Preconstruction Manager

Tapani Inc.; Battle Ground (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Job summary

Tapani Inc. is seeking a Preconstruction Manager to lead early project planning, estimating, budgeting, and coordination from concept through startup.

You will work with owners, design teams, operations, estimating, business development, subcontractors, and suppliers to craft practical solutions, models, budgets, and procurement strategies. You will guide decisions, identify risks and opportunities, and support pursuits and proposals when workload allows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CM, CE, Business or related field preferred
• 7–10 years of construction experience preferred
• Experience with design-build, CM/GC, negotiated or other alt. delivery methods preferred
• DBIA certification preferred
• Strong estimating, budgeting and risk assessment skills from projects

Responsibilities

• Lead early planning and coordination for design-build and other delivery methods.
• Collaborate with owners, design teams, and internal groups to meet goals, budgets and schedules.
• Coordinate preconstruction deliverables, meetings, and turnover to operations.
• Develop conceptual models, estimates and budgets for planning decisions.
• Prepare estimates using project data, historical costs and subcontractor input.
• Review plans for constructability and cost impacts; communicate clearly to teams.
• Support pursuit and bid activities with clear project information.
• Lead smooth turnover and continuous improvement of preconstruction tools.

Skills

Construction methods

Estimating

Scheduling

Procurement

Budgeting

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Estimating software

Project management software

Job description

Since starting in 1983, Tapani has evolved from a single-person operation to a family-led legacy, maintaining a fun and friendly environment from the beginning. With a large team across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, we now cover five diverse market sectors: Civil Site Development, Buildings, Environmental, Transportation, and Utility Infrastructure. The consistent dedication to our core values has helped us grow, creating more opportunities for our current team and the need for new teammates.

Take a look what our current employees say about working for Tapani: Tapani Careers

Job Purpose and Responsibilities

The Preconstruction Manager leads early project planning, estimating, budgeting, and coordination to help projects move from concept through construction startup. This role supports design-build and other alternative delivery projects by working with owners, design teams, operations, estimating, business development, subcontractors, and suppliers to develop practical solutions, conceptual models, budgets, schedules, and procurement strategies. The Preconstruction Manager helps guide early project decisions, recommends options to owners, identifies risks and opportunities, and supports pursuits and proposals when project workload allows.

Responsibilities

• Design-Build and Preconstruction Support: Lead early planning and coordination for design-build, CM/GC, negotiated, and other alternative delivery projects.
• Work with owners, design teams, and internal teams to understand project goals, constraints, budgets, and schedules.
• Coordinate preconstruction deliverables, meetings, deadlines, and communication through turnover to operations.
• Conceptual Estimating and Budget Development: Develop conceptual models, estimates, and budgets to support project planning and decision-making.
• Prepare estimates using available project information, historical cost data, quantity takeoffs, subcontractor input, and market knowledge.
• Track scope, design, and assumption changes, and clearly communicate cost impacts.
• Owner Options, Value Planning, and Risk Review: Help owners and project teams evaluate options and make informed decisions.
• Recommend cost-saving ideas, alternate approaches, sequencing options, phasing strategies, and value engineering opportunities.
• Review plans, specifications, scopes, and assumptions for constructability concerns, scope gaps, long-lead items, site constraints, and schedule risks.
• Bid Package, Procurement, and Scheduling Support: Support subcontractor coordination, procurement planning, early schedules, and project logistics.
• Develop and review bid packages, scopes of work, purchasing plans, subcontractor proposals, and key procurement needs.
• Assist with preliminary schedules, milestones, phasing, site access, staging, traffic control, material delivery, and long-lead items.
• Pursuit and Business Development Support: Support future work opportunities when preconstruction workload allows.
• Assist with estimates, conceptual budgets, project approaches, schedules, and technical information for pursuits and proposals.
• Support interviews, presentations, and client meetings by preparing clear and useful project information.
• Project Turnover and Process Improvement: Help ensure a smooth transition from preconstruction to construction while improving preconstruction tools and practices.
• Communicate estimate details, assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, schedules, risks, and procurement needs to the project team.
• Maintain cost history, estimating records, subcontractor information, and project documentation to improve future budgets and workflows.
• Uphold Tapani’s Purpose document: Demonstrate actions and behaviors that align with Tapani’s Purpose and Values (Purpose and Values).

Desired Skills and Qualifications

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of construction methods, materials, estimating, scheduling, sequencing, procurement, and project delivery.
• Ability to support design-build, negotiated, CM/GC, and other alternative delivery projects.
• Strong conceptual estimating and budgeting skills, including the ability to develop budgets from limited information.
• Ability to evaluate options and explain cost, schedule, quality, and constructability impacts to owners and project teams.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, contracts, scopes of work, and technical documents.
• Strong ability to identify scope gaps, risks, constructability issues, and value engineering opportunities.
• Strong communication, leadership, organization, attention to detail, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, pursuits, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with owners, design teams, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and construction-related estimating, scheduling, and project management software.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent construction experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of construction experience preferred, with experience in preconstruction, estimating, project management, field operations, or a related role.
• Experience with design-build, CM/GC, negotiated, or other alternative delivery methods preferred.
• DBIA certification preferred, but not required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay: $119,860 - $179,790 per year (based on qualifications and experience)
• Comprehensive Medical Insurance plans with low to $0 monthly premiums
• Additional voluntary insurance options include: Dental, Vision, and a wide variety of Supplemental insurances.
• Flexible Paid Time Off and Sick Time
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) options with up to 4% employer match
• See the full list of benefits here

Note: Physical ability to perform assigned tasks, lift, push and pull 40 pounds at a time, and ability to sit, stand and work on computer for prolonged periods of time.

Note: This job description does not contain a comprehensive list of all job responsibilities of this position. Tapani reserves the right to modify the duties and responsibilities of the position as it deems necessary.