Vice President of Pre-Construction

Vice President of Pre-Construction

Brewster Companies Inc. is a family-owned and operated company that specializes in heavy civil and transportation construction. As a rapidly growing company, we are looking for employees with a strong work ethic and great personality to join our team. Brewster Companies is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer with advancement opportunities and a great work environment.

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Pre-Construction is a key executive leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of estimating, preconstruction, and project pursuit for Brewster Companies. This role provides strategic direction for business development, preconstruction, procurement, and alternative delivery methods while ensuring that bids are accurate, competitive, and aligned with company goals. The VP of Pre-Construction works closely with ownership, project management, estimating, marketing, and engineering partners to evaluate opportunities, assess risks, and drive profitable growth. This role requires a strong background in heavy civil and transportation construction, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to balance high-level strategy with hands-on estimating and preconstruction oversight.

Benefits:

• Company Paid Medical Insurance for full-time employees.
• Dental/Vision/Life Insurance available after one month.
• 401(k) with competitive company match.
• Paid Holidays available upon hire.
• Paid Vacation accruals upon hire.
• Strong Family Culture – Family-Owned Business.
• Growth Opportunities – Promotions from within.

Job Duties:

Strategic Development

• Collaborate with the CEO and Chairman to develop and execute the company's long-term strategic plan.
• Lead business development initiatives to diversify markets and grow backlog.
• Develop profit margin requirements and analyze markets for growth opportunities.
• Identify organizational strengths and weaknesses to improve market positioning.
• Drive initiatives to improve operational efficiency and ensure implementation.

Preconstruction Leadership

• Direct and manage the preconstruction team, including estimators, marketing, and support staff.
• Develop "win strategies" for competitive pursuits and alternative delivery projects.
• Select and manage engineering partners; develop and maintain key client and partner relationships.
• Oversee proposals, qualifications packages, and client presentations.
• Guide development of preliminary and progressive pricing throughout all phases of preconstruction.

Alternative Delivery Pursuits

• Lead design-build and EPC pursuits from strategy through execution.
• Evaluate risks and develop comprehensive risk registers for large pursuits.
• Build partnering and strategic alliances to strengthen competitiveness.

Hard Bid Pursuits

• Assign estimating and support staff to pursuits; provide direction and oversight.
• Advise teams on means and methods to improve bid accuracy and competitiveness.
• Review and develop general conditions, insurance, and bonding requirements.
• Provide detailed estimate supervision and review, including production rates and subcontractor engagement.
• Guide estimators in developing DBE participation strategies to meet agency requirements.

General Estimating Oversight

• Establish and maintain company labor and equipment rates for costing.
• Incorporate workers' compensation insurance costs into rate buildup.
• Approve project-specific variances to standard rates.
• Lead estimate reviews with ownership and executive leadership prior to submission.
• Oversee contract review to ensure terms align with risk profile and company goals.

Costing & Production Data

• Develop costing structures for projects based on historical and market data.
• Utilize HeavyJob (HJ) costing data to evaluate production and project performance.
• Maintain and organize production data for use in future estimating and pursuits.

Procurement

• Identify project scopes to be bought out during preconstruction.
• Supervise buyout efforts with the estimating team.
• Communicate open procurements and commitments to project managers at handoff.

Executive Responsibilities

• Evaluate resources available for pursuits (size, location, scope, competition) and lead Go/No-Go decisions.
• Resolve issues with subcontractors and suppliers related to procurement or preconstruction commitments.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Chairman to ensure alignment of preconstruction activities with overall company objectives.
• Maintain accountability for profitability, risk management, and competitiveness of all pursuits.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (required).
• 10 years of progressive experience in heavy civil/transportation construction estimating, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of successfully leading estimating teams and securing large-scale projects.
• Proficiency in estimating software (HCSS HeavyBid/HeavyJob required) and electronic plan takeoff tools.
• Strong knowledge of DOT (IDOT, MoDOT) and public agency bid requirements.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build strong industry relationships.
• Strong financial acumen, risk assessment, and strategic planning abilities.
• Experience managing and mentoring teams in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic Leader: Provides clear direction, vision, and guidance for the preconstruction team.
• Collaborative: Works effectively with ownership, operations, and external stakeholders.
• Analytical & Detail-Oriented: Ensures accuracy and precision in all bids and estimates.
• Results-Driven: Focused on securing profitable projects that align with company growth.
• Innovative: Seeks new tools, technologies, and processes to improve estimating efficiency.
• Professional & Personable: Builds trust with employees, clients, and partners while representing Brewster Companies with integrity.