Preconstruction Manager

XL Construction; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

XL Construction is seeking a Preconstruction Manager to lead design development, cost planning and preconstruction for California projects, delivering integrated plans from opportunity through GMP and handoff to construction.

The role requires strong budgeting, scheduling, risk management and client-facing skills, with experience coordinating multi-discipline teams and trade partners. On-site role in California with competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Typically 7+ years of relevant experience in commercial construction or related fields.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture or related field preferred.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing cost, design, schedule, procurement and risk.
• Working knowledge of BIM/VDC and common preconstruction technology.

Responsibilities

• Define the project-specific preconstruction plan, deliverables, responsibilities and decision milestones.
• Lead regular preconstruction meetings and coordinate Owner, architect/engineer, estimating, operations, scheduling, VDC, sustainability and trade-partner input.
• Maintain alignment among scope, design, budget, schedule, procurement strategy and client priorities.
• Establish team alignment, roles and responsibilities early in the design phase and actively manage team health, accountability and decision-making.
• Coordinate entitlements, permitting and existing-conditions validation where these activities affect design, cost, schedule or project viability.
• Plan and execute an effective handoff from preconstruction to the project execution team.
• Own the cost-management process from conceptual planning through detailed estimate/GMP or bid, coordinating estimating resources rather than requiring the role to personally perform every takeoff.
• Develop, test and communicate assumptions, allowances, alternates, escalation, contingencies and cost risks.
• Lead estimate reviews, scope reconciliation, bid leveling and budget updates; explain cost drivers clearly to clients and design teams.
• Support general conditions/general requirements, staffing plans, fee strategy and commercial qualifications.
• Support management of preconstruction/design-phase service budgets, consultant agreements, trade-partner agreements, projections and billings as appropriate to the assignment.

Skills

Cost planning/estimating

Project management

Design management

Stakeholder communication

BIM/VDC knowledge

Risk management

Negotiation

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture or related field

Professional credentials such as AIA/RA, PE, DBIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, PMP or comparable credentials

Tools

BIM/VDC software

Job description

Leads the design and preconstruction process for assigned pursuits and projects from early opportunity through contract/GMP agreement and transition to operations. Integrates client goals, design development, cost planning, estimating, design and construction schedules, entitlements/permitting, long-lead procurement, constructability, risk and value strategy into a coordinated plan. Creates a positive and cohesive Owner/Architect/Contractor (O/A/C) team and serves as the central connector among the Owner, design team, trade partners, estimating resources and project delivery team, with a clear expectation of no surprises for the Owner.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the project-specific preconstruction plan, deliverables, responsibilities and decision milestones.
• Lead regular preconstruction meetings and coordinate Owner, architect/engineer, estimating, operations, scheduling, VDC, sustainability and trade-partner input.
• Maintain alignment among scope, design, budget, schedule, procurement strategy and client priorities.
• Establish team alignment, roles and responsibilities early in the design phase and actively manage team health, accountability and decision-making.
• Coordinate entitlements, permitting and existing-conditions validation where these activities affect design, cost, schedule or project viability.
• Plan and execute an effective handoff from preconstruction to the project execution team.
• Own the cost-management process from conceptual planning through detailed estimate/GMP or bid, coordinating estimating resources rather than requiring the role to personally perform every takeoff.
• Develop, test and communicate assumptions, allowances, alternates, escalation, contingencies and cost risks.
• Lead estimate reviews, scope reconciliation, bid leveling and budget updates; explain cost drivers clearly to clients and design teams.
• Support general conditions/general requirements, staffing plans, fee strategy and commercial qualifications.
• Support management of preconstruction/design-phase service budgets, consultant agreements, trade-partner agreements, projections and billings as appropriate to the assignment.

Design Management, Constructability & Value

• Manage design-to-budget activities and facilitate Target Value Delivery/Design, value engineering and option analysis.
• Coordinate design reviews for constructability, completeness, coordination, code/permitting implications, logistics, sustainability and long-lead impacts.
• Track design decisions, open issues and owner requirements; ensure changes are understood in terms of cost, schedule and risk.
• Work with architects and engineers to develop buildable, coordinated and cost-effective solutions while respecting design intent and client requirements.
• Coordinate consultant and design-assist/design-build trade-partner onboarding, scopes and interfaces so design responsibilities are complete and gaps are identified early.
• Use structured decision tools such as Options Analysis/A3s and decision logs to make cost, schedule and design impacts visible before major decisions are made.

Schedule, Procurement, Logistics & Risk

• Develop and maintain the preconstruction schedule and contribute to conceptual construction schedules, phasing and logistics plans.
• Develop procurement and bid-package strategy with operations and estimating, including early packages and long-lead items.
• Develop early design-assist/design-build trade-partner strategies and ensure scopes align with the Architect/Engineer of Record and construction requirements.
• Facilitate risk and opportunity workshops; maintain a clear risk register with owners, actions and commercial/schedule implications.
• Engage trade partners early to validate constructability, pricing, lead times and market capacity.

Pursuits, Clients & Business Development

• Lead or contribute to RFP deliverables including budget, schedule, logistics, approach, interviews and technical content.
• Support selection and onboarding of A/E teaming partners for collaborative and design-build pursuits, including clear scopes, deliverables and design-phase responsibilities.
• Develop project-specific win strategies with Business Development and Operations.
• Serve as a primary day-to-day preconstruction contact and build trusted relationships with clients, designers and consultants.
• Represent XL clearly and credibly in presentations, working sessions and negotiations.

People, Process & Continuous Improvement

• Coach and support less-experienced team members and share knowledge across estimating, design and operations disciplines.
• Use XL systems and technology effectively and contribute to improvements in preconstruction workflows.
• Apply XL best practices for budget communication, design-phase pull planning, constructability back-checks, risk workshops and pre-GMP execution planning.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, inclusive participation and constructive challenge.
• Capture lessons learned and apply them to future pursuits and projects.

Qualifications & Experience

• Typically 7+ years of relevant experience in commercial construction, design, engineering, architecture, cost planning/estimating, project management, construction management or a related field; equivalent demonstrated capability will be considered.
• Relevant backgrounds may include: general-contractor estimating/preconstruction; construction project management; design management; architectural project management; engineering project management; cost consulting; or owner/developer project management with strong construction exposure.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and making decisions across cost, design, schedule, procurement and risk.
• Working knowledge of building systems, construction means and methods, design development and project delivery. Strong estimating literacy is required; a career spent primarily as an estimator is not.
• Experience with negotiated work and collaborative delivery; design-build/design-assist experience is strongly valued.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Professional credentials such as AIA/RA, PE, DBIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, PMP or comparable credentials are valued but not required.

Knowledge, Skills & Capabilities

Integrated project thinking; cost and estimating literacy; design coordination; constructability; schedule and procurement planning; risk management; client communication; facilitation; negotiation; written and presentation skills; collaboration; working knowledge of BIM/VDC and common preconstruction technology.

Success Measures

• Projects maintain clear alignment among client requirements, design, cost, schedule and procurement.
• Risks and decisions are surfaced early and managed transparently.
• Preconstruction deliverables are accurate, timely and useful to both the client and execution team.
• Strong transition and continuity into construction.
• Positive client, designer, trade-partner and internal-team feedback.

The anticipated base salary range for this Preconstruction Manager position in California is $123,120 to $160,000 per year. Actual pay will depend on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This range does not include bonus, benefits, or other forms of compensation.