Preconstruction Assistant Project Manager

Willmott Dixon; Watford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Willmott Dixon is seeking a dynamic Preconstruction Assistant Project Manager to join the London & East region in Hitchin. The successful candidate will assist in bid management, coordinate internal and external resources, and help deliver high-quality tenders on time and within budget.

Reporting to the Preconstruction Manager, you will lead the bid team’s efforts, participate in strategy development, health checks, and risk management, and contribute to sustained business growth across

Qualifications

• If you have previously worked in a construction role, including but not limited to Operations, Planning, Commercial, Design or Estimating, this will help you hit the ground running.
• This role would be suitable for Construction Project Managers, Design Managers, Architects, Engineers, or Quantity Surveyors who are currently at an assistant level and have experience working in the preconstruction stage in the built environment.

Responsibilities

• Motivating and supporting the leadership of a project bid team that includes both internal (estimators, design professionals, MEP professionals and planners) and often external (supply chain and consultants) resource.
• Working closely with your team to develop the commercial strategy on bids.
• Managing the customers’ expectations through informal and formal ‘health checks’, adopting a professional and considerate approach to maintain good working relations.
• Developing and incorporating project strategies to achieve the company’s sustainability objectives.
• Ensuring regular monitoring and reporting on progress, managing potential risks and opportunities, and instigating pre-emptive and corrective actions as required.
• Maintaining continuous professional development of yourself and your team to ensure appropriate technical awareness, implementing best practices and driving continuous improvement.
• Maintaining a ‘one team’ approach throughout to create a seamless transition from preconstruction to operations.
• Coordinating inception workshops with our customers and using your proven listening skills to ensure we truly understand our customers 'Why', gaining vital information that will enable your team to go the extra mile.

Job description

Preconstruction Assistant Project Manager

Due to a strong pipeline of work Willmott Dixon are looking for a dynamic Preconstruction Assistant Project Manager to join our London & East region in Hitchin.

Reporting to the Preconstruction Manager, the successful person will demonstrate true leadership and assist in the management of both internal and external resources to deliver successful tender bids, on time, within budget and to the highest quality, ensuring our customers’ expectations are met and, wherever possible, exceeded. Essentially project managing the preconstruction bid process.

With a proven track record of successful projects, you will be responsible for supporting the oversight of two-stage/negotiated tenders for projects ranging in value from £15m to £75m across a range of sectors, including Education, Health, Defence, Blue Light and Commercial. At Willmott Dixon we operate through numerous Public Sector frameworks, allowing for a greater probability of seeing your hard work come to life.

As an Assistant Preconstruction Project Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Motivating and supporting the leadership of a project bid team that includes both internal (estimators, design professionals, MEP professionals and planners) and often external (supply chain and consultants) resource.

• Working closely with your team to develop the commercial strategy on bids.

• Managing the customers’ expectations through informal and formal ‘health checks’, adopting a professional and considerate approach to maintain good working relations.

• Developing and incorporating project strategies to achieve the company’s sustainability objectives.

• Ensuring regular monitoring and reporting on progress, managing potential risks and opportunities, and instigating pre-emptive and corrective actions as required.

• Maintaining continuous professional development of yourself and your team to ensure appropriate technical awareness, implementing best practices and driving continuous improvement.

• Maintaining a ‘one team’ approach throughout to create a seamless transition from preconstruction to operations.

• Coordinating inception workshops with our customers and using your proven listening skills to ensure we truly understand our customers 'Why', gaining vital information that will enable your team to go the extra mile.

Essential and Desirable Criteria

If you have previously worked in a construction role, including but not limited to Operations, Planning, Commercial, Design or Estimating, this will help you hit the ground running.

This role would be suitable for Construction Project Managers, Design Managers, Architects, Engineers, or Quantity Surveyors who are currently at an assistant level and have experience working in the preconstruction stage in the built environment.

Additional Information

• At Willmott Dixon we provide an inclusive and flexible working environment for people to thrive in and we are happy to support agile working wherever possible.
• We are a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 "Big" Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025. Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King's Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.