Pre-Construction Support & Constructability Lead - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

AtkinsRéalis; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis seeks a Pre-Construction Support & Constructability Lead to guide design-to-construction transitions on a large pharmaceutical manufacturing program in North America. You will lead cross-functional planning, assess constructability, and drive modular execution strategies to improve cost, schedule, safety, and quality outcomes.

The role requires extensive front-end planning experience in complex facilities, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to influence decisions across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in engineering or related field.
• 20+ years of experience in pre-construction or related delivery.
• Experience on major capital projects $500M+; multi-billion preferred.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred; other complex facilities ok.
• Experience developing conceptual estimates, cost models, and execution plans.
• Experience leading workshops, design reviews, and risk reviews.
• Knowledge of modular construction and off-site fabrication.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 and scheduling tools.
• Ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead pre-construction planning across projects.
• Review engineering deliverables for constructability and alignment with objectives.
• Facilitate constructability reviews with stakeholders.
• Lead Target Value Delivery (TVD) initiatives to align design with budgets.
• Develop and maintain design-phase cost models, schedules, and readiness assessments.
• Identify modularization, prefabrication, and off-site fabrication opportunities.
• Evaluate construction sequencing, logistics, crane studies, and site utilization.
• Support procurement planning with long-lead equipment and early work packages.
• Coordinate with controls, engineering, procurement, commissioning, and construction teams.
• Assess market conditions, contractor packaging, and labor risks.
• Develop construction readiness reviews and stage-gate assessments.
• Review contractor execution plans and staffing strategies.
• Support contracting strategies (EPC, Design-Build, CMAR, Agency CM).
• Provide owner-side recommendations on execution strategy and risks.
• Mentor junior staff and establish best practices.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Constructability reviews

Modular construction

Risk assessment

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Project Management, or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

Scheduling platforms

Estimating systems

PMIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Pre-Construction Support & Constructability Lead to join Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in TX, AL, VA, PA, OH, IN, and WI. Our Pharmaceutical team is growing! The Pre-Construction Support & Constructability Lead serves as the Owner's Representative lead for constructability, pre-construction planning, cost and schedule development, and modular execution strategy. This role partners with client stakeholders, engineering teams, EPC contractors, and suppliers to influence critical decisions before construction begins. The successful candidate will evaluate design maturity, construction sequencing, logistics constraints, procurement strategies, modularization opportunities, and execution readiness to improve certainty around cost, schedule, safety, and quality outcomes. This role provides independent owner-aligned oversight rather than relying solely upon engineering or contractor self-assessments. This is a unique opportunity to help shape and lead one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing investments in North America while working alongside industry-leading professionals on a career-defining program on a greenfield campus. We are offering a full-time position with AtkinsRéalis that provides the opportunity to lead complex, high-profile programs, collaborate with world-class delivery teams, and receive a highly competitive compensation package with robust benefits.

Your role

• Manage and lead pre-construction planning activities across multiple projects and program workstreams.
• Review engineering deliverables throughout design development to ensure projects are fully constructible, executable, and aligned with program objectives.
• Facilitate constructability reviews with engineering, operations, procurement, commissioning, and construction stakeholders.
• Lead Target Value Delivery (TVD) initiatives to align design decisions with approved program budgets while preserving operational and technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain design-phase cost models, schedule forecasts, execution strategies, and project readiness assessments.
• Identify opportunities for modularization, prefabrication, and off-site fabrication that improve schedule certainty, labor efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Evaluate construction sequencing, access strategies, logistics plans, crane studies, material handling methods, and site utilization requirements.
• Support procurement planning by identifying long-lead equipment, critical materials, fabrication requirements, and early work packages.
• Coordinate with project controls, engineering, procurement, commissioning, and construction teams to align execution assumptions and program milestones.
• Assess construction market conditions, contractor packaging strategies, labor availability, and supply chain risks.
• Develop construction readiness reviews and stage-gate assessments to support funding, authorization, and procurement decisions.
• Review contractor execution plans, schedules, staffing strategies, and constructability assumptions.
• Support development of contracting strategies including EPC, Design-Build, CMAR, Agency CM, and hybrid delivery models.
• Provide independent owner-side recommendations regarding execution strategy, cost impacts, schedule impacts, and program risks.
• Identify and elevate issues that may impact project delivery, startup objectives, operational readiness, or regulatory milestones.
• Mentor junior staff and assist in establishing best practices, standards, and processes across the program.

About you

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Project Management, or related field.
• 20+ years of experience in pre-construction, project management, construction management, program management, or EPC project delivery.
• Experience supporting major capital projects exceeding $500 million in total installed cost; experience on multi-billion-dollar programs preferred.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred; will also consider semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, data center, chemical, EV battery, life sciences, oil and gas, or other complex industrial facilities.
• Experience developing conceptual estimates, cost models, execution plans, construction schedules, and project delivery strategies during front-end planning and design phases.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary workshops, design reviews, value engineering sessions, risk reviews, and decision-making forums.
• Experience evaluating construction logistics, labor strategies, site constraints, and construction readiness requirements.
• Experience with Primavera P6, scheduling platforms, estimating systems, project management information systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Demonstrated expertise in constructability reviews, execution planning, and design-to-construction transitions.
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate with clients, engineering firms, construction managers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes without direct contractual authority.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environments with multiple stakeholders and evolving project requirements.
• Strong understanding of modular construction, off-site fabrication, industrial assembly strategies, and advanced work packaging principles.
• Strong understanding of contracting models, procurement approaches, and risk allocation methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate competing project priorities and develop practical recommendations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills with comfort presenting to executive leadership teams.

Rewards & benefits

At AtkinsRéalis, our values—Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Excellence—are more than just words. They are the foundation of who we are and how we work. These principles shape our culture, guide our decisions, and inspire us to create an environment where every team member feels empowered to grow, succeed, and make a meaningful impact.

Depending on your employment status, AtkinsRéalis benefits may include medical, dental, vision, company-paid life and short- and long-term disability benefits, employer-matched 401(k) with 100% vesting, employee stock purchase plan, Paid Time Off, leaves of absences options, flexible work options, recognition and employee satisfaction programs, employee assistance program, and voluntary benefits. You can review our comprehensive benefits page here.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Expected compensation range is between $170,000 - $200,000+ annually depending on skills, experience, and geographical location.

AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity, Drug-Free employer EOE/Veteran/Disability

Please review AtkinsRéalis' Equal Opportunity Statement here.

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