Director of Preconstruction

McGough; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 165,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance coverage (medical, dental,视)

Retirement plans

Parental leave

Generous paid time off

Holiday pay

Travel to project sites

Job summary

McGough, based in Minnesota, seeks a Director of Preconstruction to lead the Central Minnesota preconstruction and estimating functions. Reporting to the General Manager, you will shape pursuits and guide projects from concept through GMP, balancing client, design, and trade perspectives with discipline.

You will drive processes, develop a high-performing team, and oversee cost leadership across portfolios, with extensive collaboration across estimating, scheduling, MEP, and QA/QC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or related field.
• 15+ years in general contracting, preconstruction, estimating, or PM on large, complex projects.
• Experience leading negotiated, CM at Risk, or design-build preconstruction from concept through GMP.
• Five+ years leading people or functions, including staffing and coaching.
• Experience managing estimates, cost models, contingencies, bid analysis, and procurement.
• Broad knowledge of building systems, MEP, constructability, and procurement strategy.
• Ability to balance owner/designer/contractor perspectives with commercial discipline.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, writing, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Pursuit Strategy and Business Development: align with leaders on win strategy and preconstruction approach.
• Preconstruction Leadership: define roles, lead projects from pursuit to GMP, manage risk logs.
• Estimating and Cost Leadership: oversee concept through GMP estimates and cost models.
• People Leadership: manage and develop the team, set expectations and accountability.
• Process Improvement: simplify workflows, track milestones, apply lessons learned.
• Other Duties: participate in leadership meetings and build internal/external relationships.

Skills

Preconstruction leadership

Estimating

Staffing & coaching

Cost modeling

Constructability

Lean / VDC / BIM

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or master's in construction management / engineering / architecture

Job description

McGough is a respected partner that brings six generations of experience to high profile, unique and complex construction projects. We take great pride in our people and their extraordinary expertise in planning, development, construction and facility management. McGough employee tenure reflects the commitment and pride we share in our work. Ask anyone who knows us – the caliber of our people sets us apart.

Position Description

The Director of Preconstruction leads the Central Minnesota operating unit's preconstruction and estimating functions. Reporting to the General Manager, this role manages the local estimating team and partners with Project Executives to shape pursuits and guide selected projects from concept through GMP.

The Director serves as a flexible extension of the Project Executive team. Depending on workload and project needs, the Director may lead preconstruction, provide targeted support, or guide cost planning under Project Executive sponsorship. The role also drives consistent processes and high-quality deliverables across the operating unit in alignment with McGough enterprise preconstruction and estimating processes and workflows.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 15+ years in general contracting, preconstruction, estimating, or project management on large, complex projects.
• Experience leading negotiated, CM at Risk, or design-build preconstruction from concept through GMP.
• Five or more years leading people or functions, including staffing, coaching, performance, and workload.
• Experience managing estimates and working knowledge of concept budgets, cost models, general conditions, contingencies, bid analysis, and procurement.
• Broad knowledge of building systems, MEP, constructability, logistics, phasing, procurement strategy, risk management, codes & regulations.
• Ability to balance owner, designer, contractor, and trade partner perspectives with commercial discipline.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, writing, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing, deadline-driven environment.

Preferred

• Senior level experience in preconstruction, project execution, project management, estimating, or target value design.
• Experience across multiple building types and market sectors (Healthcare, Life Science, Higher Ed, Corporate, Advanced Manufacturing)
• Experience with early site evaluation, entitlements, pro formas, consultant selection, or scope definition.
• Experience with Lean, VDC/BIM, design-assist, prefabrication, sustainability, or collaborative planning.
• Established Central Minnesota owner, design, and trade partner relationships.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic judgment for connecting operating unit goals to practical project and staffing decisions.
• Collaborative leadership to build alignment and define accountability for project teams.
• Executive presence for earning trust with Estimators, Project Executives, General Superintendents, clients, and designers.
• Continuous improvement - simplifies work, reinforces standards, and applies data and lessons learned.
• Talent development for providing clarity, feedback, growth opportunities, and accountability to team.
• High integrity for protecting confidences, honoring commitments, and strengthening relationships.

OFFICE AND TRAVEL

This role is based at our Headquarters office in Roseville, with regular travel to project sites, client meetings, and McGough offices. Periodic overnight, evening, or weekend commitments are expected.

