What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Preconstruction manager position at Appleton Finn?
Senior Preconstruction Manager – Healthcare, Life Sciences & Advanced Medical Facilities
Confidential Opportunity | Nashville, Tennessee
Lead Preconstruction for Some of the Most Complex Healthcare Projects in the Country
A nationally respected and highly regarded general contractor with a premier reputation in healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical, and complex commercial construction is seeking a Senior Preconstruction Manager to join its growing Nashville team.
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced preconstruction professional who thrives on delivering large-scale, ground-up healthcare and advanced medical projects. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping project strategy, leading clients through the preconstruction process, and driving successful outcomes from concept through construction start.
With a strong pipeline of major healthcare developments, medical campuses, research facilities, and pharmaceutical projects across the Southeast and nationally, the company continues to invest heavily in its healthcare platform and leadership team.
The Opportunity
As a Senior Preconstruction Manager, you will serve as a trusted advisor to owners, architects, engineers, and internal stakeholders throughout the planning and design phases of complex projects.
You will lead budgeting, estimating, value analysis, procurement strategy, and constructability planning efforts while working closely with executive leadership, operations teams, and key healthcare clients.
This position is heavily focused on:
- Ground-up hospitals
- Medical campuses
- Specialty healthcare facilities
- Academic medical centers
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities
- Life sciences and research facilities
- Ambulatory care and outpatient facilities
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all preconstruction and estimating efforts for large-scale healthcare, medical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences projects.
- Develop conceptual, schematic, design development, and GMP estimates.
- Partner with clients and design teams to establish project budgets and cost-control strategies.
- Provide constructability reviews and identify opportunities to improve project efficiency.
- Develop procurement and trade packaging strategies for complex projects.
- Conduct cost analyses, value engineering exercises, and scope evaluations throughout design.
- Manage subcontractor engagement and ensure strong market coverage during procurement.
- Evaluate subcontractor proposals and perform detailed leveling and scope reviews.
- Present estimates, budgets, and recommendations to owners and executive stakeholders.
- Support business development pursuits, interviews, and competitive proposals.
- Lead successful handoffs from preconstruction to operations teams.
- Mentor and support junior estimators and preconstruction staff.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will possess significant experience leading preconstruction efforts for complex healthcare or advanced facility projects and will be recognized as a collaborative leader who can build trust with clients and project teams alike.
Preferred experience includes:
- Ground-up acute care hospitals
- Large healthcare expansions
- Academic medical centers
- Specialty healthcare facilities
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing projects
- Life sciences and biotechnology facilities
- Large-scale institutional construction
Qualifications
- 10 years of construction estimating and preconstruction experience.
- Extensive experience with healthcare construction projects.
- Experience leading preconstruction efforts for projects valued at $50M .
- Strong understanding of conceptual estimating, cost planning, GMP development, and value engineering.
- Proven ability to work directly with owners, architects, engineers, and executive leadership.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
- Experience mentoring and developing preconstruction personnel.
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred.
Why This Opportunity?
- Join one of the nation's most respected healthcare builders.
- Work on some of the largest and most complex healthcare and life sciences projects in the region.
- Strong project backlog with long-term growth opportunities.
- Collaborative leadership team and outstanding company culture.
- Significant investment in healthcare and advanced facilities growth.
- Competitive compensation package, annual bonus, and comprehensive benefits.
Location Nashville, Tennessee
Local Tennessee candidates are strongly preferred; however, relocation assistance is available for exceptional candidates seeking to join a best-in-class organization and build a long-term career in one of the country's fastest-growing healthcare construction markets.
For confidential consideration, please apply directly or contact us via LinkedIn.