Pre Constrcution Manager

Building Careers UK; Preston; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional package

Permanent opportunity

Ownership of pre-construction function

Training and development

Long-term career progression

Family-founded business culture

Job summary

Building Careers UK is seeking a Pre-Construction Manager in Preston to lead and develop the pre-construction function across the region. You will manage projects from early engagement through to contract award and handover to delivery, focusing on two-stage Design & Build procurement and commercial viability.

The role involves client-facing leadership, collaboration with design teams and supply chain, and mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in pre-construction, design management or senior estimating with a main contractor.
• Strong background in two-stage Design & Build procurement across RIBA Stages 0-4.
• Experience on education, health, commercial or public sector projects.
• Familiar with NEC/JCT contracts and framework procurement.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-construction across RIBA Stages 0-4 on two-stage Design & Build projects.
• Coordinate consultant appointments, BIM requirements and design deliverables.
• Chair design reviews, manage surveys and early issue resolution.
• Develop pre-construction programmes, cost plans and handover packages.
• Support commercial and client relations throughout bid to award.

Skills

Pre-construction experience

Two-stage D&B procurement

Client management

Estimating collaboration

Communication skills

Project leadership

Education

MCIOB / RICS / APM

Tools

ConQuest

Bluebeam

Asta Powerproject

MS Project

Job description

Pre-Construction Manager - Main Contractor (Design & Build)

Location: Preston, Lancashire (covering the North West)

Salary/Package: £65,000 - £85,000 + Package

Job Type: Permanent

About the Company

Our client is a well-established, family-founded main contractor with more than a century of history in the construction industry and a reputation built firmly in the North West.

Operating from offices in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, the business delivers new build, refurbishment, extension and fit-out projects. It is supported by its own maintenance, joinery manufacturing and electrical divisions, along with a large directly employed trades workforce.

The business works across the education, health, commercial, industrial, retail, residential, and sports and leisure sectors. Its portfolio includes university buildings, hospital and healthcare schemes, distribution facilities, heritage refurbishments and student accommodation.

Known for working closely with clients and their consultant teams, and with a strong commitment to health and safety, training and in-house skills, the business continues to secure a healthy pipeline of negotiated, framework and two-stage work.

Due to continued growth, they are looking to appoint a Pre-Construction Manager to lead and develop the pre-construction function across the region.

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Pre-Construction Manager to take ownership of a varied portfolio of schemes from early engagement through to contract award and handover to the delivery team.

The successful candidate will manage projects through RIBA Stages 0-4, with a strong focus on two-stage Design & Build procurement. They will make sure each scheme is commercially viable, technically sound and properly de-risked before it reaches site.

This is a client-facing, hands-on leadership position. You will work closely with clients, consultants, design teams, the supply chain and internal estimating, commercial and operations teams, and report to the Directors on commercial risk and opportunity.

The role would suit a Pre-Construction Manager, Senior Pre-Construction Coordinator, Design Manager or Senior Estimator with main contractor experience who is ready to take the next step in a business that values pre-construction as a key driver of project success.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Construction & Design Management

• Leading the pre-construction process across RIBA Stages 0-4 on two-stage Design & Build and negotiated projects.
• Managing consultant appointments, scopes of service, BIM requirements and design deliverable schedules.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary design teams and chairing design reviews and buildability workshops.
• Carrying out information gap analyses and arranging specialist surveys and investigations.
• Identifying technical deficiencies, construction constraints and statutory or compliance requirements early.
• Developing and managing pre-construction programmes, milestones and dependencies.
• Producing a robust, well-coordinated handover package for the delivery team.

Commercial & Cost Management

• Developing and monitoring project budgets and NRM-aligned cost plans.
• Overseeing estimating, Bills of Quantities, market testing and subcontractor procurement.
• Leading structured value engineering exercises, challenging specification, design and scope.
• Maintaining risk and opportunity registers and reporting commercial exposure to the Directors.
• Reviewing contract conditions and amendments under NEC and JCT forms with legal advisors.
• Agreeing the second-stage contract sum and ensuring commercial viability at contract award.

Bidding, Clients & Team Leadership

• Supporting two-stage and framework tender submissions, including qualitative and quantitative responses.
• Chairing client-facing progress meetings, design workshops and commercial discussions.
• Building strong long-term relationships with clients, consultants and the supply chain.
• Leading, mentoring and developing pre-construction and estimating staff.
• Driving continuous improvement, standard processes and digital ways of working across the department.

About You

• Proven experience in a pre-construction, design management or senior estimating role with a main contractor.
• Strong background in two-stage Design & Build procurement across RIBA Stages 0-4.
• Experience on new build, refurbishment and fit-out projects in sectors such as education, health, commercial or public sector.
• Sound knowledge of NEC and JCT contracts and framework procurement.
• Confident preparing NRM-aligned cost plans, managing budgets and leading value engineering.
• Experienced in managing consultant teams, design coordination and subcontractor procurement.
• Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of contractual and commercial risk.
• Proficient in estimating and programming software such as ConQuest, Bluebeam, Asta Powerproject or MS Project.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• A relevant degree or professional qualification (MCIOB, RICS, APM or similar) would be beneficial.
• Full UK driving licence.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £65,000 - £85,000, depending on experience.
• Additional package.
• Permanent opportunity with a long-established and highly respected North West main contractor.
• A varied pipeline of education, health, commercial and residential projects.
• Genuine ownership of, and influence over, the pre-construction function.
• A stable, family-founded business with a strong commitment to training and development.
• Long-term career progression within a growing business.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Building Careers UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.