Mechanical Preconstruction Manager (Chicago)

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $8.1 billion in revenue for 2025, Clayco specializes in the art and science of building, providing fast track, efficient solutions for mission critical, industrial, life sciences, power & energy, aviation, commercial, institutional, residential and sports & entertainment related building projects.

The Role We Want You For

The Mechanical Preconstruction Manager will participate in all aspects of the preconstruction process for mechanical systems to develop accurate, detailed cost estimates, often based on conceptual or schematic designs with a focus on heavy/ advanced manufacturing, industrial and mission critical projects. This role is expected to interact with engineers, architects, consultants, owner’s representatives, subcontractors, suppliers, a multi-discipline estimating team, senior management, project supervision, and field personnel.

The Specifics of the Role

• Responsible for the collection and distribution of bid documentation relative to RFPs, and solicitation for bid requests using online platform (Autodesk Building Connected).
• Assist in gathering information to complete Bid Qualification and Criteria requirements.
• Attend pre-bid meetings to become familiar with unique project requirements and analyze existing site conditions to determine required scope that is not already indicated.
• Review and interpret project documents to determine job-specific material, equipment, and labor requirements for scope development.
• Prepare written scopes of work for subcontracts and suppliers and coordinate mechanical scopes with the work of other trades (e.g., civil, structural, architectural, electrical, etc.).
• Participate in pre-proposal design coordination meetings to support the development of pricing documents for conceptual estimates.
• Perform constructability analysis of project documents. Communicate design and constructability issues to the project team, while identifying risk elements and appropriate mitigation measures.
• Provide viable design alternatives and value engineering propositions with analysis supporting benefits to initial and life cycle cost, schedule, maintenance, etc.
• Perform quantity survey of mechanical systems and components using digitized software, and apply industry standard labor rates (e.g., MCAA, PHCC, etc.) to develop accurate cost estimates.
• Evaluate vendor and subcontractor for conformance with proposal requirements; level scopes and identify low cost/ best value responses while capturing assumptions, rationale, inclusions, exclusions, etc.
• Prepare estimates used for bidding and budgeting purposes (including self-performed work); participate in internal estimate review process and assist with final recap of estimate for presentation to senior management.
• Support project management tasks, including budgeting, schedule development, interim design review, change order pricing, procurement, value engineering, and vendor selection based on proposal development.
• Coordinate with project teams to evaluate productivity for historical data and schedule/ cost forecasting purposes.
• Maintain and improve supplier and subcontractor database utilizing the company’s prequalification program.
• Supervise junior estimators, estimating assistants and/or Interns, providing training and support in a mentoring capacity and review work products for quality control.
• Assist in the organization and maintenance of estimating software material cost databases to ensure accurate costs are consistently utilized on bids; communicate data on construction and material cost trends affecting project costs to project teams.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in departmental processes, approach, and execution of estimating and preconstruction functions; assist in creating or adopting new tools to maximize productivity with the lowest attendant value of acceptable risk.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or other Engineering discipline, Construction Management, or related field, or a combination of education (including trade schools) and professional experience.
• 5-10 years of experience in preconstruction/estimating with a focus on mechanical systems (i.e., Fire Protection, HVAC, Plumbing, Piping).
• Exhibits inclusive leadership and teamwork behavior, and values diverse perspectives from team members.
• Demonstrated experience in the successful management of bidding process for conceptual estimates with a preferred emphasis on heavy/ advanced manufacturing, industrial and mission critical markets.
• Working knowledge of codes and standards applicable to the design and installation of mechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of construction contract language and terms in addition to various contractual delivery methods (e.g., negotiated, hard bid, design assist, GMP, etc.)
• Possesses strong technical writing, math and computer skills with proficiency using standard office software applications such as Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint to support estimating efforts.
• Proficiency using estimating software with a preference for Trimble products.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – Travel will be required.
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Top 400 – Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The Clayco Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $90,000 - $130,000 +/- annually (not adjusted for location).