Preconstruction Manager

Just Construction Recruitment; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Just Construction Recruitment is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager in the Washington, DC area to own the preconstruction process from concept through GMP development and handover. You will collaborate with owners, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to ensure accurate pricing and realistic cost expectations, with a focus on healthcare and education projects.

The role requires 5+ years in preconstruction or related fields, strong estimating experience, and proficiency with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction, estimating or construction management with a General Contractor.
• Experience managing preconstruction activities for commercial construction projects.
• Strong estimating experience, including conceptual budgets, detailed estimates and GMP development.
• Previous experience with healthcare and/or education construction projects.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications and technical documentation.
• Strong knowledge of subcontractor procurement, bid solicitation, scope reviews and cost analysis.
• Experience with value engineering, constructability reviews and cost control.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency with construction estimating and project management software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all preconstruction activities from project inception through to construction handover.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, budgets and pricing strategies for commercial construction projects.
• Manage conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document estimates.
• Review drawings, specifications and project documentation to identify scope gaps, risks and potential cost savings.
• Coordinate with owners, architects, engineers and consultants to develop project budgets and establish realistic cost expectations.
• Lead value engineering exercises and provide practical, cost-effective design and construction alternatives.
• Manage subcontractor and vendor outreach, bid packages, scope reviews and bid levelling.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, procurement strategies and preconstruction programmes.
• Provide constructability reviews, identifying potential challenges relating to phasing, logistics, access and site conditions.
• Work closely with Project Managers and Superintendents to ensure a smooth transition from preconstruction into construction.
• Support client presentations, interviews, proposals and negotiated project opportunities.
• Monitor market conditions, subcontractor pricing and material costs to maintain accurate and competitive estimates.
• Ensure project budgets, estimates and documentation are accurate, detailed and delivered within agreed deadlines.

Skills

Estimating

Budgeting

Preconstruction

Communication

Organizational skills

Value engineering

Constructability reviews

Stakeholder coordination

Project management software

Education

Construction Management degree

Tools

Estimating software

Job description

A well-established General Contractor is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager to join its team in Washington, DC. This is an excellent opportunity for a preconstruction professional with a strong background in commercial construction, particularly healthcare and education projects. The successful candidate will take ownership of the preconstruction process from initial concept and budgeting through to final estimate, GMP development and handover to the operations team. You will work closely with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors and internal project teams to ensure projects are properly planned, accurately priced and positioned for successful delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all preconstruction activities from project inception through to construction handover.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, budgets and pricing strategies for commercial construction projects.
• Manage conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document estimates.
• Review drawings, specifications and project documentation to identify scope gaps, risks and potential cost savings.
• Coordinate with owners, architects, engineers and consultants to develop project budgets and establish realistic cost expectations.
• Lead value engineering exercises and provide practical, cost-effective design and construction alternatives.
• Manage subcontractor and vendor outreach, bid packages, scope reviews and bid levelling.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, procurement strategies and preconstruction programmes.
• Provide constructability reviews, identifying potential challenges relating to phasing, logistics, access and site conditions.
• Work closely with Project Managers and Superintendents to ensure a smooth transition from preconstruction into construction.
• Support client presentations, interviews, proposals and negotiated project opportunities.
• Monitor market conditions, subcontractor pricing and material costs to maintain accurate and competitive estimates.
• Ensure project budgets, estimates and documentation are accurate, detailed and delivered within agreed deadlines.

Project Experience

The role will focus primarily on commercial healthcare and education construction projects, which may include:

• Hospitals, medical centres and healthcare facilities.
• Healthcare renovations, expansions and occupied facility upgrades.
• Higher education, university and campus construction.
• K-12 schools and educational facilities.
• Ground-up construction, renovations, additions and interior fit-outs.

Experience working within active healthcare environments, including an understanding of phasing, infection control requirements and the logistical challenges of occupied facilities, would be particularly beneficial.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction, estimating or construction management with a General Contractor.
• Demonstrated experience managing preconstruction activities for commercial construction projects.
• Strong estimating experience, including conceptual budgets, detailed estimates and GMP development.
• Previous experience with healthcare and/or education construction projects.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications and technical documentation.
• Strong knowledge of subcontractor procurement, bid solicitation, scope reviews and cost analysis.
• Experience with value engineering, constructability reviews and cost control.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency with construction estimating and project management software.

Required Skills

Not specified.

Preferred Skills

• Experience delivering projects within the Washington, DC metropolitan market.
• Background working on public-sector, institutional or government-funded construction projects.
• Experience with negotiated work, design-build and Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR/CM-at-Risk) delivery methods.
• Relevant qualifications in Construction Management, Engineering or a related discipline.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join an established General Contractor with a strong focus on commercial, healthcare and education construction. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping projects before they reach the construction phase, working alongside senior leadership and operational teams to deliver well-planned, competitively priced projects across the Washington, DC market.