Director of Preconstruction

Engtal; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 135,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus opportunity

Retirement plan participation

Vehicle allowance

Paid time off

Long-term growth opportunity

Job summary

Engtal is looking for a Director of Preconstruction in Columbus, Ohio. This role will lead the company’s estimating and preconstruction efforts for various projects, partnering closely with executive leadership and serving as a key leader within the organization.

The ideal candidate should bring at least 10 years of experience in commercial construction estimating, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a strong understanding of the construction process. Attractive compensation includes a base salary of $135K-$185K, with additional benefits.

The ideal candidate will be involved in mentoring estimators and shaping project strategies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of estimating or preconstruction experience within commercial construction.
• Prior leadership experience within estimating or a related construction function.
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the preconstruction and estimating function.
• Oversee conceptual estimating, budgeting, and design development estimates.
• Develop accurate and thoughtful budgets based on limited drawings.

Skills

Estimating

Leadership

Budgeting

Value Engineering

Communication

Tools

Estimating Software

Job description

$135-185K+ Base Salary + Bonus + Profit Sharing

About the Company

Our client is a well‑established, locally rooted general contractor with a strong reputation across Central Ohio and the broader regional market. The company has built its name through long‑standing client relationships, high‑quality work, and a team‑oriented approach to project delivery.

With a diverse portfolio spanning commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, mixed‑use, and other complex building projects, this organization is continuing to grow and is seeking a strong preconstruction leader to help guide the next phase of that growth.

Position Overview

The Director of Preconstruction will lead the company’s estimating and preconstruction efforts, overseeing pursuit strategy, budgeting, conceptual estimating, and overall preconstruction planning for a variety of negotiated and hard‑bid projects.

This individual will serve as a key leader within the organization, partnering closely with executive leadership, operations, business development, project management, field leadership, owners, architects, engineers, and trade partners. The ideal candidate will bring a strong technical estimating foundation, leadership capability, and the ability to build trust early in the project lifecycle.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys being involved at the front end of projects, influencing strategy, mentoring estimating talent, and helping shape how work is pursued, priced, planned, and ultimately handed off to operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the preconstruction and estimating function across assigned pursuits and active preconstruction efforts.
• Oversee conceptual estimating, schematic budgeting, design development estimates, GMP development, value engineering, constructability reviews, and final bid preparation.
• Partner with executive leadership and operations to determine pursuit strategy, project approach, staffing considerations, schedule assumptions, and risk factors.
• Develop accurate and thoughtful budgets based on limited drawings, early concepts, owner goals, historical data, market conditions, and subcontractor input.
• Lead preconstruction meetings with clients, architects, engineers, consultants, and internal teams.
• Guide and mentor estimators and preconstruction team members, helping develop technical skills, process consistency, and overall department capability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, design partners, and owners.
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, proposals, and contract documents to identify gaps, risks, exclusions, alternates, and value opportunities.
• Support business development efforts by contributing technical insight during client meetings, interviews, presentations, and pursuit strategy discussions.
• Ensure smooth handoff from preconstruction to operations, including scope review, budget alignment, schedule assumptions, subcontractor strategy, and project risk items.
• Evaluate subcontractor coverage, bid leveling, scope gaps, and market competitiveness to support accurate and complete project pricing.
• Maintain awareness of local market trends, labor conditions, material pricing, escalation, subcontractor capacity, and other factors impacting project cost.
• Continue improving preconstruction processes, tools, templates, historical cost data, and internal best practices.
• Serve as a trusted internal resource for project teams throughout the early phases of project planning and execution.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of estimating or preconstruction experience within commercial construction, preferably with a general contractor or construction manager.
• Prior leadership experience within estimating, preconstruction, or a related construction leadership function.
• Strong experience with conceptual estimating, budgeting, GMP development, hard bids, negotiated work, design‑assist, and value engineering.
• Experience across commercial, industrial, education, healthcare, mixed‑use, civic, or other complex building projects preferred.
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, subcontractor scopes, bid strategy, project sequencing, and cost drivers.
• Ability to lead client‑facing preconstruction conversations with credibility, professionalism, and confidence.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across estimating, operations, field leadership, executive leadership, design teams, owners, and trade partners.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and develop team members while maintaining accountability and consistency.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple pursuits, deadlines, and priorities at once.
• Proficiency with estimating and construction technology platforms.

This position offers a competitive compensation package, including a base salary range of $135,000–$185,000, dependent on experience.

Additional compensation and benefits include:

• Performance‑based bonus opportunity
• Retirement plan participation
• Vehicle allowance or related reimbursement structure
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Long‑term growth opportunity within a stable, respected regional contractor