Pre-Construction Director

Fawkes & Reece; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece, a London-based leading fit-out contractor, seeks a Pre-Construction Director to own the entire pre-construction function and drive strategic tenders. You will influence Estimating, Design, Bid Management and Planning, working with the Board and senior teams to secure profitable projects.

The role demands a proven winner with extensive experience in commercial fit-out, and the credibility to manage clients, consultants and Board-level stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of winning significant fit-out projects.
• Strong knowledge of London commercial fit-out market.
• Extensive experience across pre-construction, estimating and tendering.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Take overall ownership and leadership of the Pre-Construction function.
• Lead and develop teams across Estimating, Design, Bid Management and Planning.
• Drive strategy behind major tenders and opportunities.
• Lead tender processes from opportunity to submission and handover.
• Challenge pricing, programme and design assumptions to keep tenders competitive.
• Establish robust handover processes to align tender and project teams.

Skills

Senior leadership

Commercial fit-out

Tendering experience

Pre-construction

Job description

A leading and highly established London-based fit-out contractor is looking to appoint a Pre-Construction Director to take ownership of its entire pre-construction function and play a key role in the next phase of the business.

This is a senior, high-impact leadership position for someone who understands how to win work, build compelling bids and ultimately convert opportunities into profitable projects.

We are looking for a genuine job winner — someone with a strong track record in commercial fit out who can combine strategic thinking, commercial acumen and leadership with the ability to get involved in the detail when it matters.

The successful candidate will have significant influence across Estimating, Design, Bid Management and Planning, working closely with the Board, Business Development, Commercial and Operations teams.

What you'll be doing:

• Take overall ownership and leadership of the Pre-Construction function.
• Lead and develop teams across Estimating, Design, Bid Management and Planning.
• Drive the strategy behind major tenders and strategically important opportunities.
• Play a key role in bid/no-bid decisions, ensuring the business targets the right opportunities.
• Develop compelling bid strategies, win themes and commercially robust tender submissions.
• Lead the tender process from initial opportunity through to submission, negotiation and project handover.
• Challenge pricing, programme, design and delivery assumptions to ensure tenders are both competitive and achievable.
• Improve tender conversion and win rates through stronger processes, market intelligence and client-focused propositions.
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants and key supply chain partners.
• Lead senior-level tender interviews, presentations and client meetings.
• Ensure strong collaboration between pre-construction and delivery teams.
• Establish robust handover processes so that tender assumptions, risks, opportunities and design information are fully understood by the project team.
• Drive continuous improvement and ensure lessons learned from completed projects are fed back into future tenders.
• Develop a high-performing, accountable and collaborative pre-construction team.

What we're looking for?

This role is aimed at an established Pre-Construction / Estimating / Bid Director or senior leader within commercial fit out who has a demonstrable record of winning work.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant senior-level experience within commercial fit out, interiors or construction.
• A proven track record of winning significant fit-out projects.
• Strong knowledge of the London commercial fit-out market.
• Extensive experience across pre-construction, estimating and tendering.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding.
• Experience leading complex, high-value tenders from opportunity through to award.
• The credibility to operate comfortably with clients, consultants, senior management and Board-level stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent understanding of design, planning, buildability and construction methodologies.
• The confidence to challenge assumptions, make decisions and influence senior stakeholders.
• A strong network and reputation within the fit-out sector would be highly advantageous.

Why this role?

This isn't simply a role managing a tender department.

It's an opportunity to shape the entire pre-construction operation of an ambitious and established fit-out business, influence the type of work it wins and have a direct impact on its commercial performance.

The successful candidate will have genuine autonomy, Board-level exposure and the opportunity to build a high-performing pre-construction function around them.

If you're a proven fit-out job winner who is ready to take ownership of a growing pre-construction operation and have a genuine seat at the table, this could be an excellent next step.