Preconstruction Manager

Arena Family of Companies; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership / ESOP

Comprehensive health benefits

Long-term growth opportunities

Job summary

Arena Family of Companies is seeking a Preconstruction Manager to lead early-stage budgeting, design alignment, and cost modeling for high‑impact Phoenix projects. You will apply your MEP construction background to ensure constructability and value across design phases.

You will collaborate with clients, GCs, engineers, architects, and internal teams, driving design-assist and design-build coordination while supporting transition to construction and ongoing cost control throughout the project

Qualifications

• Experience in mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, or MEP construction.
• Strong estimating and preconstruction experience.
• Ability to develop budgets from conceptual through detailed design.
• Understanding of mechanical systems, construction documents, and field constructability.
• Experience with design-build and/or design-assist projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction efforts from early concept through turnover to operations.
• Develop conceptual estimates, detailed budgets, and cost models.
• Review drawings and design documents for constructability and cost impacts.
• Provide mechanical and MEP cost input throughout the design process.
• Partner with clients, GCs, engineers, architects, and internal teams.
• Participate in design-assist and design-build coordination.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and provide alternatives.
• Solicit and evaluate subcontractor, vendor, and supplier pricing.
• Assist with scope development, bid strategy, and proposal preparation.
• Track design progression and communicate budget impacts as projects evolve.
• Work with estimating, operations, PM and BIM/VDC teams to support transition to construction.

Skills

Estimating

Conceptual budgeting

Design-assist/design-build

Constructability

Project planning

Tools

BIM/VDC

Job description

A well-established, employee-owned MEP contractor is looking to add a Preconstruction Manager to its growing Phoenix operation.

This is an opportunity to join a highly respected contractor with a long history in the industry, a strong backlog of complex technical work, and continued investment in the Arizona market. The company is expanding its preconstruction capabilities and is looking for someone who can take ownership of projects during the early planning, budgeting, design, and estimating phases.

The ideal candidate will come from a mechanical, plumbing, or broader MEP construction background and have strong experience with estimating, conceptual budgeting, design-assist/design-build, constructability, and project planning.

What You’ll Do

• Lead preconstruction efforts from early concept through turnover to operations
• Develop conceptual estimates, detailed budgets, and cost models
• Review drawings, specifications, and design documents for constructability and cost impacts
• Provide mechanical and MEP cost input throughout the design process
• Partner with clients, general contractors, engineers, architects, and internal project teams
• Participate in design-assist and design-build coordination
• Identify value engineering opportunities and provide alternative system recommendations
• Solicit and evaluate subcontractor, vendor, and supplier pricing
• Assist with scope development, bid strategy, and proposal preparation
• Track design progression and communicate budget impacts as projects evolve
• Work closely with estimating, operations, project management, and BIM/VDC teams
• Support the transition of awarded projects from preconstruction into construction

What We’re Looking For

• Experience within mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, or MEP construction
• Strong estimating and preconstruction experience
• Ability to develop budgets from conceptual through detailed design
• Understanding of mechanical systems, construction documents, and field constructability
• Experience with design-build and/or design-assist projects preferred
• Strong communication and client-facing skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Experience with large-scale commercial, industrial, mission-critical, healthcare, manufacturing, or other technically complex construction is a plus
• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Employee ownership / ESOP
• Comprehensive health and benefits package
• Long-term growth and advancement opportunities
• Opportunity to join an established organization during a significant period of growth in the Phoenix market

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced MEP construction professional who enjoys being involved early in the project lifecycle and wants to play a key role in shaping projects before they move into the field.