Senior Manager, Preconstruction & Estimating

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Job details:
This Jobot Job is hosted by: Dawit Demoz
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Salary: $170,000 - $220,000 per year


A bit about us:

We are a fast-growing organization focused on transforming how complex projects are planned, priced, and executed across the built environment. By combining operational excellence, technology, and cross-functional collaboration, we deliver high-impact solutions at scale. Our teams work on large, high-visibility programs where innovation, strategic thinking, and execution matter.


Why join us?

This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible, growth-oriented role where you’ll gain exposure to the full project lifecycle while working alongside experienced project and program leaders. You’ll have the chance to take ownership of key project coordination efforts, contribute to financial and operational decision-making, and play a meaningful role in keeping complex projects moving forward.

The role offers a blend of office-based coordination and field exposure, giving you hands-on experience across scheduling, cost tracking, vendor coordination, change management, and client communication. It’s an ideal opportunity for someone looking to accelerate their career into Project Management, strengthen leadership capabilities, and gain experience in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where process improvement and professional growth are encouraged.


Job Details

Job Responsibilities

Estimating & Preconstruction Leadership:

• Own the accuracy, integrity, and margin impact of our preconstruction estimates across assigned programs — accountable for pricing outcomes, not oversight only.
• Design, build, and restructure the Estimating & Preconstruction team as needed to meet pursuit demand; evaluate team structure, right-sizing, and capability gaps across Estimators and Assistant Preconstruction staff.
• Lead and supervise direct reports: Assistant Preconstruction, Estimators, and Program / Project Management staff supporting preconstruction exercises.
• Refine and improve operational procedures across preconstruction workflows; establish standards for conceptual, schematic, design development, and GMP estimates.
• Develop and maintain our estimating systems and infrastructure: the preconstruction relational database (historical cost, schedule, bill of materials), pricing templates, Basis of Estimate standards, and communication/coordination tools. Direct investment in Technology and Finance support to keep the database accurate and current.
• Lead preconstruction pricing exercises end-to-end: subcontractor outreach (including Building Connected setup and coordination), RFP compilation, pricing documents, price leveling, and award recommendations.
• Develop program and project risk analyses; escalate risks clearly and proactively to Leadership.
• Lead both internal and Client-directed Value Engineering efforts.
• Develop initial DMC project schedules and construction schedules during the preconstruction phase; establish schedule assumptions that Program Management inherits at handoff.
• Track design scope through preconstruction; immediately escalate changes that affect budget or schedule, with clear impact, timeline, and recommended action.
• Lead the transfer of key estimating information to internal customers — Program and Project Management, Design, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Construction, and Finance — so that estimates live as operational truth after handoff.
• Take direct control of estimates or pursuits in serious jeopardy — pricing disputes, rapidly changing scope, significant client-side escalations — and return them to a defensible, margin-safe state.
• Present and defend pursuit and pricing reviews to Executive Leadership.
• Lead, in collaboration with the Head of Construction Engineering and Director of Field Operations, the development of scalable field self-perform estimating tools; facilitate field-ops estimating (quantity takeoffs, labor estimates, work plans) and constructability reviews with field trade experts.
• Lead or support the buyout of subcontractor and supplier agreements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Estimating & Preconstruction team; accountable for their performance, retention, and professional development.
• Champion safety and quality culture throughout the preconstruction process.
  

Client & Commercial Leadership:

• Develop and maintain C-suite-level relationships with Client preconstruction and estimating leaders, representing us at the highest levels of client organizations during pursuit.
• Lead all Client presentations related to pricing, preconstruction, and Value Engineering; accountable for all materials presented to Clients or potential Clients.
• Manage the coordination interface with the Client’s preconstruction and estimating teams: progress communication, technical options, problems and opportunities, and GMP preparation inputs.
• Contribute to our strategic pipeline decisions — provide input on which programs, clients, and pursuits we commit to, based on margin viability, capacity, and strategic fit.
• Support our Commercial / Business Development team in the review and analysis of technical proposal requirements, preparation of proposals and pricing, and participation in meetings with potential Clients.
• Build and maintain positive relationships across our DMC ecosystem — subcontractors, general contractors, design consultants, vendors, Architects, Engineers, and Owner’s representatives.
• Support the CEO, CCO, and VP of Programs in the negotiation of Client contracts
  

Job Skills & Qualifications



Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Data Analytics, or related field.
• 10 years of relevant experience in the construction industry, including 4 years in Preconstruction and Estimating.
• Demonstrated accountability for the estimating and preconstruction function across one or more programs totaling more than $100M in annual pursuit value.
• Demonstrated C-suite-level client and commercial partner relationships during pursuit and negotiation — not just estimator-to-estimator contacts.
• Proven ability to build, restructure, and right-size an estimating and preconstruction team.
• Demonstrated ability to take direct control of a pursuit or estimate in serious jeopardy (scope, client-relationship, or pricing crisis) and return it to a defensible state.
• Proven track record presenting and defending pursuit and pricing reviews with Executive Leadership.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to synthesize complex pricing information for Executive Leadership and C-suite client audiences.
• Strong financial acumen; ability to make sound pricing decisions with explicit margin accountability.
• Advanced proficiency in estimating technology and preconstruction platforms (Building Connected, Sage Estimating, Timberline, WinEst, or comparable).
• Advanced proficiency in scheduling; ability to direct scheduling work across multiple platforms (MS Project, Primavera P6, and Smartsheet) and set estimating-phase scheduling standards.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for program-level pricing and risk analysis.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and Bluebeam.
• Expert negotiator with a fair and ethical mindset; ability to lead pricing strategy, subcontract negotiations, and client contract support.
• Strategic and operational leadership capacity.
• Ability to travel up to 25% depending on pursuit activity and client engagement needs.
  

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (MBA, Construction Management, Data Analytics, or similar).
• Relevant professional license, certification, or registration (PE, AIA, PMP, CPE, LEED AP, ASHE CHC, or similar).
• Demonstrated capacity to set analytical and data requirements for the estimating team; ability to evaluate whether the right pricing analysis is being performed, not only whether the number is correct.
• Demonstrated ability to set organizational standards for cost modeling, estimating, and financial analysis; fluency reviewing complex pricing models at an executive level.
• Ability to interpret CAD, Revit, or SolidWorks models sufficient to contribute to constructability and design strategy discussions during pursuit.
• Working understanding of Python, SQL, and data modeling tools sufficient to evaluate and sponsor their application within the estimating database and pricing workflows.
• Working knowledge of AI/ML, statistical modeling, and data engineering concepts sufficient to set organizational adoption strategy for estimating intelligence and direct team investment.
• Demonstrated ability to champion adoption of AI tools such as Claude.ai, Claude Code, Lovable, or Replit across estimating and preconstruction teams; proven track record establishing adoption standards and performance benchmarks.
• Ability to establish KPI frameworks and dashboard standards for estimating accuracy, hit rate, margin variance, and pursuit outcomes (Power BI, Tableau, Smartsheet dashboards).
• Experience directing ERP reporting and data strategy (Microsoft Dynamics Business Central or comparable) for preconstruction and estimating cost actuals and historical reconciliation.
• Demonstrated senior-level leadership experience in estimating, cost analysis, or data analytics within construction, manufacturing, or related industries.
• Experience operating within modular construction or design-build environments.
  
  

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