Director of Preconstruction Services

Merit Construction, Inc.; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Merit Construction, Inc. seeks a Director of Preconstruction Services to lead the company’s preconstruction efforts in Knoxville, TN.

The role partners with senior leadership to provide strategic direction, drive organizational transformation, secure new work, and align preconstruction activities with the company’s mission and strategy. The successful candidate will oversee estimates, bid development, risk management, and client relationships, ensuring accurate, competitive proposals and

Qualifications

• Requires degree in construction management, engineering, or related field.
• Demonstrated leadership in a construction environment.
• Strong numerical and writing abilities.
• Experience with cost estimation and bid preparation.
• Ability to coordinate with Owners, Architects, Subcontractors and Suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives and provide mentorship to teams.
• Manage project pipeline and maintain backlog aligned with company goals.
• Oversee preconstruction tasks including estimates, budgets, and proposals.
• Develop standard operating procedures and process improvements.
• Foster relationships with clients and subcontractors to win work.

Skills

Industry leadership

Advanced math

Communication skills

Technical writing

Estimating ability

Project budgeting

Education

B.S. or B.A in construction management/engineering

Job description

The Director of Preconstruction Services is responsible for leading the company’s preconstruction efforts. In collaboration with other members of the senior leadership team, the Director of Preconstruction Services is to provide strategic leadership, support organizational transformation, secure new work, and lead overall preconstruction efforts in alignment with the overall mission, vision, and strategy of the company.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Provides ongoing mentorship and leadership to ensure the organization’s strategic initiatives and action steps are maximizing the value of the company. Supports the strategy process by actively evaluating changes to the business which could provide the greatest long-term impact to the organization.Routinely champions strategic initiatives and oversees the teams responsible for delivering action items in support of the initiatives. Will build relationships by actively engaging in professional & community organizations. Will maintain a positive company image with clients, potential clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Project Pipeline

Actively collaborate with the President & CEO, VP of Project Management, VP of Field Operations, VP of Business Development, Business Development Manager & Project Executives to cultivate customer relationships, maintain a healthy level of backlog to support the company’s objectives, and evaluate potential pursuits for the adherence to a Go/No-Go process to avoid projects and customers that are not in alignment with the company’s strategy, values, and goals.

Preconstruction

Accountable for the overall performance of the company’s preconstruction efforts.Performance is measured in the following ways:

• Customer Satisfaction: Our customers are the lifeblood of our company.The Director of Preconstruction Services will promote customer focused approaches to preconstruction efforts by anticipating customer needs & expectations, gaining an understanding of customer priorities, and promoting the formation of relationships built on trust.
• Financial: The Director of Preconstruction Services plays a critical role in ensuring that estimates are accurate and competitive.Will provide oversight and organize the estimating efforts of Project Executives, Senior PMs, & PMs in a way that gives the company the best chance to win projects. Will assist the VP of Business Development & Business Development Manager with responses to RFPs and participate in customer interviews / presentations. Will complete budget estimates from limited design information (e.g., SD & DD level drawings) in consistent format with a detailed written scope proposal and possess the ability to fill in the gaps with a reasonable assumption or allowance for everything that’s needed to construct a project.
• Quality: Will continuously monitor progress on estimates to ensure there’s plenty of time for review having estimate workbook completely filled out prior to due date and review all final estimates to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to formal quotation. Will participate in project hand-off meetings to ensure project team members have a good understanding of the estimate prior to the start of construction.
• Systems: Establish standard operating procedures according to best practices for our industry.Evaluating and improving those practices to deliver excellent preconstruction services to clients and collaborating with others within the company to align processes and procedures to maximize productivity and efficiency. Develop preconstruction strategies & techniques that gives the company the best chance to win projects by generating interest in projects from subcontractors & suppliers, giving subcontractors & suppliers ample time to respond to bid invitations, cast a broad net engaging subcontractors & suppliers that are best suited for the project to ensure good coverage & competitive bids, implementing strategies that gain an advantage on competition, identifying and documenting anything special that might affect the project, and organizing all pertinent correspondence, bids, proposals, etc. in a consistent format. Will complete estimates / proposals when promised, early or on time, in a professional and competitive manner. Will make site visits to project sites and attend pre-bid meetings prior to bidding. Ensure the vendor database is maintained by the Office Administrative Assistant. Build trusting relationships with subcontractors by maintaining ethical standards.

Risk Management

Actively involved as a risk mitigation team member.Preconstruction risk mitigation measures include subcontractor and supplier qualifications, evaluation of unique project challenges, and planning safety in project estimates.

Communication

Clearly communicates the company’s mission, vision, & strategy.Ensure that lessons learned are documented and communicated so that others benefit from what is learned.

Essential Skills Qualifications & Experience

• Experienced leader with appropriate industry experience that leads by example and goes above and beyond when necessary.
• B.S. or B.A in construction management, engineering, or related studies
• Advanced math and computer skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated awareness of the need to be responsive to Owners, Architects, Subcontractors, and Suppliers
• Exercises good judgement when documenting important matters to avoid misunderstandings.
• Possess the technical writing skills needed to convey details necessary to avoid misunderstandings, manage risk and write comprehensive proposals, qualifications, clarifications, subcontracts, and purchase orders.
• Excellent organizational, management and decision making/problem solving skills.
• Ability to generate accurate quantity takeoff and pricing.
• Ability to develop preliminary budget estimates.
• Ability to bid work in the open bid market.
• Ability to estimate diverse project types.
• Sound judgment, decisive, and “big picture” perspective
• Demonstrated ability to track and meet timelines in a fast past environment.
• Experience in assigning work to others and holding them accountable for results.
• Proven track record of building relationships with customers
• Strong desire to succeed and be held accountable for results.

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