Head of Preconstruction & Estimating

CMC Development & Construction; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

CMC Development & Construction, based in Texas, seeks a Preconstruction Executive to lead preconstruction and estimating across regions. The role drives conceptual budgeting, GMP development, and final pricing while building a high-performing team.

You will review drawings, manage risks, and lead multi-method pursuits. Ideal candidates have 10+ years in preconstruction, strong leadership, and proficiency with BuildingConnected, OST Estimating, Bluebeam, and MS Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in preconstruction, estimating, or construction management.
• Proven ability to independently lead estimates and complex pursuits from initial opportunity through final proposal and project turnover.
• Experience building, leading, or developing preconstruction and estimating teams.
• Strong knowledge of commercial construction estimating, conceptual budgeting, subcontractor scope development, procurement, scheduling, and constructability.
• Demonstrated experience with hard bid, CSP/RFP, CMAR, Design-Build, JOC, and negotiated delivery methods.
• LEED AP, DBIA, AACE, ASPE, or other relevant industry certifications are a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, presentation, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for CMC’s preconstruction and estimating functions across all regions.
• Establish and continuously improve departmental standards, estimating procedures, workflows, templates, and quality-control processes.
• Develop the organizational structure and staffing plan necessary to support CMC’s growth and pursuit volume.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop estimators and preconstruction professionals as the department expands.
• Manage department workload, pursuit assignments, deadlines, and resources to ensure timely and accurate deliverables.
• Establish and monitor departmental KPIs, including estimating accuracy, pursuit volume, hit rate, subcontractor participation, and preconstruction performance.
• Maintain and develop historical cost data, estimating benchmarks, and lessons learned to improve future pricing.
• Personally lead estimates, hard bids, CSP/RFP pursuits, CMAR proposals, Design-Build pursuits, JOC opportunities, and negotiated projects as required.
• Lead conceptual estimating, budgeting, design-phase estimating, GMP development, and final pricing.
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes, and other contract documents to identify project requirements, risks, exclusions, and opportunities.
• Lead estimate reviews and ensure pricing is complete, competitive, properly scoped, and consistent with CMC standards prior to submission.
• Develop value engineering alternatives and cost-saving strategies without compromising project quality or owner requirements.
• Lead constructability reviews, logistics planning, phasing evaluations, and preconstruction scheduling.
• Evaluate project risks related to scope, schedule, pricing, market conditions, subcontractor coverage, and contract requirements.
• Present final estimates and recommendations to executive leadership for review and approval.
• Partner with Business Development and executive leadership to evaluate opportunities and support go/no-go decisions.
• Provide early project intelligence related to budget, schedule, delivery method, competition, subcontractor market conditions, and overall pursuit risk.
• Participate in client interviews, presentations, proposal development, and pursuit strategy meetings.
• Develop preconstruction strategies that differentiate CMC and strengthen the company’s competitive position.
• Support relationship development with owners, architects, consultants, subcontractors, and other industry partners.
• Lead comprehensive preconstruction-to-operations handoff meetings following project award.
• Ensure Operations understands the estimate, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, alternates, subcontractor coverage, schedule considerations, and identified project risks.
• Coordinate with Operations during scope development, buyout, and project startup to maintain continuity between the estimate and execution plan.
• Participate in post-project reviews to compare estimated versus actual costs and incorporate lessons learned into future estimates.
• Maintain accountability for the quality and completeness of preconstruction information transferred to the project team.
• Serve as CMC’s senior preconstruction representative with owners, architects, consultants, and other project stakeholders.
• Lead client presentations, design meetings, budgeting discussions, value engineering sessions, and preconstruction workshops.
• Communicate cost, schedule, constructability, and procurement considerations clearly to clients and design teams.
• Build trust with clients by providing timely, transparent, and solution-oriented preconstruction services.
• Represent CMC professionally throughout the pursuit and preconstruction process.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Presentation

Organizational skills

Hands-on leadership

Education

Bachelors in Construction Management / Engineering / Architecture

Tools

BuildingConnected

OST Estimating

Bluebeam

Microsoft Office

Job description

CMC Development & Construction, based in Texas, seeks a Preconstruction Executive to lead preconstruction and estimating across regions. The role drives conceptual budgeting, GMP development, and final pricing while building a high-performing team.

You will review drawings, manage risks, and lead multi-method pursuits. Ideal candidates have 10+ years in preconstruction, strong leadership, and proficiency with BuildingConnected, OST Estimating, Bluebeam, and MS Office.