Director of Preconstruction

Interactive Resources; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Interactive Resources seeks a Director of Preconstruction to lead the preconstruction and estimating function from design through project award. You will provide strategic direction, oversee budgeting, bidding strategies, and constructability solutions while mentoring a high-performing team.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in construction estimating with strong leadership, market knowledge, and collaboration with clients, architects, and subcontractors to drive accurate budgets and schedules.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of estimating/preconstruction experience in construction.
• Bachelor's degree or higher preferred/required.
• Strong knowledge of construction pricing and market conditions.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Understanding of construction documents, scheduling, and constructability.
• Ability to lead design, budgeting, and client meetings.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the preconstruction and estimating team.
• Coordinate estimating workloads, schedules, resources, and priorities.
• Develop and implement preconstruction strategies for negotiated and hard-bid projects.
• Review estimates, budgets, GMP packages, bid packages, and schedules.
• Provide cost estimates across all design phases, evaluating material, labor, and subs.
• Identify risks, scope gaps, allowances, and potential cost exposures for senior leadership.
• Develop preliminary construction schedules and coordinate design, estimating, approval, and purchasing.
• Lead client meetings and preconstruction strategy discussions.
• Provide constructability reviews and offer budget-conscious alternatives.
• Build relationships with clients, architects, engineers, subs, and suppliers.
• Attend client interviews, RFPs, BD activities, and industry events.
• Review subcontractor/vendor bids and maintain bidder lists.
• Maintain historical cost databases and pricing information.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating experience

Budgeting

Client engagement

Team management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Smartsheet

SureTrak

On-Screen Takeoff

Job description

The Director of Preconstruction will lead and oversee the preconstruction and estimating function, providing strategic direction, team leadership, client engagement, and oversight of estimating activities from early design through project award. This role will work closely with executive leadership, project teams, clients, architects, subcontractors, and vendors to develop accurate budgets, schedules, bid strategies, and constructability solutions.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of construction estimating experience, strong leadership capabilities, extensive knowledge of construction costs and market conditions, and the ability to manage multiple preconstruction efforts while developing and mentoring a high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the preconstruction and estimating team.
• Coordinate estimating workloads, schedules, resources, and priorities.
• Develop and implement preconstruction strategies for negotiated and hard-bid projects.
• Review estimates, budgets, GMP packages, bid packages, schedules, and scope of work for accuracy and completeness.
• Provide cost estimates throughout all phases of design and evaluate material, system, labor, and subcontractor costs.
• Identify project risks, scope gaps, allowances, and potential cost exposures and communicate findings to senior leadership.
• Develop preliminary construction schedules and coordinate design, estimating, approval, and purchasing activities.
• Lead preconstruction strategy, design/budget, and client meetings.
• Provide constructability reviews throughout the design process and offer alternative solutions to meet budget and project objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Participate in client interviews, RFPs, business development activities, industry events, and conferences.
• Review subcontractor and vendor bids and maintain qualified bidder lists.
• Develop and maintain historical cost databases and pricing information to improve estimating accuracy and efficiency.
• Monitor preconstruction fees and departmental resources to manage overhead effectively.
• Collaborate with project and design teams to evaluate logistics, schedules, maintenance costs, and life-cycle costs.
• Hire, train, mentor, and develop estimators and senior estimators.
• Establish training and development plans to strengthen individual and departmental performance.
• Stay current with construction market conditions, pricing trends, estimating practices, and construction technology.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the construction industry, with significant estimating/preconstruction experience.
• Bachelor's degree or higher preferred/required.
• Extensive knowledge of construction pricing across various building markets.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, project logistics, scheduling, and constructability.
• Ability to lead design, budgeting, and client meetings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Field construction experience is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Smartsheet, SureTrak, and On-Screen Takeoff or similar construction/estimating software.