Preconstruction Executive

DPR Construction; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

DPR Construction is seeking a seasoned Preconstruction Leader to drive cost strategy, design evaluation, and risk analysis for a large program or multiple key projects. You will coordinate with clients, designers, trade partners, and DPR operations leaders to ensure deliverables are complete and aligned with objectives.

With 12+ years in preconstruction or related fields and 5+ years in leadership, you will mentor teams, guide proposals, and support executive-level client meetings while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in engineering, construction management, architecture or related field.
• 12+ years in preconstruction, estimating, or project engineering.
• 5+ years of leadership or managerial experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction planning, coordination, and delivery for large projects.
• Coordinate scope, cost, schedule, and objectives with clients and teams.
• Evaluate strategies, constructability, and risk early in projects.
• Review major estimates and logistics strategies for high-risk pursuits.
• Develop client relationships and support executive client meetings.
• Mentor preconstruction team and standardize processes.

Skills

Preconstruction Leadership

Cost Strategy

Constructability

Stakeholder Communication

Risk Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction/Architecture

Job description

Job Description

At DPR, roles and responsibilities are more than describing a job title—they are a commitment to building great things together. The job description(s) below defines core responsibilities and the scope of the role and is a starting point. Every employee is expected to lead from where they are, take ownership of outcomes, and always act in the best interest of the team, customer, project and organization.

As a purpose-driven organization on a journey to be most admired, we rely on trust, shared leadership, open communication, disciplined action and a deep respect for the individual to drive exceptional performance. Success is not just about what we build, but who we build and how we build it: with integrity, enjoyment, uniqueness and an ever-forward mindset.

Job Summary

Leads preconstruction for a large project, on a program or across multiple key projects, by overseeing cost strategy, conceptual planning, design-phase evaluation, constructability assessments, and early risk identification. Coordinates with clients, designers, trade partners, and DPR operations leaders to ensure preconstruction deliverables are complete, accurate, and aligned with project objectives. Provides technical leadership and guidance to preconstruction team members while promoting consistent processes, transparent communication, and informed decision-making. Represents preconstruction strategy during client interactions and supports project transition into execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads preconstruction planning, coordination, and delivery for a large project, ensuring alignment among scope, cost, schedule, and project objectives.
• Guides evaluation of strategies, constructability considerations, system alternatives, and early risk drivers to support project clarity and feasibility.
• Reviews major estimates, logistic strategies, and value analysis for high risk pursuits, challenging key assumptions and validating alignment with strategic goals.
• Builds senior level relationships with key clients, design teams, trade partners, and operations leaders to clarify assumptions, resolve issues, and support effective decision-making ensuring alignment at critical decision milestones.
• Provides direction and mentorship to preconstruction team members and contributes to strengthening the project’s preconstruction workflow providing consistency across teams.
• Supports pursuit strategy, proposal development, and major presentations for the assigned project and provides leadership and oversight for preconstruction planning across multiple key pursuits, or one large project in a program, ensuring alignment among scope, cost, schedule, risk, and business objectives.
• Represents preconstruction leadership in executive level client and design meetings, communicating strategies, assumptions, and recommendations.

Education Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, architecture, a related field, or equivalent experience required.

Work Experience

12 or more years of experience in preconstruction, estimating, or project engineering required.

5 or more years of leadership or managerial experience required.

Certifications And Licenses

None required.

DPR Construction is a forward-thinking, self-performing general contractor specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and commercial markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a great story of entrepreneurial success as a private, employee-owned company that has grown into a multi-billion-dollar family of companies with offices around the world.

Working at DPR, you'll have the chance to try new things, explore paths and shape your future. Here, we build opportunity together—by harnessing our talents, enabling curiosity and pursuing our collective ambition to make the best ideas happen. We are proud to be recognized as a great place to work by our talented teammates and leading news organizations like U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, Fast Company and Newsweek.

Explore our open opportunities at www.dpr.com/careers.