Preconstruction Manager

CRG Real Estate Solutions; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Medical, dental and vision plans

401k with company match

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Clayco is hiring a Preconstruction Manager to lead high‑level preconstruction efforts across multiple business units. You will guide project pursuits, develop compelling proposals, and oversee detailed estimates with subcontractors, ensuring accurate scopes and competitive pricing.

You will mentor junior staff, review schedules for VE opportunities, and collaborate with Senior Management to drive project success on a nationwide scale.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 5–10 years of estimating experience in commercial construction across multiple market sectors.
• Deep knowledge of building construction, materials, systems, market conditions, and trade practices; familiarity with estimating and quantity takeoff software.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead project pursuit activities and collaborate with Business Unit Leaders and Project Executives.
• Prepare and present project estimates to clients and owners.
• Develop scopes of work for each trade and coordinate with subcontractors.
• Review schedules and documents for value engineering opportunities and price VE items.
• Mentor and train junior estimating staff.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Estimating software

Takeoff software

Job description

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

The Role We Want You For

As a Preconstruction Manager, you will lead high-level management of preconstruction efforts, working closely with the Vice President of Preconstruction and other team members. You will provide expert guidance and services across all business units, collaborating with Business Unit Leaders, Project Executives, and Senior Management to drive project success. In this role, you will be instrumental in managing design-build project pursuits and preconstruction activities across various business units. If you’re a seasoned professional with a strategic mindset and leadership skills, we’d love to hear from you.

The Specifics of the Role

• Project Pursuit Leadership: Collaborate with Business Unit Leaders (Institutional, Industrial, Residential/Hospitality, Commercial) and Project Executives to identify and pursue new project opportunities.
• Proposal Preparation: Lead the development of specific project scopes and prepare accurate, compelling proposals.
• Estimating and Analysis: Create detailed conceptual estimates and develop scopes of work for each trade. Review scopes with subcontractors and participate in their selection process.
• Client Presentation: Prepare and present final estimates to clients and owners, effectively communicating project value and details.
• Schedule and Document Review: Review construction schedules and documents for value engineering opportunities, preparing, and pricing value engineering items.
• Mentorship and Training: Train and mentor junior estimating staff, fostering their professional growth and development.
• Data and List Management: Maintain and update master subcontractor/vendor lists by trade and develop historical data for unit pricing.
• Contract Support: Assist project managers with contract negotiations, change orders, and other project-related tasks.
• General Conditions: Develop and review general conditions in collaboration with project management.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Experience: 5-10 years of experience in estimating for commercial construction, with a proven track record in leading project pursuits across multiple market sectors, including Commercial, Industrial, Healthcare, Institutional, and Residential.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of building construction, materials, systems, market conditions, and trade practices. Familiarity with estimating and quantity takeoff software.
• Software Proficiency: Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Demonstrated experience in leading Preconstruction meetings and supervising junior staff.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – Travel will be required.
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!
• This position is classified as a safety-sensitive role in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Candidates selected for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check, which includes mandatory drug testing.

Why Clayco?

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 5).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.