Lead Preconstruction & Estimating

Wohlsen Construction; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Wohlsen Construction seeks a senior leader to manage Preconstruction and Estimating, guiding teams from initial award through GMP signing and start. You will drive budgeting, scheduling, and design coordination across projects, delivering high-quality preconstruction services that align with client goals.

You will supervise department staff, mentor teams, and lead value engineering efforts, ensuring accurate bid documents and profitable GMP outcomes while maintaining client satisfaction and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Engineering, Construction Technology, Architecture or similar field of study.
• 3–10 years of construction experience.
• Valid driver’s license with ability to travel to regional offices to support local estimating projects.
• Authorization to work in the United States indefinitely without restriction or sponsorship.
• Willingness to work additional hours to meet business plan goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Wohlsen preconstruction team to accomplish contract requirements, services by budgeting, scheduling, or organizing, defining roles and responsibilities with input from the Operations Manager and Superintendents.
• Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development and GMP estimates to support preconstruction activities and clients.
• Contribute to the development of standards, processes, and practices as needed for the Preconstruction Services to be a 'Best of Class' provider in the construction industry.
• Attend scheduled meetings with project architects/customers to acquaint them with unresolved problems and to provide adequate coordination to ensure accurate bidding documents.
• Maintain and adjust to owner’s budget to keep the project within budget.
• Monitor design scope for changes affecting budget and/or schedule; identify causes, advise customers for decision making.
• Keep customers informed of preconstruction progress and of any technical problems/solutions and their effect on design and/or costs.
• Identify and promote solutions to any problems that might impede project progress or adversely affect customer and architect relations.
• Coordinate with the Estimating department on the development of project budgets and oversee prepared estimates into format for owner and architect presentation; answer budget questions during presentation.
• Manage the project team’s performance to ensure contract requirements are fulfilled, safety, insurance, legal procedures are followed, and risks are limited.
• Lead value engineering and value enhancement efforts to serve clients, including development of items and lists, compilation of ideas, and presentation of information to clients.
• Prepare and/or oversee all materials presented to owner, architect or engineer on a project.
• Lead and perform constructability reviews of all projects where designated the preconstruction manager.
• Ensure proper turnover of a project from Preconstruction and estimating to operations with appropriate hand-off meetings and all information transferred to the operations team.
• Initiate billing process, review and approve all invoices prior to submittal to customer.
• Participate in presentations with potential clients and support the review and approval of contracts before signing.
• Finalize GMP price with client that meets client needs and provides maximum profitability within contract terms and conditions.
• Support negotiation of owner contracts.
• Assist and lead purchasing of subcontractors and suppliers or determine on a project-by-project basis.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Engineering, Construction Technology, Architecture or similar field of study.

Job description

Wohlsen Construction seeks a senior leader to manage Preconstruction and Estimating, guiding teams from initial award through GMP signing and start. You will drive budgeting, scheduling, and design coordination across projects, delivering high-quality preconstruction services that align with client goals.

You will supervise department staff, mentor teams, and lead value engineering efforts, ensuring accurate bid documents and profitable GMP outcomes while maintaining client satisfaction and