stability of an established industry leader while maintaining an entrepreneurial environment where individuals can make meaningful contributions and have a visible impact on company performance.

The Boss:

The Director of Preconstruction will report directly to the Vice President of Central Florida Operations.

The Vice President's career exemplifies the growth opportunities available within the organization. Beginning as a service apprentice in the mid-1990s, he progressed through multiple roles that included service operations, special projects, controls, project management, and executive leadership. His broad experience has provided him with a unique understanding of both the technical and business aspects of mechanical contracting.

Throughout his career, he has worked on highly technical projects, managed specialized operations, led business units, and ultimately assumed responsibility for a major regional operation. His leadership philosophy centers on developing people, providing resources and training, and creating an environment where employees can thrive professionally.

Candidates joining the organization will have the opportunity to work alongside a leader who understands the challenges of the industry firsthand and who values mentorship, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. His commitment to proactively planning for the future of the department demonstrates a long-term investment in both the business and the people who help drive its success.

The Position:

The Director of Preconstruction will lead all preconstruction and estimating activities for the Central Florida operation. This individual will be responsible for managing departmental personnel, establishing procedures and standards, overseeing major project pursuits, and ensuring that all estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with company objectives.

The position oversees approximately five estimators and a bid coordinator across multiple markets. The role serves as the primary leadership position for the preconstruction department and is responsible for balancing day-to-day estimating oversight with long-term strategic planning and organizational development.

Success in this position will require strong mechanical construction expertise, leadership capability, commercial judgment, and a commitment to building a high-performing team that consistently delivers quality results.

Essential Functions (Other duties may be assigned):

• Lead, manage, and develop the preconstruction and estimating department.
• Direct staffing, workload planning, performance management, training, and succession planning activities.
• Establish scalable estimating processes, procedures, templates, quality controls, and review standards.
• Create departmental goals, performance metrics, reporting tools, and accountability measures.
• Oversee all phases of preconstruction and estimating activities for negotiated, conceptual, design-build, design development, and plan-and-spec projects.
• Direct quantity takeoffs, labor development, equipment pricing, subcontractor procurement, and estimate preparation efforts.
• Lead estimate reviews, bid strategy sessions, risk assessments, and executive approval meetings.
• Ensure estimates are complete, accurate, competitive, and aligned with company margin objectives.
• Evaluate project risk, contingencies, escalation factors, and commercial considerations.
• Support seamless handoff of awarded work from preconstruction to operations.
• Establish standards for change-order pricing and assist operations with major commercial issues when needed.
• Mentor and coach team members while promoting continuous improvement throughout the department.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, professionalism, and operational excellence.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive mechanical construction estimating and preconstruction experience.
• Proven experience managing estimating personnel and departmental operations.
• Strong background in mechanical contracting, including HVAC, piping, and related systems.
• Demonstrated success leading complex project pursuits and major estimates.
• Ability to develop processes, improve efficiency, and create organizational structure.
• Strong understanding of estimating principles, labor productivity, procurement, scheduling, constructability, and preconstruction practices.
• Experience assessing project risk, profitability, escalation, contingencies, and market conditions.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Field experience is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the Central Florida market is preferred.
• Experience with Trimble estimating software is highly advantageous.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field is preferred.
• Equivalent industry experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience within mechanical estimating and preconstruction.
• Previous leadership experience within an estimating department is required.
• Experience leading teams and developing estimating professionals is strongly preferred.

Work Environment:

This is an office-based leadership position located in Orlando, Florida, with responsibility for supporting multiple operations throughout Central Florida. The role requires frequent collaboration with estimators, project managers, operations personnel, executives, clients, and other key stakeholders throughout the business. The Director of Preconstruction will operate in a fast-paced environment that demands the ability to manage multiple project pursuits, competing priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations simultaneously. Occasional travel within the Central Florida market will be required. The organization offers a collaborative, team-oriented culture that emphasizes integrity, accountability, professional development, safety, continuous improvement, and long-term employee success.

Compensation:

The company offers a competitive executive-level compensation package that includes a comprehensive benefits program, retirement savings opportunities, paid time off, vehicle-related benefits, performance-based incentive opportunities, and the long-term career stability associated with a highly respected industry leader. Compensation will be commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications, experience, and overall background.