Senior Preconstruction Manager - Mission Critical

Celebrated as one of  Minnesota's Top Workplaces!Knutson Construction is accepting applications for a Senior Preconstruction   Manage- Mission Critical  to join our team!

“Together We Make Dreams Real” – that is our purpose as a company and we exist to work in concert with each other, owners, design professionals and trade partners to make the journey as stress-free as possible. Together, we've created a dynamic, fun, inspiring environment where we can be ourselves and grow each day. Knutson is deeply committed to cultivating and upholding diversity throughout our workforce, relationships, and communities. We recognize the utmost importance of continually advancing our comprehension of diversity, equity, and inclusion as transformative forces within our work, industry, and company values.

At Knutson, opportunities to shine happen daily. We value what makes you different and empower you to act on your ideas. 

The Senior Preconstruction Manager provides leadership in estimating, procurement planning, design management, value optimization, and client engagement while supporting the growth of Knutson's Mission Critical market sector.


The key job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Leadership & People Development:

• Model and lead in alignment with Knutson's core values:
  • Care with Action
  • Lead with Courage
  • Build a Team Environment
• Lead internal team of estimating support staff to build conceptual estimates, GMP's, and other large Mission Critical estimating efforts.
• Provides coaching and training to Estimators to enhance their skills and promote the preconstruction process.
• Works with the Director of Preconstruction to coordinate the workload and work efforts of Preconstruction team. 
• Keeps executives informed of key issues/opportunities that impact Mission Critical project success.
• Provides training and development opportunities for lower-level staff while continuously enhancing personal skills and abilities to help retain a motivated, professional workforce at Knutson Construction.
• Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures with Director of Preconstruction.

Preconstruction & Project Delivery:

• Works with all stakeholders to successfully manage the preconstruction process and helps prepare Mission Critical projects for the start of construction.
• Completes and reviews conceptual/program estimates from RFP responses and conceptual documents.
• Develops accurate cost estimates and GMP's including the equipment, general conditions, materials, labor, and subcontractor backup using applicable software while ensuring estimates are coordinated with project managers' front-end specifications, scopes of work, schedules, phasing, and logistics plans.
• Provides real-time feedback on budgets and programs to all stakeholders.
• Oversees the documentation that should be included for presentations.
• Manages real-time budgeting process throughout the design phase.
• Develops accurate project schedules with senior-level operations and preconstruction staff on hard bid projects.
• Reviews project schedules completed by operations on negotiated projects.
• Manages bid takers, analyzes bids, leads decision process, and enters the correct subcontractor bid.
• Manages project costs throughout preconstruction, contract pricing, and buy-out phases, and provides support to the operations team during construction.\
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to enhance projects.
• Complete and/or review first pass at General Conditions and Fee Calculator on CMR, CMA, Best Value, and Design Build projects.

• Reviews all Front-End Specifications and Scopes of Work completed by operations staff.

Client, Market & Business Development:

• Collaborates with Operations and Business Development to pursue and secure profitable work for Knutson Construction, including participating in project pursuit interviews.
• Positions self as a critical point person throughout the preconstruction phase as a creative problem solver that is an ally to the owner and design team, but still willing to challenge the overall team to provide the highest value to clients.
• Positions Knutson Construction for future negotiated opportunities by leveraging networking, past project success, and community involvement to promote Knutson Construction.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with stakeholders to promote profitable project wins and position Knutson Construction for future opportunities.
• Leverages subcontractor relationships, identifies scopes of work, and The Knutson Experience to win profitable work. Research and build relationships with new subcontractors and vendors.
• Develops and executes plans to continuously improve subcontractor relationships.
• Helps with preconstruction content writing on RFP responses.

Strategic Operations, Risk & Innovation:

• Works closely with Operations and Marketing to develop “Risks” and “Project Approach Plans” for Mission Critical pursuits.
• Oversees risk management as it relates to project costs, subcontractor selection, construction methods, and legal reviews of contracts on both hard bid and negotiated projects.
• Understands this position is required to work in a fast-paced environment, completing multiple projects at the same time.
• Works with Operations and Mission Critical Director to conduct postmortem reviews on projects to determine reasons for profitability or reasons for financial losses and incorporates lessons learned in future bids.
• Updates and maintains the database to track self-perform and overall project historic data.
• Promotes self-perform and its benefits to the project, collaborating with the Director of Preconstruction and Operations to identify and pursue self-perform opportunities beyond negotiated work.
• Updates and maintains estimating/preconstruction software and templates.
• Works closely with senior-level staff to promote and leverage the use of technology to meet Knutson's preconstruction needs.
• Participation and completion in scheduled and as-needed safety training, as determined by the company, and promote Knutson's Zero Incident safety culture.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Strong management skills in leading our teams through the preconstruction process.
• Strong understanding of the importance of coaching, training, and employee development within Knutson, with the ability to effectively lead and support these efforts among direct reports.
• Advanced knowledge of construction means and methods, building types, estimating, scheduling, cost control and material pricing.
• Thorough understanding of design-build and integrated project delivery (IPD) processes, including value-based design and budget control throughout the planning and design phases.
• Strong planning, problem solving, and troubleshooting skills in a cross functional environment.
• Individual must be collaborative and positive.
• Highly organized with excellent multi-tasking and prioritization skills.
• Ability to travel to various construction sites; ability to physically review project sites which may involve use of stairways and mobilizing around the existing landscape.
• Ability to sit for extended periods working on a computer and reviewing plans/specifications, as well as lift bid documents weighing up to fifty pounds as needed.

Minimum Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or a related field and a minimum of 10+ years of preconstruction / construction experience or Associate's Degree in a construction related field and 15+ years of preconstruction / construction experience.

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• Mission Critical Data Center project experience.

Additional Benefits & Perks:

• Competitive Pay
• Performance Based Career Advancement
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off
• Life and Long-Term Disability Benefit with no premium cost to employee
• Mentorship Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Flex Fridays
• 401k w/Company Match
• Annual Discretionary Bonus Program
• Successful Annual Discretionary Profit-Sharing Program
• Paid Parental Leave

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Projected Minimum Base Salary per year $150,000

Projected Maximum Base Salary per year $225,000

Knutson Construction does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of their race, color, national origin, religion, creed, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, or status with regard to public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.