Responsibilities And Tasks

Pursuit Strategy and Business Development (15% of time)

• Partner with Project Executives, General Superintendents, and Business Development on opportunity selection, win strategy, team structure, and preconstruction approach.
• Advise the General Manager on pipeline, workload, staffing, risk, and improvement priorities.
• Shape delivery strategy, including fee, general conditions, schedule, procurement, and client commitments.
• Support pursuits through concept estimates, proposals, presentations, interviews, and early workshops.
• Represent McGough in client meetings, industry events, and relationship‑building activities.
• Identify early risks and opportunities and incorporate them into pursuit and execution plans.

Preconstruction Leadership (30% of time)

• Define roles and decision rights with each Project Executive/General Superintendent, dependent on project needs, timing, and resources.
• Lead or support projects from pursuit or award through GMP.
• Lead portfolio reviews to confirm project stage, deliverables, decisions, risks, staffing, and next steps.
• Set the preconstruction plan, including roles, deliverables, milestones, reviews, and communication cadence.
• Guide early decisions on scope, design, site, and systems to maintain budget, schedule, quality, and constructability.
• Integrate key resources, including estimating, scheduling, logistics, MEP, VDC/BIM, QA/QC, Lean, safety, and procurement.
• Lead project reviews for constructability, options, value, and design-assist.
• Maintain risk and decision logs and resolve gaps early.
• Keep stakeholders informed on budget, scope, assumptions, decisions, and recommendations.
• Lead a clear turnover of scope, estimate basis, commitments, risks, procurement, schedule, and open items.

Estimating and Cost Leadership (30% of time)

• Balance estimating assignments and engage enterprise resources when needed.
• Oversee concept through GMP estimates, including cost models, escalation, contingencies, general conditions, allowances, and assumptions.
• Oversee trade outreach through bid leveling, coverage, award recs, and self‑perform pricing as applicable.
• Conduct review requirements based on project size and risk.
• Review major estimates for completeness, accuracy, scope, market alignment, logistics, procurement, and risk.
• Provide timely feedback on cost and program throughout design.
• Improve cost intelligence using buyout and project results.
• Identify market impacts, including long lead items, constraints, package strategies, and early procurement.

People Leadership (15% of time)

• Manage and develop the team, including staffing, performance, recruiting, and succession.
• Set clear expectations, development plans, and balanced assignments.
• Develop team capability through coaching and stretch assignments.
• Reinforce accountability, integrity, calm problem‑solving, and relationship‑building.

Process Improvement (5% of time)

• Collaborate with McGough Enterprise leader on ways to simplify workflows, including templates, reviews, meetings, decisions, and turnover.
• Track practical measures for workload, milestones, quality, budget movement, risk, turnover, feedback, and development.
• Apply lessons learned to standards, training, data, and planning.
• Promote consistent use of technology and ways to leverage new tools.
• Align local practices with McGough standards and the McGough Way.

Other Duties (5% of time)

• Participate in company activities, including leadership meetings, lean events, training, and industry events.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners.
• Able to perform estimator tasks and responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Manager.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements listed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position involves sitting for extended periods of time at employee’s workstation and during meetings as well as while traveling, either by plane or car. Employee needs to be able to lift to 20 pounds as frequently as needed to move objects; dexterity to write and manipulate computer keyboard and mouse; ability to hear and speak clearly; and ability to distinguish between colors on graphs and charts.

In alignment with our commitment to pay transparency, the base salary range for this position is $165,000 to $225,000, excluding fringe benefits or potential bonuses. If you join McGough, your final base salary will be determined by several factors, including geography, location, skills, education, and experience. Furthermore, we place significant value on pay equity among our current team members as part of any final job offer.

Please note that the range provided above reflects the hiring range for this role. Hiring near the top end of this range would be atypical, as we aim to allow room for future salary growth. Additionally, McGough offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. This includes insurance coverage for medical, dental, vision, life, and disability. We also provide generous retirement plans, voluntary benefit plans, parental leave, substantial paid time off, and holiday pay.

Occasionally, employee will be required to visit construction jobsites which may expose the employee to dirt, dust, uneven surfaces, outdoor weather conditions and extreme temperatures.