Preconstruction Executive - Data Centers & Advanced Technology

ABOUT THE ROLE

Lease Crutcher Lewis is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Executive to lead and elevate preconstruction strategy for our Data Center and Advanced Technology work. This client-facing leader understands clients’ priorities, unique values, and the specialized demands of mission-critical facilities, including power, cooling, redundancy, commissioning, long-lead procurement, and phased delivery requirements.

In this role, you will organize Lewis’ efforts to exceed client expectations through cost certainty, schedule optimization, design support, constructability insight, and value-driven decision-making across a variety of project types and delivery methods. You will help position Lewis as a thought leader in solving complex problems while creating alignment, partnership, and cooperation across internal and external teams.

The ideal candidate brings deep commercial construction and preconstruction experience, strong technical fluency in data center or MEP-intensive facility types, and a proven ability to lead through ambiguity, build trusted client relationships, develop high-performing teams, and translate complex design and cost information into clear recommendations.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• You build trust with clients by listening well, understanding their priorities, communicating with transparency, and helping teams make smart decisions around scope, cost, schedule, risk, constructability, procurement, and design evolution.
• You lead preconstruction efforts with clarity, urgency, and technical credibility, especially in mission-critical environments where power, cooling, redundancy, commissioning, and long-lead equipment decisions have significant project impacts.
• You bring an innovative mindset to enhance Lewis’ offerings and deliver unsurpassed value to clients, design partners, trade partners, and internal teams.
• You help teams align around budget continuity, cost certainty, schedule protection, project risk, client drivers, and seamless transition to operations.
• You actively develop people, systems, templates, benchmarks, lessons learned, and best practices that strengthen the DCAT preconstruction function.
• You represent Lewis in the market as a strategic, relationship-oriented leader who differentiates our approach through creative solutions and best-in-class service.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Leadership

• Maintain strategic expertise in evolving construction methodologies, delivery models, and regulatory/code requirements, while developing deep subject-matter leadership in data center and mission-critical facility design—including power and cooling infrastructure, Tier classification standards, and advancing sustainability and energy efficiency practices.
• Participate in industry organizations and events to enhance Lewis’s brand in the market and develop an understanding of market dynamics that affect our services and delivery.
• Differentiate Lewis as industry leaders that provide creative solutions and best in class service to clients and design teams.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to DCAT leadership on market capacity, subcontractor and supplier landscapes, and competitive positioning within the data center sector.

Client Engagement and Business Development

• Actively participate in business development initiatives: provide expertise, innovative insights, and creative ideas that support Lewis’s business development and marketing efforts to win new work.
• Lead and prepare comprehensive presentations for prospective and existing clients, clearly articulating the project approach and value proposition.
• Interface with the client, building trust and maintaining transparent communication regarding our services and their level of satisfaction.

People Leadership and Team Development

• Work with the DCAT Director of Operations to set annual preconstruction budget and manage preconstruction expenses to fall within our annual budget, striving to achieve high levels of client reimbursement.
• Work with People Services to identify needs, recruit, hire and onboard best in class talent for the preconstruction team.
• Mentor and develop the preconstruction team (when assigned to DCAT projects) including estimators, preconstruction managers, project managers on rotation, and SME’s including regular check-ins, goal setting, consistent feedback, and annual performance evaluations.

Preconstruction Systems and Process

• Establish, implement, and continuously refine best practices and operating procedures for all estimating, budgeting, and proposal generation processes.
• Participate with other preconstruction leaders in the selection and utilization of appropriate preconstruction software and technology (e.g., estimating platforms, scheduling tools, BIM integration).
• Develop and maintain standardized estimating templates, benchmarking tools, and cost models tailored to data centers and mission-critical facilities, including MEP-intensive scopes of work.
• Champion the adoption of lessons learned, post-project reviews, and knowledge-sharing practices to continuously elevate the DCAT preconstruction function.

