Preconstruction Cost Manager

Sky Mavis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k

PTO

Job summary

Clayco in Chicago is seeking a Preconstruction Cost Manager to develop and manage the project financial strategy within the Preconstruction phase. You will work directly with the EVP of Preconstruction and Procurement Strategy, Project Executives and Preconstruction Group to monitor spend and develop staff and general conditions for bids.

You will generate reports for Preconstruction and Cost Controls leadership, identify variances and risks, and maintain quality control to improve

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in business administration, engineering, or construction management, or related degree.
• 5–10 years of project cost experience.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in the construction industry.
• Knowledge of project development stages, procurement, project controls, and construction execution practices.
• Working knowledge of PMWeb or similar project portfolio management software, DataServ, Excel, JD Edwards, or related software.
• PMP certification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and management of the project financial strategy within the Preconstruction Phase.
• Monitor preconstruction cost spends and develop staff, general conditions and general requirement monitors for bids.
• Generate and maintain reports for Preconstruction and Cost Controls leadership.
• Identify variances, risks and maintain quality control processes to improve preconstruction cost procedures.
• Ensure conformity with management's strategy.
• Take ownership of the cost control function and ensure integrity of the cost and forecast reporting.

Skills

Problem-solving

Results-driven

PMP certification desirable

Education

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or Construction Management, or related degree

Tools

PMWeb

DataServ

Excel

JD Edwards

Job description

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast-track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential-related building projects.

The Role We Want You For

As a Preconstruction Cost Manager, you will be assisting in the development and management of the project financial strategy within the Preconstruction Phase. You will be working directly with the EVP of Preconstruction and Procurement Strategy, Project Executives and Preconstruction Group in monitoring preconstruction cost spends and developing staff, general conditions and general requirement monitors for our Project pursuits. You will be responsible for generating and maintaining reports that provide information to Preconstruction and Cost Controls leadership, work with the management team to identify variances, risks and maintain quality control processes to improve preconstruction cost procedures and ensuring conformity with management's strategy.

The Specifics of the Role

• Works with all preconstruction disciplines to ensure understanding of preconstruction budget targets.
• Review project documents and specifications to co-develop general conditions, general requirements and preconstruction plans for submission to bid to our clients.
• Update and reporting to management current preconstruction staff spend including project costs which are reimbursable to our clients under a preconstruction agreement.
• Works closely with the accounting department to ensure the correct integration of all information needed to ensure accuracy in billings, payment applications, change orders, direct cost, etc.
• Works closely with the project management team, executive management personnel, subcontractors, as well as occasional contact with clients.
• Responsible for cost engineering, cost estimation, cost analysis, and control activities for projects with significant non-routine requirements or for proposal estimating activities which require a moderate degree of technical skill and experience.
• Ensuring quality, accuracy, consistency, spend profile, performing change management, and transparency in all cost management deliverables.
• Take ownership of the cost control function and ensure integrity of the cost and forecast reporting.

Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or Construction Management, or related degree.
• 5-10 years of Project Cost experience.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in the construction industry.
• Knowledge of project development stages, procurement, project controls, and construction execution practices is required.
• Working knowledge of applicable computer software such as PMWeb or similar project portfolio management software, DataServ, Excel, JD Edwards, or related software programs.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Results oriented and deliver on customer commitments.
• PMP certification desirable.

Some Things You Should Know

• To serve our Clients in our Chicago or St. Louis office – some travel will be required
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design‑Build Firms – Design‑Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders - Data Center Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The Clayco Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $90,000 - $125,000 +/- annually (not adjusted for location).