Preconstruction Director

Sierra Construction; Woodstock; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Construction is seeking a Director of Preconstruction to lead the Estimating and Preconstruction Project Management teams. This executive role focuses on strategic direction, accurate early-stage pricing, and alignment with Sierra’s growth goals.

You will oversee budgeting, risk assessment, and procurement strategies, and partner with Business Development for major pursuits. Strong leadership and client engagement are essential.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Planning (MBA or leadership training considered an asset).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in construction estimating and preconstruction, including 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven success in managing preconstruction teams, delivering competitive, profitable projects, and supporting land development initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to Preconstruction Project Management and Estimating teams.
• Oversee Estimating department and Preconstruction PM team.
• Lead constructability reviews and support risk assessments early in the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with operations for seamless project handoffs and cost control.
• Define and report on key preconstruction KPIs such as bid-to-win ratio and estimate accuracy.
• Champion adoption of estimating technologies and digital workflows.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic direction

Cross-functional leadership

Client-facing

Mentoring/coaching

Budgeting/financial acumen

Risk assessment

Project handoffs

Education

Post-secondary in Construction Management/Engineering/Architecture/Planning

MBA or leadership training (asset)

Tools

OST

Bluebeam

Procore

Job description

The Director of Preconstruction is a key member of Sierra Construction’s senior leadership team, responsible for providing strategic direction, operational leadership, and organizational oversight for all preconstruction activities.

This role provides direct leadership and management of the Estimating team and the Preconstruction Project Management team, ensuring early-stage planning and pricing strategies are accurate, competitive, and aligned with Sierra’s business goals. Reporting directly to the Vice President of General Contracting, the Director of Preconstruction plays a critical role in advancing Sierra’s growth strategy, supporting business development pursuits, driving estimating excellence, and ensuring seamless project transitions from preconstruction into execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Preconstruction Project Management and Estimating teams, ensuring coordination and alignment with company goals.
• Directly oversee the Estimating department and supporting staff.
• Directly oversee the Preconstruction PM team, ensuring high-quality coordination between design, estimating, and operations.
• Indirectly oversee drafting through the Preconstruction PM structure, ensuring outputs support constructability and execution readiness.
• Establish and enforce department policies, procedures, and standards for estimating budgeting, scheduling, and preconstruction planning.
• Mentor and coach team members, supporting professional growth, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Allocate departmental resources strategically to balance workload across bids, pursuits, and early-stage project planning.
• Oversee preparation of conceptual budgets, schematic pricing, detailed bids, and procurement strategies.
• Ensure cost estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with company profitability targets and risk frameworks.
• Provide executive-level oversight for major tenders and bids, including strategic pricing, value engineering, and pursuit strategies.
• Lead constructability reviews and support risk assessments early in the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with operations leadership to ensure seamless and structured project handoffs, minimizing scope gaps and cost variances.
• Define and track performance metrics for preconstruction deliverables and estimating accuracy.
• Partner with the Business Development team to support proposal preparation, go/no decisions, and major pursuit strategies.
• Act as a senior client contact during preconstruction, representing Sierra professionally and strategically in meetings and presentations.
• Support interviews, bid presentations, and pursuit strategies to help secure targeted projects and repeat clients.
• Provide executive-level input on bid strategy, value engineering, and innovative delivery models that differentiate Sierra in the market.
• Foster long-term client and consultant relationships that drive sustainable business growth.
• Provide preconstruction support to land development initiatives including feasibility studies, cost modeling, and constructability reviews.
• Collaborate with development teams, consultants, and municipalities on zoning, permitting, and entitlement strategies.
• Contribute to site servicing, infrastructure planning, and early design stages to ensure constructability and cost certainty.
• Support financial modeling and risk assessments for development pursuits.
• Identify and mitigate risks in estimates, pursuit strategies, and project delivery models.
• Work closely with Finance and Legal to align estimates with financial targets, commercial risk frameworks, and contractual obligations.
• Monitor and approve department budgets, staffing plans, and financial performance.
• Support contract negotiations by providing cost analysis, scope clarifications, and strategic recommendations.
• Define and report on key preconstruction KPIs including bid-to-win ratio, estimate accuracy, and pursuit timelines.
• Champion adoption of estimating and preconstruction technologies, tools, and digital workflows that improve efficiency and scalability.
• Lead lessons-learned sessions and integrate outcomes into estimating and preconstruction processes.
• Maintain and expand historical cost data and benchmarking systems to strengthen pricing strategies and forecasting.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration between preconstruction, operations, business development, and land development teams to enhance project delivery.
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned, whether specifically or generally related to the role

Required Knowledge and Experience:

• Post-secondary education in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Planning, or a related field (MBA or leadership training considered an asset).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in construction estimating and preconstruction, including 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven success in managing preconstruction teams, delivering competitive, profitable projects, and supporting land development initiatives.
• Strong expertise in estimating methodologies, zoning and permitting processes, and construction delivery models.
• In-depth knowledge of construction methods, site servicing considerations, materials, and industry trends.
• Proficiency with estimating and preconstruction software (OST, Bluebeam, Procore, or equivalent).
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong client-facing abilities, with experience supporting proposals, leading presentations, and engaging with stakeholders.
• Advanced financial and analytical skills with a track record of managing budgets and profitability targets.

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