Technical Execution and Oversight

• Oversee every preconstruction effort, and collaborate closely with the EVP of DCAT, Operations Directors, Design Integrators, and Project Executives to ensure budget continuity and consistency of preconstruction services across all projects and delivery methods.
• Align design intent to clients’ drivers and develop procurement strategies to maximize clients’ buying power.
• Partner with builders to preplan work and develop creative approaches to project challenges.
• Partner with our Design Construction Integrators and Virtual Design and Construction teams to provide industry leading value-added services in our preconstruction efforts.
• Lead cost analysis and target value design workshops with design teams and owners, focusing on maximizing owner value without compromising design intent or quality.
• Share experience and tools developed across various projects/markets for consistency and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate with peers and SMEs to ensure every project is set-up for successful execution including a contract estimate, contract schedule, site logistics plan, site specific safety plan, yard rental plan, risk management plan, etc.
• Advise the client on local permitting requirements/processes, particularly those on the critical path.
• Provide comprehensive guidance on decision dates, processes, and priorities for job setup and initial design.
• Aid projects in life cycle/material/system analysis and selection.
• Develop project-specific tools as appropriate.
• Work with Chief Estimator(s) to maintain comparative metrics (Cost/Material/Space) across projects/markets.
• Work with Chief Estimator(s) to maintain a robust historical cost database.
• At established intervals, alongside Chief Estimator(s) and Project Executives, reconcile actual cost or methods used versus planned.
• Guide the preconstruction team in understanding and pricing critical facility infrastructure including electrical distribution, backup power generation, uninterruptible power supply systems, and precision cooling.
• Develop long-lead equipment procurement strategies for generators, switchgear, transformers, and cooling systems; coordinate early vendor engagement and lead-time tracking to protect project schedules.
• Integrate commissioning requirements into preconstruction planning and budgeting, ensuring commissioning scope, schedule, and cost are addressed from the earliest project phases.
• Support campus-level master planning and phased delivery strategies, including shell-and-core versus fit-out sequencing, to align with clients’ capacity deployment timelines.
• Ensures a collaborative and seamless transition to the operations team.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in commercial construction, with at least 5 years in a dedicated preconstruction or project executive role.
• Experience leading preconstruction for large-scale commercial or ground-up projects required.
• Direct experience in preconstruction or estimating for data center, mission-critical, or other MEP-intensive facility types strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier standards, ASHRAE guidelines, and other industry frameworks governing data center design and construction.
• Proficiency in conceptual and detailed estimating, cost modeling, benchmarking, target value design, and procurement strategy.
• Deep understanding of building components and systems in commercial building construction, including electrical distribution, backup power generation, uninterruptible power supply systems, precision cooling, and commissioning considerations.
• Proven expertise in various project delivery methods, including collaborative delivery models.
• Expert proficiency with industry-standard estimating software such as Sage Estimating and Bluebeam, and scheduling software such as Primavera or Microsoft Project.

KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Builds trusted relationships and communicates clearly with clients, design teams, trade partners, project teams, and senior leaders.
• Solves complex problems in a collaborative, team-based culture.
• Comfortably shifts between leading, managing, and doing based on project and team needs.
• Balances big-picture strategy with strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Provides tactful feedback, questions, and alternate ideas tailored to the audience.
• Looks beyond the current design or estimate to identify options that better serve client goals.
• Anticipates long-term market trends, material cost fluctuations, procurement constraints, and potential project delivery challenges.
• Presents complex financial and technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentors others, fosters a positive and high-performing culture, and promotes cross-departmental collaboration.
• Exemplifies Lewis’ values and leadership principles through daily actions and decisions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Requires work in office settings, client-facing environments, and active commercial construction sites.
• When onsite, employees are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as required by the company’s safety policies and weather conditions.
• Standard hours, plus evening and weekend work including work-related events as needed.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

• Primarily local and regional travel between the office, project sites, client meetings, industry events, and partner locations as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Current Driver’s License.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening is a conditional requirement of the employment process.
• Physical requirements of the position include regularly being required to talk or hear, vision capabilities, and the ability to frequently stand, walk, and use hands, fingers, and arms. Additional abilities include sitting, climbing and balancing, as well as the ability to frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds.

This posting reflects the role’s primary responsibilities and qualifications but is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.

A 100% employee-owned general contractor, Lease Crutcher Lewis offers a comprehensive healthcare plan with medical, dental, and vision coverage. Our employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account supports physical wellness for employees. We also offer a generous Health Savings Account with annual employer sponsored contributions. Lease Crutcher Lewis provides support for a financially healthy future, including our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (enrollment covered at no cost to you) and a 401(k) with a competitive matching program. To support employee philanthropic efforts, employees are eligible for volunteer PTO and charitable giving matching programs.

Lease Crutcher Lewis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of, and will not be discriminated against, based on the basis of race, color, gender, pregnancy or breastfeeding, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other status protected by state or federal law.