Director of Preconstruction

APi Group Inc.; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and PTO package

Eligible for ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)

Profit Sharing

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

Educational Opportunities

Job summary

A leading construction firm in Eden Prairie is seeking a Director of Preconstruction to lead project development for large-scale mechanical projects. This role requires a minimum of 7 years in mechanical contracting and proven expertise in estimating complex scopes. The candidate will collaborate closely with various teams to ensure competitive and accurate deliverables. The estimated salary range is $140,000 to $170,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and profit sharing.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in mechanical contracting, with at least 5 in a leadership role.
• Proven ability to lead and manage client-facing presentations.
• Demonstrated experience estimating large, complex mechanical scopes.

Responsibilities

• Lead early-stage project development activities for large projects.
• Establish and enforce estimating standards.
• Manage relationships with general contractors and owners.

Skills

Mechanical contracting

Estimating large mechanical scopes

Communication skills

Project management

BIM/VDC coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) License

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Director of Preconstruction

The Director of Preconstruction leads all design‑assist and early‑stage project development activities for the company's large project and mission‑critical portfolio. This senior preconstruction leader drives MMC’s win strategy, owns the estimate‑to‑contract handoff, and builds the organizational capability (people, tools, and process). This position enables the company to compete and win in complex mechanical scopes including healthcare, industrial, large commercial construction, and hyperscale data centers.

The Director partners closely with Estimating, Operations, BIM/VDC, Procurement, and executive leadership to ensure that preconstruction deliverables are accurate, competitive, and position the project team for a profitable, buildable outcome.

• Direct bid and proposal activity for many large, complex, and design‑assist mechanical scopes from initial RFP through GMP or lump‑sum award.
• Establish and enforce estimating standards: labor productivity benchmarks, material pricing strategy, escalation assumptions, and scope coverage checklists.
• Coordinate directly with Chief Estimator to assign and review work product of estimating staff on concurrent bids.
• Own the proposal evaluation process, ensuring resource commitment aligns with win probability and strategic fit.

Design‑Assist & Preconstruction Services

• Manage design‑assist and design‑build engagements from owner/GC relationship through construction documents, including scope coordination with MEP engineers, VDC teams, and trade partners.
• Lead or supervise the development of design‑assist proposals, budgets, and value engineering recommendations that advance project design while protecting company margin.
• Coordinate with the BIM/VDC team to ensure constructability, prefabrication strategy, and system‑level design decisions are incorporated into preconstruction deliverables.
• Develop and present owner and GC‑facing technical proposals, including project approach narratives, schedule assumptions, qualifications, and staffing plans.
• Review and provide input on subcontract terms, scope of work, and commercial structures during preconstruction; identify exposure items and recommend protective language before execution.
• Collaborate with operations leadership on project kickoff, ensuring estimate assumptions and scope inclusions/exclusions are clearly communicated to the project team.
• Develop and maintain standard qualifications, clarifications, and exclusion language for proposals across project types and delivery methods (lump sum, GMP, T&M, unit price).

Client & Market Development

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with general contractors, owners, developers, and design teams in the company's target markets, with an emphasis on mission‑critical, hyperscale, and large commercial segments.
• Represent the company at industry events, client meetings, and pre‑bid interviews; serve as a senior technical voice during owner presentations and GC selection processes.
• Maintain awareness of market pipeline, competitor positioning, labor market trends, and material cost drivers to inform pricing strategy and business development planning.
• Provide leadership input on target accounts, pursuit prioritization, and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Establish performance expectations, conduct regular reviews, and actively develop staff through mentorship, training, and stretch assignments.
• Partner with HR and executive leadership on recruiting, headcount planning, and compensation benchmarking for the preconstruction function.
• Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement across all preconstruction activities.

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of experience in mechanical contracting, with at least 5 years in a senior estimating or preconstruction leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience estimating large, complex mechanical scopes ($20M+) including HVAC, plumbing, process piping, and/or hydronic/chilled water systems.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems design and construction methods applicable to data centers, healthcare, or large commercial facilities.
• Proficiency with industry estimating tools and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proven ability to lead and manage client‑facing presentations and GC/owner relationships at a senior level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce and review proposal documents, contract qualifications, and executive‑level presentations.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License, a significant plus.
• Familiarity with BIM/VDC coordination workflows and prefabrication strategies within estimating and design‑assist.
• Knowledge of MCAA labor standards and prevailing wage applications.
• Experience with design‑assist and design‑build delivery, including owner and GC contract structures (GMP, CMAR, IPD).
• Background with multi‑site or multi‑OpCo contracting organizations; experience working across shared‑services or Centers of Excellence models.

This position is primarily office‑based with regular travel to project sites, client offices, and industry events. Site visits may involve exposure to standard construction environments including noise, temperature extremes, and physical terrain.

Benefits

• Estimated Salary range of $140,000 to $170,000 (depending on experience) plus Incentive.
• Competitive salary and PTO package.
• Eligible for ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan).
• Profit Sharing.
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance.
• Incentives for environmentally‑friendly behavior.
• Educational Opportunities.

EEO Statement

APi Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.