Head of Pre-Construction

Strabag UK Limited; Sharmans Cross; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction company in the UK is seeking a Preconstruction Director to lead strategic pre-award activities across multiple business units. Responsibilities include ensuring health and safety standards, managing extensive bids, and fostering client relationships. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree and significant experience in preconstruction leadership, enhancing the company's commitment to sustainability and quality.

Benefits

Diverse career opportunities

Competitive compensation

Commitment to employee health and sustainability

Qualifications

• Extensive preconstruction leadership on bids ranging £20m-£300m+.
• Strong understanding of NEC/JCT contracts and risk management.
• Proven ability to protect margins through target value design.

Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction strategy and governance for multiple BUs.
• Ensure health, safety, and quality are embedded in bids.
• Chair bid/no-bid decisions and oversee procurement processes.

Skills

Leadership of preconstruction

Commercial and contractual literacy

Estimating and cost planning

Client relationship management

Safety by Design understanding

Education

Degree in Engineering, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Business

Job description

Company description :

At STRABAG around 86,000 people working on progress at more than 2,400 locations worldwide. Uniqueness and individual strengths characterise both our projects and each of us as individuals. Whether its building construction, civil engineering, road construction, underground engineering, bridge building, tunnelling, construction material production, project development or building management we are always one step ahead so that we can become the most innovative and sustainable construction technology company in Europe. Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities are integral to this, who we are as a company and how we work.

Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.

Together we work as partners to complete projects successfully and grow with new challenges. Together we achieve great things. Lets progress!

Job description :

The Preconstruction Director leads a centralised function that operates across multiple Business Units (BUs) and reports into the Sub-Division Management. The role sets the strategy and governance for all pre-award activity from opportunity shaping to contract execution, driving disciplined selection, margin protection, design certainty, and predictable delivery outcomes in line with People Planet Progress and the 9 Guiding Principles. (Ownership / Transparency / Reliability).

Provide visible leadership for health, safety and wellbeing in all preconstruction activities; ensure Safety by Design, CDM compliance and quality are embedded in bids and pre-award delivery planning. (Health & Safety Leadership / People. Planet. Progress.)

Lead the development and execution of the FY26+ preconstruction strategy, including pipeline shaping, sector / region prioritisation and stage-gate governance across all BUs. (Future / Ownership) ensure that the Pre Construction function complies with STRABAG systems and processes which stand up to the scrutiny of compliance reviews. The role will have a key governance focus operating across several Bus as the business grows to ensure we have standardised approach, support and training to operate in a compliant way within the STRABAG environment.

Act as functional lead for estimating, pre-award planning, design management / technical assurance, proposals, and pre-award procurement; set standards, templates and KPIs for a consistent approach nationwide. (Partnership / Reliability)

Run disciplined bid / no-bid and pursuit planning aligned to capability, capacity, risk appetite and target margins; chair stage-gates (PQQ ? ITT ? BAFO / Negotiation ? Contract Execution). (Transparency / Success)

Required profile :

Degree in Engineering, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Business or related discipline

Extensive leadership of preconstruction across multi-disciplinary bids (£20m£300m+), including two-stage and framework call-offs

Strong commercial and contractual literacy (NEC / JCT; JV / FIDIC exposure advantageous); risk, insurance and bonding

Deep understanding of estimating, cost planning, planning and buildability; proven ability to protect margin through target value design

Track record of managing client and operator relationships at senior levels (Partnership / Appreciation).

CDM 2015, Safety by Design and quality assurance understanding; ability to embed HSSE in pre-award stages

Desired :

Chartered status (CIOB / RICS / ICE / CEng) or progress toward it

FIDIC / JV contracting experience; experience of alliancing and target cost models

Sector breadth across building and infrastructure civils; commissioning and MEP integration literacy

Demonstrable experience of ECI / two-stage procurement and pre-services agreements

What we offer :

We stand for respect, partnership, and sustainability, creating a work environment that promotes safety, health, and development. Our committed and healthy employees are our most valuable asset the foundation for sustainable growth and innovation. With our "People. Planet. Progress." strategy and the motto WORK ON PROGRESS, we drive change forward with the goal of climate neutrality by 2040.

diverse career opportunities

competitive compensation

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