This role is responsible for developing and managing estimates from early conceptual planning through proposal submission and design development, while ensuring alignment with owner requirements, design intent, budget objectives, and overall project execution strategy.
The Senior Preconstruction Manager partners closely with owners, design teams, operations, and trade partners to develop competitive, comprehensive, and technically sound pricing strategies for a variety of project delivery methods, including design-build and negotiated pursuits. The role also supports proposal development, value analysis, constructability reviews, logistics planning, risk identification, and client presentations, while providing guidance and mentorship to less experienced preconstruction professionals.
Essential Responsibilities
Responsibilities and essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lead preconstruction planning and estimating efforts for projects through all phases of design.
- Analyze RFPs, RFQs, drawings, specifications, addenda, and other project documents to determine scope, pricing approach, proposal requirements, and pursuit strategy.
- Review drawings, narratives, and specifications for completeness, coordination, and constructability before pricing.
- Gather, calculate, and compile estimating data to support accurate budgets, proposals, and detailed estimates.
- Develop pricing strategies that align with project delivery methods, evolving design documents, owner requirements, and schedule expectations.
- Coordinate with architects, engineers, operations teams, and trade partners to evaluate design solutions, cost impacts, constructability, and schedule implications.
- Perform quantity surveys and detailed takeoffs for applicable CSI divisions.
- Establish estimate structure using appropriate cost codes, descriptions, and schedules of values.
- Evaluate and level subcontractor and supplier proposals, develop scope sheets, and confirm coverage and compliance with project requirements.
- Identify and price general conditions, site logistics, temporary facilities, staging, sequencing, and phasing requirements.
- Conduct site visits and jobsite walkthroughs to understand existing conditions, access constraints, utility impacts, and logistical challenges.
- Prepare or review cut sections, elevations, and other exhibits needed to evaluate foundations, retaining walls, shoring, and interfaces with adjacent work or existing conditions.
- Develop and price value engineering and value analysis options that improve cost, schedule, constructability, or long-term value while maintaining alignment with owner and project requirements.
- Identify project risks and opportunities related to scope gaps, escalation, procurement, logistics, labor availability, permitting, and execution strategy.
- Establish clarifications, assumptions, exclusions, and proposal narratives for assigned estimates and submissions.
- Develop unit pricing for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontracted work.
- Establish project-specific rates and factors, including labor burden, sales/use tax, risk considerations, and other estimate inputs.
- Assemble final estimate packages, cost summaries, and schedules of values for internal review and owner presentation.
- Support technical and price proposal development for design-build, negotiated, and competitive pursuits, including coordination of cost narratives, assumptions, alternates, and proposal clarifications.
- Assist in presenting budgets, estimates, and preconstruction recommendations to owners, design teams, and internal leadership.
- Complete estimate turnover and closeout activities for awarded and unsuccessful pursuits, including documentation of lessons learned.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with subcontractors, designers, consultants, clients, and internal project teams.
- Provide leadership, training, and mentorship to less experienced estimators and preconstruction team members.
Education/Qualifications/Experience/Skills:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction, Engineering, or a related field.
- 8–12 years of estimating experience, or a combination of estimating and project management experience.
- Demonstrated experience with design-build and other project delivery methods.
- Strong understanding of preconstruction services, conceptual estimating, quantity takeoff, subcontractor scope analysis, and cost planning.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with owners, designers, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders.
- Experience interpreting RFPs, RFQs, bid documents, proposal instructions, drawings, specifications, and technical project requirements.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment with owners, designers, operations teams, and trade partners throughout the pursuit and preconstruction phases.
- Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to develop and support proposal clarifications, assumptions, and cost narratives.
- Strong conflict resolution, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Superior organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Innovative mindset and proactive approach to planning, problem-solving, and solution development.
- Demonstrated proficiency with construction technology, estimating software, and related tools.
- Willingness to travel on an as-needed basis.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with best-value procurement, negotiated work, competitive pursuits, or other alternative delivery methods.
- Experience supporting occupied, phased, logistically challenging, or technically complex projects.
- Experience working across multiple project types and market sectors.
Key Competencies
- Preconstruction planning and estimating
- Design-build estimating and collaboration
- Conceptual and detailed estimating
- Cost planning and value analysis
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Scope development and subcontractor leveling
- Constructability and logistics planning
- Proposal development and owner presentations
- Relationship management and collaboration
- Leadership, coaching, and mentorship