Manager, Preconstruction

Nscale; United States; On-site; USD 175,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Equity options

Medical, dental, vision

Parental leave

Retirement plan participation

Job summary

Nscale is seeking a hands‑on Manager, Preconstruction — a pivotal role within our growing North American Preconstruction team reporting directly to the Director/Senior Manager, Preconstruction.

As Manager, you will be a key contributor to the Preconstruction team, supporting integrated Capex Total Development Cost Proformas, integrated development cash flow/commitment/cancellation Cost Ledgers, and planning level constructability analysis across a portfolio of hyperscale and mission‑critical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 8+ years of related Preconstruction or Construction management experience
• Experience managing Analysts and Senior Estimators, with demonstrated ability to lead a team of experienced professionals
• Data center or mission-critical facility experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in all cost code divisions, conceptual estimating, cash flow modeling, GC and Contractor RFP review, and Contractor Budget Reviews
• Strong understanding of construction documents at all levels of design — drawings, specifications, and contracts
• Proven ability to contribute to multiple high-value concurrent projects while maintaining team cohesion and deliverable quality
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Word
• Excellent communicator across all levels — from trade partners to executive leadership and clients
• Willingness to travel up to 25% based on business needs

Responsibilities

• Own complex scope, development cost, and risk issues for active and prospective sites
• Support Preconstruction Leadership in building out processes, leading implementation and rollout at a project level
• Contribute to Capex and Schedule strategy for prospective developments
• Perform independent take‑offs, cost estimates, and contractor pricing validations
• Review Prime Contractor, Subcontractor, Colocation Provider, Power Entity, Building Design, and Consultant proposals for scope, cost, and schedule
• Maintain and improve the internal project cost database with lessons learned

Skills

Leadership

Cost estimation

Team management

Communication

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management or related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Word

Job description

Nscale is seeking a hands‑on Manager, Preconstruction — a pivotal role within our growing North American Preconstruction team reporting directly to the Director/Senior Manager, Preconstruction. As Manager, you will be a key contributor to the Preconstruction team, supporting integrated Capex Total Development Cost Proformas, integrated development cash flow/commitment/cancellation Cost Ledgers, and planning level constructability analysis across a portfolio of hyperscale and mission‑critical data center projects.

This is a team role: you will set the standard for technical excellence with internal and external partners, develop projects and workflows, and drive process consistency. You will be a critical contributor in shaping the Preconstruction team while providing professional cost, schedule, risk, and constructability analysis for prospective developments shaping capital expenditure decisions across North America.

Leadership & Development

• You are a key contributor to a high‑performance team culture grounded in accountability, technical rigor, and continuous improvement
• Own complex scope, development cost, and risk issues for active and prospective sites
• Support Preconstruction Leadership in building out processes, leading implementation and rollout at a project level, and contributing to overall Capex and Schedule strategy for prospective developments

Preconstruction Execution & Oversight

• Support the delivery of site‑specific CapEx proformas, conceptual estimates, GC RFP reviews, Cost Ledgers consisting of project‑wide cash flow/commitment/cancellation costs, and revenue‑ready date forecasting across specific projects in the portfolio
• Perform independent take‑offs, cost estimates, and contractor pricing validations
• Support Prime Contractor Budget Reviews, directly contributing to cost and schedule analysis from conceptual phase through IGMP
• Ensure thorough review of Prime Contractor, Subcontractor, Colocation Provider, Power Entity, Building Design, and Consultant proposals for scope completeness, cost competitiveness, and schedule integrity
• Maintain and continuously improve the internal project cost database, incorporating lessons learned to keep estimating data accurate and market‑competitive

Strategy & Business Planning

• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on total development cost, providing strategic guidance from conceptual phase through Construction Documents
• Partner with Commercial Management, Sales, Site Selection, Design/Engineering, Construction, Energy, Procurement, Project Controls, and Finance to ensure Preconstruction outputs support optimal capital deployment and revenue realization
• Contribute to project development strategy and early‑stage decision‑making on site characteristics, construction methodology, and cost optimization

Risk, Process & Standards

• Identify, elevate, and develop mitigation strategies for risks related to scope, schedule, procurement, labor availability, and market escalation across the team's portfolio
• Drive standardization of Preconstruction procedures, documentation, reporting, and estimating workflows across all projects and team members
• Lead adoption of digital tools, estimating technology, and process improvements within the team
• Contribute to departmental KPIs and operational standards set by the Vice President

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with general contractors, major trade partners, consultants, and key vendors
• Support Prime Contractor commercial negotiations, site procurement strategy, and commercial positioning in partnership with the Preconstruction Team leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 8+ years of related Preconstruction or Construction management experience
• Experience managing Analysts and Senior Estimators, with demonstrated ability to lead a team of experienced professionals
• Data center or mission‑critical facility experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in all cost code divisions, conceptual estimating, cash flow modeling, GC and Contractor RFP review, and Contractor Budget Reviews
• Strong understanding of construction documents at all levels of design — drawings, specifications, and contracts
• Proven ability to contribute to multiple high‑value concurrent projects while maintaining team cohesion and deliverable quality
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Word
• Excellent communicator across all levels — from trade partners to executive leadership and clients
• Willingness to travel up to 25% based on business needs

The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job‑related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.

Salary Range

$175,000 – $275,000 USD

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