Head of Estimating & Preconstruction

Jobot

Birmingham (AL)

On-site

USD 200,000 - 300,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid time off

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Life insurance

401K plan

Support for licenses and certs

Executive-level visibility

Job summary

Jobot in Birmingham, AL is seeking a senior leader to head estimating and preconstruction across all platform categories, including Data Center and Healthcare. You will own pricing integrity, manage the cost database, and superviseAssociate Directors, Managers, and Estimators reporting to the C-suite.

This role requires a calm, decisive leader who can defend pricing to the Board, build cost models with no historical data, and travel up to 35%.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Data Analytics, or related field.
12+ years in construction with 6+ years in Preconstruction and Estimating and leadership.
Ability to lead estimating across multiple programs with >$250M annual pursuit value.
Proven track record improving estimate-to-actual variance and margin.

Responsibilities

Own the accuracy, integrity, and margin impact of preconstruction estimates across all platform categories.
Hold final review and approval authority over pursuit pricing, and set the assumptions, risk registers, contingency, and escalation logic we stand behind.
Lead estimate-to-actual performance, including post-project cost reviews, corrective action, and improved benchmarks, unit costs, and productivity factors.
Define and enforce organization-wide estimating standards, templates, Basis of Estimate requirements, and data practices for conceptual, schematic, design development, and GMP estimates.
Own the preconstruction relational database (historical cost, schedule, and bill of materials) and direct technology and finance investment to keep it reconciled to ERP actuals.
Stand up estimating capability for new building types, building first-of-a-kind cost models, pricing structures, and schedule baselines.
Design and evolve the function's organizational structure, and lead, mentor, and develop Associate Directors and Managers.
Provide go/no-go and pursuit prioritization recommendations covering margin viability, capacity, and risk.
Lead Value Engineering strategy and subcontractor buyout strategy on the largest and most complex pursuits.
Ensure clean handoff of budgets, risks, and assumptions to Program Management, Design, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Construction, and Finance.
Take direct control of pursuits and estimates in serious jeopardy and return them to a defensible, margin-safe state.
Own C-suite client relationships and long-term commercial positioning, including multi-year pricing agreements and shared-savings frameworks.
Present and defend pursuit, pricing, hit rate, and margin performance to Executive Leadership and the Board.
Serve as a credible industry voice on modular cost, productivity, and preconstruction practice.