Preconstruction Manager

Gilbane Building; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilbane Building is seeking a Preconstruction Manager to lead the design/preconstruction phase of projects and coordinate with the Project Executive. The role focuses on prioritizing work, guiding design deliverables, and ensuring proactive risk management across complex programs.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, engage with owners and designers, and mentor a growing preconstruction group to optimize GMP development and buyout strategies.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience leading operations, procurement, estimating, scheduling, or supply chain management teams.
• 2-5 years of experience in construction management industry or A/E industry.
• Experience on multiple project delivery types (CMR, DB, IPD, etc.).
• Design phase/design-build management experience preferred.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Leads estimating, procurement, scheduling, and operations teams to deliver preconstruction services.
• Coordinates design schedule and deliverables with design partners and project teams.
• Manages preconstruction deliverables in accordance with the contract requirements.
• Engages with Purchasing, Economic Inclusion, VDC, IDC (as applicable), and Safety during design.
• Co-leads GMP development and execution with project leadership.
• Trains and develops direct reports; ensures KPI monitoring for preconstruction health.
• Represents Gilbane in client, Owner, and Designer meetings during design phase.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Planning

Risk management

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or similar technical field

Job description

Preconstruction Manager

Overview

Do you consider yourself to be a highly technical, strong communicator with the desire to work in a team environment on complex projects? Gilbane is seeking a Preconstruction Manager to lead the design/preconstruction phase of the project for multiple projects or a single complex project. Coordinates seamlessly with the assigned Project Executive and serves as the proxy Project Executive as required until the project commences on site.

Who are we?

As a Top-10 ENR Contractor, Gilbane is a family-owned business with 45 offices that has been shaping communities since 1870. Consistently recognized as one of the most reputable construction management firms in the country, Gilbane is committed to delivering projects safely and on-time. You will have the opportunity to build schools, labs, hospitals, corporate offices, sports arenas and more!

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Who are you?

You are a coach/leader who leads with an inclusive and empathetic mindset. You provide feedback and guidance to help others excel in their current or future roles. You determine priorities, delegate work, and effectively communicate progress. You establish measures to assess the impact, quality, and timeliness of results while praising successes and sharing lessons learned. You build high performing teams by attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining talented individuals through motivation and discipline to maximize impact on the organization and the individual.

You leverage business insights by understanding industry trends, local market/economic conditions, and Gilbane’s business model to make critical decisions and create competitive advantage. You deploy a strategic mindset when considering solutions to long-term opportunities and risks that may develop in the future.

Your core values match Gilbane’s: Integrity, Caring, Teamwork, Toughmindedness, Dedication to Excellence, Discipline, Loyalty, and Entrepreneurship.

What’s in it for you?

Gilbane offers employees multi-dimensional training opportunities through a number of resources. While managing your responsibilities to projects, you will be able to enroll in trainings through our award-winning Gilbane University to build leadership and technical skills. In addition, you would work with an experienced team which provides you with the opportunity to learn new industry skills every day. You will protect and promote the interests of both Gilbane and the client in all matters as well as demonstrating the personal characteristics of a developing leader.

Responsibilities

• Manages estimating, value management, variance tracking, market input
• Leads logistics, schedule and VDC
• Coordinates design schedule and deliverables
• Identifies and mitigates project risks in the design phase
• Identifies and executes fee enhancement strategies
• Manages the preconstruction deliverables in accordance with detailed knowledge of the contract
• Engages with and supports Purchasing, Economic Inclusion, VDC, IDC (as applicable), and Safety during design
• Leads estimating team, purchasing team, and operations teams to ensure Gilbane provides estimating and purchasing resources to each project to efficiently develop estimates, conduct value management, coordination reviews, GMP development and assists with buyout
• Ensures continuity in process execution from the pursuit phase of projects through the execution of the GMP and trade partner buyout
• Aligns schedule, logistics, site services, staffing, general conditions, and fee pro at each deliverable
• Aligns Operations, Estimating and Purchasing on the bid-packaging strategy for maximum fee enhancement, DOSB engagement, risk mitigation, and construction performance
• Collaborates with Operations in the buyout phase of the project, scheduling and guiding the Purchase and Award schedule
• Co-leads the GMP development and execution with the Operations (Project Executive, Project Manager, etc.) lead on each project following the GMP baseline
• Manages our design partners on each project (On Design-build Projects, qualified to serve as the Design Manager) including aligning design deliverable expectations, cost trending, and schedules
• Meets client expectations both written in the contract and verbal expectations
• Represents the Gilbane team in the presentation of each preconstruction deliverable including concise C-suite level communication
• Represents Gilbane at Owner and Designer meetings throughout the design phase of the project
• Maintains a working knowledge of market conditions including escalation and long-lead procurement elements in order to inform projects and clients of project impacting developments
• Leads and collaborates with scheduling to build and maintain an accurate design phase schedule including utilizing pull plan sessions for mutual adoption of critical milestones
• Coordinates the development of constructability reviews with operations and estimating during the design phase
• Manages Preconstruction Engineers including their technical leadership development
• Participates in the pursuit phase, including writing RFP responses (related to preconstruction), forming project approaches, and participating in the interviews
• Monitors Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) for preconstruction project health
• Trains direct reports on processes, procedures, and completion of daily tasks
• Manages workload and performance of direct reports, ensuring alignment with overall company standards
• Fosters a positive and inclusive work environment to motivate and engage team members
• Aids in communicating company and department strategy to direct reports
• Collaborates closely with business development to ensure seamless integration with sales strategies including performance metrics on your assigned projects, pursuits, and client deliverables. Actively participates in opportunities to strengthen client, partner, and industry relationships that position Gilbane as the "Builder of Choice"

Experience/Education

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or similar technical field
• 5-7 years of experience in leading operations, procurement, estimating, scheduling, or supply chain management teams
• 2-5 years of experience in construction management industry or A/E industry
• Experience on multiple project delivery types preferred (CMR, DB, IPD, etc.)
• Design phase/design‑build management experience preferred
• May require continuing education (i.e. DBIA, LEED) to align with market/regions/etc.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of design and construction practices and materials
• Exceptional verbal, written, and stand‑up communication skills
• Working knowledge of estimating, purchasing, VDC, operations and scheduling
• Highly refined interpersonal and leadership skills
• Strong planning and risk management skills
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead a multi-disciplined team in achieving project goals
• Proven record of delivering results in a complex business

Salary to be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience of the applicant, as well as the internal equity and alignment with the team.

For Michigan, this ranges from $130,000 - $160,000 plus benefits and retirement program.

Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees’ education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre‑employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an Aff… All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status. Click here