Director of Preconstruction

Lochridge-Priest, Inc.; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

401(k) with Company Match

Job summary

Lochridge-Priest, Inc. seeks a Director of Preconstruction to lead estimating and preconstruction for commercial and industrial MEP projects. You will guide bid strategy, constructability reviews, budgets, and early project planning to secure profitable delivery.

Collaborate with operations, project leadership, field teams, clients, design professionals, and trade partners to ensure smooth transitions from pursuit to execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 8+ years in estimating or preconstruction management for commercial/industrial MEP.
• Experience leading estimating teams and managing complex bids and budgets.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contracts.
• Experience with value engineering and cost analysis; skilled negotiations.
• Proficiency with estimating software and construction tech (Bluebeam, Trimble, EST-MEP, Procore).

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the estimation and preconstruction team with clear priorities and accountability.
• Oversee preconstruction for commercial/industrial MEP projects from pursuit to handoff.
• Prepare and review conceptual estimates, takeoffs, budgets, bid packages, and proposals.
• Identify scope gaps, risks, and constructability concerns from drawings and specs.
• Evaluate labor productivity, manpower needs, and project schedules with operations.
• Lead bid reviews, bid strategy, and pricing recommendations with leadership.
• Build relationships with owners, general contractors, architects, and subs.
• Coordinate value engineering and cost-saving measures while preserving quality.
• Support procurement and contract negotiations with subcontractors and suppliers.
• Ensure timely handoff of estimates, clarifications, and budgets to operations.
• Promote safety and quality during preconstruction planning and site logistics.
• Monitor estimating performance and capture lessons learned for improvement.
• Assist leadership with workload planning and strategic initiatives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating & Preconstruction

Bid strategy

Reading drawings

Value engineering

Estimation software

Negotiation

Team development

Safety & quality

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Engineering

Tools

Bluebeam

Trimble

EST-MEP

Procore

Microsoft Office

Job description

Lochridge-Priest is a family owned and operated company that has served the Central Texas area for over 60 years. Offices in Waco, Temple, and Fort Worth with over 400 dedicated employees. At LPI, our strength lies in our people—Texans committed to excellence in every project. Be part of a company where your skills make a difference and your work builds communities.

The Director of Preconstruction leads LPI’s estimating and preconstruction operations for commercial and industrial mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) construction opportunities. This position provides direction on estimating accuracy, bid strategy, constructability, budgets, and early project planning to support competitive proposals and profitable project delivery.

Working with Operations, project leadership, field teams, clients, design professionals, and trade partners, the Director ensures a coordinated transition from pursuit and preconstruction into project execution.

Company Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) with Company Match

Job Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and manage the estimating and preconstruction team, establishing clear priorities, quality standards, and accountability for deliverables.
• Oversee preconstruction efforts for ground-up and other commercial and industrial MEP construction projects, from initial pursuit through contract award and handoff.
• Direct the preparation and review of conceptual estimates, detailed takeoffs, pricing, budgets, bid packages, and proposals.
• Review drawings, specifications, addenda, contracts, and project requirements to identify scope gaps, risks, opportunities, and constructability concerns.
• Partner with Operations and field leadership to evaluate labor productivity assumptions, manpower needs, construction methods, project schedules, and logistical constraints.
• Lead bid reviews and support go/no-go decisions, bid strategy, scope alignment, and pricing recommendations with company leadership.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with owners, general contractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, and other project stakeholders.
• Coordinate value engineering, alternative systems, and cost-saving recommendations while maintaining project quality, performance, and contractual requirements.
• Oversee subcontractor and supplier outreach, bid leveling, scope clarification, and support for procurement and contract negotiations.
• Collaborate with project teams to establish preliminary budgets, milestone schedules, long-lead procurement plans, and project execution assumptions.
• Ensure complete, timely handoff of estimates, clarifications, exclusions, assumptions, budgets, and commitments to the construction operations team.
• Promote safety and quality considerations during preconstruction planning, including site logistics, sequencing, and foreseeable construction risks.
• Monitor estimating performance and bid outcomes; identify lessons learned and improve tools, workflows, cost data, and estimating consistency.
• Support leadership with workload planning, staffing needs, reporting, and strategic preconstruction initiatives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Eight (8) or more years of progressive experience in estimating or preconstruction management, preferably within commercial or industrial MEP construction.
• Demonstrated experience leading preconstruction or estimating teams and managing complex bids and budgets.
• Strong ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Experience with value engineering, cost analysis, subcontractor and vendor negotiations, and preconstruction planning.
• Working knowledge of estimating and construction technology such as Bluebeam, Trimble, EST-MEP, Procore, or comparable systems.
• Strong leadership, coaching, delegation, and team development skills.
• Sound commercial judgment, analytical thinking, and attention to estimating accuracy.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and coordinate multiple bids and preconstruction efforts.
• Collaborative approach to working with Operations, field leadership, design teams, and external partners.
• Commitment to safety, quality, continuous improvement, and responsible project risk management.
• Proficiency in construction estimating software and Microsoft Office applications.

This position operates in professional office settings and active construction environments. The role involves frequent collaboration with estimating, operations, field personnel, customers, and external project partners. Visits to jobsites, bid meetings, and other company locations may be required, with occasional schedule flexibility to meet proposal deadlines.

• Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.