Preconstruction Director

ArchKey Solutions LLC; Columbia Heights (MN); Remote; USD 138,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Professional development

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance programs

Job summary

ArchKey Solutions LLC is seeking a Preconstruction Director for Data Centers. This role can be based at a regional office or fully remote, with responsibility for qualifying, cultivating and securing data center opportunities and ensuring optimal financial positioning.

The candidate will lead preconstruction teams, manage estimates, design support, scheduling, and subcontractor negotiations, while maintaining exemplary client communications and project results across large-scale data center

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years electrical construction experience in estimating and preconstruction for large projects.
• 5+ years of direct people management experience.
• Strong knowledge of electrical codes, pricing, and subcontractor management.

Responsibilities

• Directs preconstruction managers and oversees estimates, design, scope, scheduling, and procurement.
• Develops and implements execution strategies, risk assessment, and budgeting.
• Leads client and subcontractor relationships and drives business development.
• Manages overall preconstruction deliverables and long lead procurement.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Mentoring

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Accubid

Estimating software

Job description

Description

PRECONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR – DATA CENTERS
This position can be based out of one of our regional office or fully remote.

About ArchKey

ArchKey is one of the nation’s largest privately held specialty trade installation and integrated facility service companies. We are a leader in designing, building and maintaining electrical, technologies and specialty systems. We’re the POWER behind making the improbable possible.

We’re electrifying the nation, energizing the future and bringing communities to life like never before. What we do today shapes the vision of tomorrow. Our work impacts lives long after the building is done. This means we are committed to building in ways that are not just technologically advanced, but sustainable, scalable and equitable by all. We’re not just energizing infrastructure, we’re energizing careers, communities, and the future.

Made up of the brightest minds in the industry, our team is our greatest asset, bringing knowledge, skills, and experience to every project. This is more than a call to join us, it’s an invitation to be part of a visionary journey, to grow with us as we scale.

About the Position

As a Preconstruction Director, you will be responsible for qualifying, cultivating, generating and fostering Data Center opportunities for the Company. Once those opportunities are qualified and obtained, this role ensures optimum financial positioning occurs. This position has complete oversite and responsibility for the teams that manage all preconstruction deliverables including estimates, design assistance, engineering, scope development, constructability, scheduling, overall execution strategy, JV creations, UBE plan, subcontractor solicitation, contract terms negotiations, long lead procurement, and initial billing associated with large scale Data Center projects and ensures thorough, exemplary customer communications and project results are achieved.

Our Ideal Candidate

• Is a proven leader, able to hire, coach, and develop a strong team of high performers.
• Has strong negotiation, conflict management, and persuasion skills, able to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Is an exceptional communicator, able to build strong internal and external business partner relationships while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Day in the Life

• Directs and supervises the preconstruction managers who are responsible for each opportunity for quality and accuracy of work. This includes all preconstruction deliverables including estimates, design assistance, engineering, scope development, constructability, scheduling, overall execution strategy, JV creation, UBE plan, subcontractor solicitation, contract terms negotiations, long lead procurement, and initial billing performing estimates and bidding, assisting with establishing goals and communicating expected standards of performance and quality for others. Manages the interview procurement process.
• Determines which projects to pursue, based upon operational capacity, opportunity for cross-selling, strategic geographic opportunity for future growth.
• Ensures preconstruction management team partners with design department on design/build and design/assist projects to assure the project is designed to optimal achievable cost within the allotted budget. Manages preconstruction managers project workloads/specializations and provides problem resolution advice for preconstruction managers. Performs regular project risk assessment and mitigation.
• Supports preconstruction managers in planning, reviews, and helps coordinate all assigned preconstruction deliverables to maximize time and efficiency while delivering promises to customers and co-workers.
• Works with preconstruction managers to determine general expenses, labor rates, scope and other elements associated with the opportunities. Provides a detailed and comprehensive value analysis to the project team. Responsible for ensuring that all preconstruction deliverables are written appropriately and fulfilled to the customer’s and/or the company’s conditions for timing and quality satisfaction.
• Develops and maintains exemplary client and subcontractor relationships and conducts high-quality business development activities regularly. Supports the preconstruction managers who provide incremental cost analysis and scope updates for clients during the preconstruction phase. Maintains confidentiality of all client pricing and intellectual property.
• Creates and manages an annual Get and Complete budget and maintains some level of responsibility for companywide backlog.
• Build strategic and effective relationships with customers, project teams, specialist contractors, vendors, suppliers, user groups and others that reflect and support the company’s core values and meet or exceed the customer’s expectations.
• Provides regular and high-quality hiring, communications, mentoring, coaching, problem-solving and training for staff and other co-workers at all levels as needed. Advises and coaches employees and provides performance feedback regularly.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in engineering, construction management, building construction, architecture, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of electrical construction experience in estimating, common code requirements, and design/build estimating and preconstruction with a concentration in large commercial construction projects. Previous experience with field installation helpful. Minimum 5 years of experience directly managing people.
• Preferably 4-5 years of experience in hands‑on project management. Extensive skills and experience in project management leadership. Thorough understanding of the project life cycle.
• Extensive experience with value analysis in all market segments and in‑depth trade knowledge. Experience with computerized estimating software, preferably Accubid. Strong conceptual estimating skills, and experience in reviewing estimates for accuracy and completeness. Experience and skill in establishing budgets, business negotiation and vendor communication.
• Knowledge of building construction, materials, costs, systems, market conditions/trends, trade practices and regional differences. Must have extensive knowledge of the electrical code and skills to read, interpret and understand electrical contracts, plans, drawings, blueprints and specifications and financial documents. Strong technical understanding of electrical systems.
• Strong visionary strategic leadership and communication skills for employee groups at all levels, customers, subcontractors, vendors, and other community leaders. Exceptional business development, relationship building and client communication skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, listening, presentation, negotiation, conflict management and persuasion skills, and the ability to influence employees at all levels, including senior management.
• Exceptional ability to coach, mentor, motivate and develop front line and senior level management, providing support to build highly performing, highly engaged teams and providing organizational and leadership guidance through periods of significant transition. Strong collaboration, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Ability to work with and facilitate diverse work teams.

Travel

• Approximately 50% of travel is expected and required.

Salary Range

• $138,000 – $214,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

At ArchKey Solutions, our benefits package includes competitive health insurance options (medical, dental, and vision), a robust 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, paid time off and holidays, and access to wellness programs. Additionally, we offer professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and employee assistance programs to support your growth and well‑being. We ensure that our benefits are designed to promote the health, security, and work‑life balance of our employees. Additional information is available at Archkey.com.

Legal & Fraud Disclaimer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. We are an Affandi... #CA30-1

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.