Preconstruction Manager

Hensel Phelps; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Hensel Phelps is seeking a seasoned preconstruction leader to drive budgeting, scheduling, and cost planning for major projects. You will coordinate design coordination, estimating, procurement strategy, and early planning while liaising with owners, designers, trade partners, and internal teams.

The role requires guiding project scope alignment with budgets and schedules, supporting GMP and lump-sum proposals, and offering constructability insights to optimize cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Leading cross-functional teams and influencing outcomes without direct authority.
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with preconstruction/estimating tools and scheduling fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate preconstruction planning, budgeting and scheduling activities for assigned projects.
• Develop and maintain preconstruction schedules identifying key milestones.
• Prepare and reconcile cost estimates from concept through final design to align with budgets.
• Support development of GMPs, lump sum proposals and estimate iterations.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Influence without authority

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management or engineering

Tools

Preconstruction tools

Estimating tools

Scheduling fundamentals

Job description

At Hensel Phelps, we don’t just build projects—we build careers, communities, and a culture of excellence. As an employee-owned company, every person here plays a vital role in shaping our success and future. Guided by our core values of Ownership, Integrity, Builder mindset, Diversity, and Community, we combine cutting‑edge technology with hands‑on expertise to deliver landmark projects across the nation. When you join Hensel Phelps, you join a team that values your growth, empowers your ideas, and invests in your journey. Together, we create an environment where innovation thrives, safety is paramount, and every individual has the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Job Description

This role's responsibility is to lead preconstruction activities that establish the foundation for successful project execution. The role oversees design coordination, estimating, budgeting, scheduling, procurement strategy, and early project planning, while serving as the primary liaison among owners, designers, trade partners, and internal teams. This position ensures alignment of project scope, budget, and schedule, works closely with the Project Manager and Project Superintendent to support a smooth transition into construction, and provides subject matter expertise in design development, constructability, cost planning, and procurement strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate preconstruction planning, budgeting and scheduling activities for assigned projects.
• Develop and maintain preconstruction schedules that identify key design, estimating, procurement and decision milestones.
• Prepare, update, and reconcile cost estimates from concept through final design documents to support alignment with project budgets.
• Support development of GMPs, lump sum proposals, and estimate iterations, including budget reconciliation and variance analysis.
• Facilitate coordination among owners, designers, trade partners, VDC, and internal teams to support design development, constructability and cost efficiency.
• Conduct constructability, scope, and value analysis reviews to identify cost, schedule and design optimization opportunities.
• Communicate project status, design impacts, budget updates and schedule considerations to project stakeholders.
• Support procurement planning and trade partner engagement, including scope development, bid coordination, proposal review and scope clarification.
• Identify and communicate preconstruction risks related to scope, budget, schedule, design and support development of mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate permitting and approval activities with project teams and authorities having jurisdiction to support timely project progression.
• Prepare and maintain preconstruction deliverables, including cost models, scope matrices, design review logs and related project documentation.
• Facilitate project turnover from preconstruction to construction by documenting assumptions, decisions, risks and outstanding items for the project team.
• Represent the company in preconstruction presentations, owner meetings and design coordination meetings.
• Provide technical preconstruction support during early construction phases to help resolve discrepancies and maintain continuity with project assumptions and design intent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of progressive preconstruction, estimating, or related project delivery experience.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with preconstruction/estimating tools and scheduling fundamentals.

Physical Requirements

Moderate Work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

• The individual in this position will periodically walk, kneel, sit, crouch, reach, stoop, read/see, speak, push, pull, lift, stand, and finger/type. The frequency of each action varies by workflow and office activity.
• Walking - The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, boxes, cabinets, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, phone, computer, and computer printer.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with employees and external stakeholders regarding a variety of topics related to office administration.
• Constantly computes, analyzes, and conceptualizes mathematical calculations and formulas.
• The person in this position regularly sits in a stationary positionin front of a computer screen.
• Constantly reads written communications and views mail submissions. Will also need to read blueprints and take/verify field measurements.
• Climbing – Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding and ramps at various heights.
• Balancing – Ability to maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling and to walk, stand or crouch.
• Stooping – Bending the body downward and forward by the spine at the waist.
• Visual acuity and ability to operate a vehicle as certified and appropriate.
• Occasionally exposed to high and low temperatures.
• Frequently exposed to noisy environments and outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

At Hensel Phelps, we invest in our people—professionally, personally, and financially. Employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support long‑term well‑being and career growth. Benefits offerings include medical, vision, and dental insurance; life insurance; accidental death and dismemberment coverage; long‑term disability; a 401(k) retirement plan; and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

We believe time away from work is essential to doing your best work. Employees are eligible for paid time off beginning upon hire, supporting rest, flexibility, and work‑life balance.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Hensel Phelps is an equal opportunity employer. Hensel Phelps is committed to engaging in affirmative action to increase employment opportunities for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Hensel Phelps shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, domestic partner status, pregnancy, disability, citizenship, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

At Hensel Phelps, we bring our clients’ vision to life with a comprehensive approach that begins with innovative planning and extends throughout the life of the property. Our expert development, construction and facility services teams
ensure that every project meets our clients’ goals and objectives.
Over our 84‑year history, Hensel Phelps has evolved from a bid-build general contractor to a full‑service building provider. Our organization is comprised of three lines of business – development, construction, and facility services.
These groups work as a cohesive team, sharing ideas and knowledge from each discipline to provide our clients with the highest level of service. Our capabilities span from concept through the long‑term facilities management of projects,
which means that our focus is on the complete life cycle of each project we build.
Hensel Phelps Facility Services Group is uniquely qualified with decades of facility experience. The Facility Services Group
specializes in facility solutions, building systems integration, specialized construction, and facility management. Our team provides best‑in‑class operational solutions with technical knowledge and subject matter experts of building systems, envelopes, campus, and client operations.

Hensel Phelps will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodation related to completing the online application, please contact [e-mail] or 970.346.7414