Director, Preconstruction

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

TNDC is seeking a Director, Preconstruction to lead the preconstruction function across heavy civil, mining, industrial, and infrastructure projects in Vancouver, BC or Calgary, AB. The role includes estimating, planning, and scheduling, developing winning strategies, and ensuring accurate, competitive estimates and executable project plans for delivery.

Initially hands-on, the position involves budgeting, constructability reviews, risk assessments, and close collaboration with Business

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in heavy civil, mining, industrial, or infrastructure construction.
• 10+ years of leadership in estimating, preconstruction, project execution and construction management.
• Experience developing estimates, project execution plans, construction methodologies, and schedules for complex projects.
• Proficiency with HeavyBid, Primavera P6, MS Project, and MS Office.
• Experience on remote, industrial, mining, or Indigenous partnership projects is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement standardized preconstruction processes, estimating templates, risk evaluation tools, and cost databases tailored to TNDC’s scopes.
• Lead all estimating and preconstruction activities across the organization.
• Oversee the preparation and review of conceptual, budgetary, negotiated, and competitive bid estimates.
• Ensure estimates reflect project scope, risk, execution strategy, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Maintain historical cost, productivity, and estimating databases.
• Lead the development of project execution plans during pursuit and preconstruction phases with Construction Managers.
• Collaborate with Construction Managers, Project Managers, and Superintendents on methodologies, sequencing, logistics, staffing, and productivity.
• Provide oversight of planning and scheduling activities in the preconstruction phase.
• Support Business Development with pursuit strategies, client engagement, and proposal development.
• Identify hiring needs, recruit, onboard, and lead a high-performing team and foster safety and continuous improvement.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, including Tahltan workers, sharing safety practices and industry knowledge.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating

Preconstruction

Planning

Risk assessment

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree or Diploma in Engineering/Construction Management

15+ years in heavy civil/mining/industrial infrastructure

10+ years leadership in estimating/preconstruction

Tools

HeavyBid

Primavera P6

MS Project

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position

Director, Preconstruction

Location

Vancouver, BC or Calgary, AB

Status

Full-Time

Closing Date

August 4, 2026

Salary

$170,000- $190,000 Annually

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Construction, the Director, Preconstruction will establish, build, and lead TNDC’s preconstruction function across heavy civil, mining, industrial, and infrastructure projects including estimating, planning, and scheduling. The role is responsible for developing winning project strategies, ensuring accurate and competitive estimates, and creating executable project plans that support successful delivery.

Initially, this is a highly hands‑on role requiring direct involvement in estimating, budgeting, constructability reviews, and risk assessments. Working closely with Business Development, Construction Managers, Project Managers, and Operations leaders, the Director ensures project opportunities are properly evaluated, planned, priced, and transitioned to construction teams. The ideal candidate blends technical expertise in heavy civil and industrial construction with strategic leadership and an entrepreneurial drive.

Reporting Relationship

Reports To: Vice President, Construction

Direct Reports: Senior Estimators; Estimators; Schedulers; Preconstruction and Proposal Staff

Core Areas of Accountability

Estimating & Preconstruction Leadership

• Design and implement standardizedpreconstruction processes, estimating templates, risk evaluation tools, and cost databases tailored to TNDC’s scopes.
• Lead all estimating and preconstruction activities across the organization.
• Oversee the preparation and review of conceptual, budgetary, negotiated, and competitive bid estimates.
• Ensure estimates reflect project scope, risk, execution strategy, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Maintain historical cost, productivity, and estimating databases.

Construction Planning & Execution

• Lead the development of project execution plans during pursuit and preconstruction phases in conjunction with Construction Managers.
• Work with Construction Managers, Project Managers, and Superintendents to establish construction methodologies, sequencing plans, logistics strategies, staffing plans, equipment requirements, and productivity assumptions.
• Facilitate constructability reviews to ensure projects can be delivered safely, efficiently, and profitably.
• Ensure execution strategies are communicated during project handover.
• Support operations through planning, productivity improvement, and resource optimization.

Scheduling & Operational Integration

• Provide oversight of planning and scheduling activities at the preconstruction phase.
• Ensure schedules reflect realistic durations, production rates, procurement timelines, and resource requirements.
• Advise Construction Managers on the monitoring of performance against estimate assumptions and project plans.
• Lead estimate-to-actual reviews and lessons learned processes.
• Develop KPIs related to estimating, planning, scheduling, and project performance.

Business Development & Client Support

• Support Business Development with pursuit strategies, client engagement, and proposal development.
• Participate in client meetings, interviews, and strategic pursuits.
• Develop strong relationships with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and industry partners.
• Promote innovative and value‑driven construction solutions.

Leadership & Team Development

• Identify hiring needs, recruit, onboard, and lead a high‑performing team of estimating, planning, and preconstruction personnel as project volume scales.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Work closely with executive leadership to align preconstruction capabilities with TNDC’s strategic growth objectives and business development targets.
• Support workforce development and succession planning.

Education & Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in heavy civil, mining, industrial, or infrastructure construction.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in estimating, preconstruction, project execution and construction management.
• Strong experience developing estimates, project execution plans, construction methodologies, and schedules for complex projects.
• Advanced understanding of construction operations, productivity analysis, equipment planning, and project delivery.
• Proficiency with HeavyBid, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Office.
• Experience on remote, industrial, mining, or Indigenous partnership projects is an asset.

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership and team‑building skills.
• Strategic thinker with sound business and operational judgment.
• Excellent planning, scheduling, and organizational abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, accountability.
• Commitment to safety, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing

Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to team members, especially local Tahltan workers, by sharing technical skills, safety practices, and industry knowledge in a respectful and culturally aware manner. Uphold Tahltan values and principles by fostering a work environment built on respect, teamwork, and mutual learning. Support the growth of the Tahltan workforce by helping build capacity, promoting safe and effective work practices, and ensuring that knowledge is passed on to strengthen both the team and the broader Tahltan community for the benefit of current and future generation.

Conditions of Employment

• Based in Vancouver, BC, or Calgary, AB.
• Travel to project sites and client locations as required.
• Extended hours may be required during major pursuits and project planning activities.
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Pre‑employment testing and site‑access requirements where applicable.
• Willingness to sign an Oath of Confidentiality.