Preconstruction Manager

redmondconstruction; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gold PPO Health Insurance

401k Plan

Generous Flex PTO

Commuter Benefits

Paid Family Leave

Professional Development

Volunteer Time Off

Job summary

redmondconstruction is seeking a Preconstruction Manager in Chicago, Illinois, to oversee the preconstruction process across various projects. The role involves coordinating estimates and managing trade partner bidding to ensure competitive pricing and successful project execution.

The ideal candidate will have 5–8+ years of experience in construction estimating, strong leadership skills, and a collaborative spirit, eager to help grow a company known for its excellence. Benefits include competitive salary and comprehensive health plan.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of experience in construction estimating, with at least 2 years in preconstruction.
• Experience managing trade partner bidding processes.
• Strong working knowledge of construction documents and scopes of work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage the preconstruction process.
• Produce clean, accurate estimates for bids.
• Develop and maintain relationships with trade partners.

Skills

Construction estimating

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Project management

Education

5–8+ years in construction estimating or related field

Tools

Bluebeam

Procore

Outbuild

NetSuite

Job description

Why Redmond?

We’re a best-in‑class general contractor driven by a passion for transforming spaces and providing top tier service to our clients. Named one of Crain’s Best Places to Work five years running, our team consists of collaborative, hardworking professionals who bring empathy, integrity, perseverance, and curiosity to complex, high‑stakes projects. Team members at every level show up with humility and respect, supporting one another through challenges and staying accountable for delivering work the right way.

Our teams support projects across workplace, amenity, hospitality, healthcare, lab and life sciences, and education sectors. Our vision is to be the strongest pound‑for‑pound general contractor by delivering exceptional value and exceeding expectations. By doing what’s right, asking questions, and continuously improving, we’re building more than spaces–we’re building an inclusive, innovative future for our industry.

What We Need

We are seeking a highly motivated professional who is looking to build a long‑term career with a nationally growing general contractor; someone who is invested in their own development, eager to take on increasing responsibility, and excited by the opportunity to grow alongside a company that values commitment, collaboration, and internal advancement. This role is responsible for planning, estimating, and coordinating projects during the preconstruction phase, ensuring accurate pricing, strategic alignment, and a seamless transition into execution.

The Preconstruction Manager manages multiple pursuits, develops comprehensive estimates, oversees trade partner bidding, and collaborates with clients, trade partners, and internal teams to support pursuit strategy, value engineering, and constructability. Success in this role requires strong estimating and leadership skills, sound judgment, and the ability to deliver high‑quality, competitive project solutions while contributing to the organization’s continued growth.

What You’ll Do

Preconstruction Process Management

• Oversee and manage the entire preconstruction process, within the boundaries of active pursuits
• Work on multiple projects at the same time
• Manage the completion of all deliverables required for a bid submission, including schedules
• Mentor junior project team staff by providing guidance and training on preconstruction processes, procedures, and best practices
• Work with VP’s, Project Execs, Team Leads, PM’s, PE’s and Superintendents to facilitate a seamless hand‑off to the Project Team
• Conduct Landlord and Owner site walkthroughs to review project scope, identify and document RFIs, and help foster strong professional relationships.

Estimating & Cost Management

• Estimate cost of construction and participate in design evaluations, cost studies, value engineering and analysis, scheduling, constructability reviews and more
• Produce clean, accurate and thorough estimates that can be submitted on time
• Ensure estimates align with project profitability targets, and ideally, company financial goals

Procurement & Bid Management

• Bid solicitation with vendors and trade groups
• Produce, collect and distribute preconstruction RFI’s
• Develop and maintain strategic trade partner relationships to ensure competitive and reliable pricing
• Evaluate trade partner performance and alignment with project goals

Strategy, Planning & Risk Management

• Help develop and contribute to the overall strategy and approach to specific projects
• Coordinate with other team members to determine the best way to build a project and win the work
• Identify, document, and mitigate preconstruction risks including scope gaps, design inconsistencies, and market volatility

Relationships & Business Development

• Lead preconstruction meetings with clients, presenting estimates, assumptions, and value engineering options
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients during early design and budgeting phases
• Maintain and develop new relationships with Trade Partners, Owners, Owners Reps, Brokers, Property Managers, Architects and Engineers
• Utilize these relationships to provide preconstruction services aligned with company standards, goals, and direction
• Attend and participate in the organization and coordination of ASA events

Market Trends & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain a pulse on the market for pricing, lead time changes and trends
• Contribute to continuous improvement of preconstruction processes and standardizing estimating practices

What You’ll Bring

• 5–8+ years of progressive experience in construction estimating, preconstruction, or a related construction discipline, including a minimum of 2 years of preconstruction or pricing experience while serving in a Project Manager role.
• Proven experience leading full‑cycle estimates (conceptual through GMP/final pricing) on commercial interior or similar projects
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent pursuits with competing deadlines
• Experience leading or mentoring junior estimators or coordinating small teams
• Strong working knowledge of construction documents, scopes of work, and bid packages
• Experience managing trade partner bidding processes, including solicitation, leveling, and scope alignment
• Exposure to value engineering, cost studies, and constructability reviews
• Experience collaborating with Project Managers, Superintendents, and Operations teams to align preconstruction with execution
• Basic experience participating in client‑facing meetings, presentations, or project pursuits
• Proficiency with estimating tools and software (Bluebeam, Outbuild, Procore, NetSuite)

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary and industry‑leading benefits package, including:

• Gold PPO Health Insurance
• 401k Plan
• Generous Flex PTO
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Family Leave
• Professional Development
• Volunteer Time Off

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.