Plumbing Preconstruction Manager

About GEMCO

Founded in July 2014 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, GEMCO Constructors is a national mechanical, electrical, plumbing, building automation systems, and service contractor. We provide comprehensive design-build solutions for customers across the United States and hold engineering and construction registrations, licenses, and certifications in more than 30 states. With coast-to-coast operations, GEMCO delivers safe, efficient, and innovative solutions across diverse markets. Pasted markdown

Position Summary

The Plumbing Preconstruction Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating plumbing preconstruction and estimating activities for assigned projects and opportunities. This position works closely with Preconstruction leadership, Operations, Business Development, Project Management, Engineering/Design, Estimating, and other internal teams to develop accurate plumbing estimates, evaluate project risks, coordinate project planning, and position projects for successful execution.

The Plumbing Preconstruction Manager provides day-to-day leadership throughout the plumbing preconstruction process, ensuring estimates, budgets, proposals, scopes, schedules, constructability reviews, and project assumptions are complete, accurate, and appropriately reviewed. This role helps facilitate Operations involvement during preconstruction and supports a consistent transition of plumbing project information, commitments, risks, and opportunities from Preconstruction into Operations.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

• Manage and coordinate plumbing preconstruction activities for assigned projects from initial opportunity through estimate development, proposal, award, and turnover to Operations.
• Partner with Preconstruction leadership to execute established processes, standards, review requirements, and project approval procedures.
• Coordinate plumbing estimating activities and ensure project estimates are developed accurately, completely, and within required deadlines.
• Review plumbing drawings, specifications, contracts, schedules, design narratives, addenda, and other project documents to develop a comprehensive understanding of project scope and requirements.
• Develop and review conceptual estimates, detailed estimates, budgets, proposals, alternates, allowances, qualifications, exclusions, clarifications, and other plumbing preconstruction deliverables.
• Develop and evaluate plumbing labor requirements, productivity assumptions, material and equipment costs, subcontractor pricing, escalation, and other project cost considerations.
• Evaluate plumbing systems and associated scope including domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, storm drainage, natural gas, medical gas, process piping, plumbing fixtures and equipment, water heating systems, specialty systems, site utilities, and other applicable project requirements.
• Coordinate plumbing scope with mechanical/HVAC, electrical, building automation, fire protection, structural, architectural, civil, utility, and other applicable disciplines based on project requirements.
• Facilitate communication and coordination among Plumbing Estimating, Preconstruction, Operations, Project Management, Business Development, Engineering/Design, and other project stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate Operations and Project Management involvement throughout preconstruction to obtain input regarding constructability, labor, staffing, scheduling, logistics, procurement, prefabrication, sequencing, and execution strategy.
• Identify and communicate plumbing project risks, scope gaps, design concerns, constructability issues, schedule constraints, procurement challenges, and other factors that may affect project performance.
• Coordinate project and estimate reviews and ensure significant assumptions, risks, opportunities, scope considerations, and commitments are identified and appropriately addressed before proposals or budgets are finalized.
• Review plumbing estimates for completeness, accuracy, consistency, constructability, and alignment with anticipated project execution.
• Solicit, review, and evaluate subcontractor and vendor proposals to ensure appropriate scope coverage, pricing, qualifications, and exclusions.
• Maintain communication with manufacturers, suppliers, subcontractors, vendors, and industry partners regarding pricing, availability, lead times, and market conditions.
• Support constructability reviews and collaborate with Engineering/Design and Operations to identify practical and cost-effective plumbing solutions.
• Facilitate value-engineering activities and evaluate plumbing alternatives that improve cost, constructability, schedule, quality, system performance, maintainability, or customer value.
• Participate in design-build and design-assist activities and help maintain alignment between plumbing design, project requirements, budget, schedule, and construction strategy.
• Monitor design development and identify changes that may affect plumbing scope, cost, labor, procurement, schedule, or project risk.
• Assist with preliminary project schedules, plumbing manpower requirements, logistics plans, procurement strategies, prefabrication opportunities, construction sequencing, and execution planning.
• Evaluate opportunities for plumbing prefabrication and modularization in collaboration with Operations and field leadership.
• Identify long-lead plumbing equipment, material constraints, procurement risks, and opportunities for early purchasing or release.
• Participate in project pursuit meetings, customer meetings, presentations, interviews, scope reviews, design meetings, and proposal development as required.
• Support Business Development activities by providing plumbing technical, estimating, scheduling, and constructability information during project pursuits.
• Maintain accurate documentation of estimate assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, decisions, risks, customer commitments, design changes, and other significant plumbing preconstruction information.
• Coordinate and facilitate plumbing project turnover from Preconstruction to Operations following project award.
• Ensure turnover documentation clearly communicates plumbing scope, estimate assumptions, labor expectations, vendor and subcontractor quotations, procurement requirements, schedule commitments, identified risks, and outstanding items.
• Participate in turnover meetings and communicate the basis of the plumbing estimate and significant preconstruction decisions to Operations and Project Management.
• Follow up on unresolved plumbing preconstruction items after turnover to ensure appropriate ownership and resolution.
• Support estimate-to-actual and post-project reviews to identify lessons learned and opportunities to improve future plumbing estimating and preconstruction performance.
• Maintain and utilize plumbing historical cost information, productivity data, estimating standards, templates, vendor information, and lessons learned to improve consistency and accuracy.
• Monitor assigned plumbing preconstruction schedules, milestones, proposal deadlines, workload, and deliverables to ensure commitments are achieved.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, coordination, and support to plumbing estimators and other preconstruction personnel assigned to projects.
• Assist with the training, mentoring, and development of plumbing estimating and preconstruction team members.
• Promote consistent plumbing estimating and preconstruction practices across projects, customers, markets, and business units.
• Utilize estimating, scheduling, construction management, document management, and other technology to improve efficiency, accuracy, communication, and visibility.
• Maintain awareness of plumbing construction market conditions, labor availability, material pricing, equipment lead times, subcontractor capacity, and other factors affecting project pricing and execution.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with customers, general contractors, architects, engineers, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, Operations leaders, Project Managers, field leadership, and other project stakeholders.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, responsible risk management, and operational partnership throughout the plumbing preconstruction process.
• Promote and uphold GEMCO's Core Values, culture, safety expectations, quality standards, and commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of organizational objectives and continued growth.

