Director of Estimating & Preconstruction

Prevail Recruiting; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct access to executive leadership

Opportunity for significant impact

High visibility across the organization

Job summary

Prevail Recruiting is seeking a Head of Bidding & Estimating in Northern Virginia to lead the preconstruction and estimating function. This high-visibility role will directly influence project selection, margin protection, and revenue growth, requiring significant leadership and strategic skills. The ideal candidate possesses over 10 years of experience in commercial construction estimating and is adept at building trust with clients.

You'll oversee estimating workflows, improve processes, and drive innovation through AI and technology integration. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape a critical function and make a significant impact on the organization's growth trajectory.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of commercial construction estimating and/or preconstruction leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of GMPs and hard bids.
• Experience managing multiple pursuits in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all estimating and bid development activities.
• Lead pricing strategy from conceptual budgeting through final submission.
• Establish estimating standards and accountability systems.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial construction estimating expertise

Strategic thinking

Data-driven decision-making

Education

10+ years of commercial construction estimating experience

Tools

AI and technology tools

Job description

Commercial Construction | Northern Virginia / Mid-Atlantic

A growing commercial general contractor in the Northern Virginia market is seeking a high-impact Head of Bidding & Estimating to lead and modernize its preconstruction and estimating function.

This is a highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the CEO and will play a critical part in the company’s long-term growth strategy.

We are not looking for someone who simply produces estimates.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can:

• drive smart pursuit strategy
• build trust with owners and clients
• improve estimating systems and discipline
• confidently represent the company in the room
• help scale the organization through operational excellence

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong commercial construction estimating expertise with executive presence, leadership ability, business acumen, and a forward-thinking mindset.

The Opportunity

The company is actively investing in:

• operational systems
• process improvement
• AI and technology integration

The Head of Bidding & Estimating will help build the engine behind that growth.

You will lead bidding strategy, oversee estimating workflows, improve forecasting accuracy, strengthen subcontractor engagement, and help ensure the company is pursuing the right work, not simply the most work.

This role will directly influence:

• project selection
• margin protection
• client relationships
• revenue growth

The organization performs a mix of:

• negotiated work
• GMP projects
• hard bids

Projects range across:

• athletic & recreation
• education
• faith-based
• commercial construction sectors

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Oversee all estimating and bid development activities
• Develop accurate, competitive, and strategically positioned estimates
• Lead pricing strategy from conceptual budgeting through final submission
• Partner with operations and leadership teams to align pricing with execution realities
• Improve win rates while protecting profitability

Build a Disciplined Estimating Operation

• Establish estimating standards, workflows, and accountability systems
• Develop bid calendars, forecasting tools, and reporting metrics
• Improve estimating consistency, accuracy, and turnaround times
• Build and maintain historical cost databases and benchmarking systems
• Reduce fire drills and create a more predictable bidding environment

Client & Owner Engagement

• Participate in owner meetings, presentations, and preconstruction discussions
• Build credibility and trust with clients and partners
• Clearly communicate pricing, assumptions, risks, and value engineering opportunities
• Represent the company professionally in high-stakes conversations
• Strengthen subcontractor participation and coverage
• Improve vendor relationships and bid competitiveness
• Ensure proper scope coverage and minimize pricing gaps
• Support negotiations and procurement strategy where needed

Drive Innovation & Technology Adoption

• Help modernize the estimating function through AI and technology tools
• Improve data visibility and decision‑making capabilities
• Bring a continuous improvement mindset to systems and workflows

What We’re Looking For

Required Experience

• 10+ years of commercial construction estimating and/or preconstruction leadership experience
• Experience leading large commercial bids and negotiated pursuits
• Strong understanding of:
• GMPs
• hard bids
• subcontractor management
• Experience managing multiple pursuits simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment
• Proven ability to lead teams or cross‑functional bid coordination efforts

Leadership & Communication

The ideal candidate is:

• polished and professional
• confident in front of owners and executives
• emotionally mature
• highly accountable
• data‑driven
• calm under pressure
• clear and concise communicator

This person must be able to walk into a room independently, represent the company well, and build trust quickly.

Mindset & Culture Fit

We are looking for someone who:

• takes ownership
• thrives in high‑accountability environments
• is hungry, competitive, and growth‑oriented
• embraces feedback and coaching
• wants to build something meaningful
• is excited by change and modernization
• is interested in leveraging AI and emerging technology to improve operations

Preferred Background

Strong preference for candidates with experience in:

• Mid‑Atlantic commercial construction markets
• Education projects
• Faith-based construction
• Complex negotiated work

Experience with projects ranging from $10M–$30M+ strongly preferred.

Location

This role supports projects throughout:

• Northern Virginia
• Maryland
• Washington, D.C.

Ideal candidates will already be located within or connected to the Northern Virginia / DC commercial construction market.

Potential office flexibility exists within:

• Prince William County
• Marshall / Reston corridor

Why This Role Stands Out

• Direct access to executive leadership
• Opportunity to build and shape a critical function
• High visibility and influence across the organization
• Strong long‑term growth trajectory
• Company actively investing in systems, leadership, and innovation
• Ability to make a measurable impact immediately

If you’re a builder, leader, strategist, and relationship‑driven estimating professional looking for a meaningful growth opportunity, we’d love to connect.