Traits and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of commercial and industrial plumbing construction estimating, preconstruction, project planning, and project delivery.
• Strong understanding of plumbing systems, equipment, materials, installation methods, labor requirements, and construction means and methods.
• Knowledge of conceptual and detailed plumbing estimating, budgeting, labor productivity, material and equipment pricing, subcontractor procurement, and cost development.
• Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate plumbing drawings, specifications, riser diagrams, contracts, schedules, design narratives, and other project documents.
• Working knowledge of applicable plumbing codes, standards, installation requirements, and industry practices.
• Strong understanding of plumbing constructability, project sequencing, site logistics, procurement, scheduling, prefabrication, and trade coordination.
• Ability to identify plumbing scope gaps, estimating risks, design concerns, constructability issues, schedule constraints, procurement challenges, and potential project risks.
• Ability to develop and evaluate estimates when project information or design is evolving while clearly documenting assumptions, allowances, qualifications, and exclusions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate alternatives and develop practical solutions.
• Strong business and financial acumen with an understanding of project costs, labor performance, margins, risk, and project economics.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple estimates, projects, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to estimating accuracy, documentation, and quality.
• Effective leadership and coordination skills with the ability to guide project teams and maintain accountability for deliverables.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with Operations, Project Management, Business Development, Engineering/Design, customers, field leadership, and external partners.
• Ability to facilitate productive project and estimate reviews and clearly communicate assumptions, risks, opportunities, and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate plumbing construction and estimating information effectively with both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to understand project objectives and develop solutions that provide value while protecting GEMCO's interests.
• Ability to balance competitive pricing with appropriate consideration of project risk, execution requirements, labor availability, schedule, and profitability.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building capabilities with subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, customers, and project partners.
• Ability to support and develop plumbing estimators and other preconstruction team members through coaching, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Proficiency with plumbing estimating software, construction technology, scheduling tools, spreadsheets, document management systems, and related applications.
• Results-oriented approach with a focus on accountability, consistency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, judgment, and personal accountability.
• Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment with changing project requirements, evolving designs, and competing deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required for project pursuits, site visits, customer meetings, and project support.
• Commitment to GEMCO's Core Values, safety culture, operational excellence, and long-term organizational success.