Preconstruction Manager / Director – Commercial Construction

Just Construction Recruitment; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

ESOP General Contractor is seeking a seasoned Preconstruction Manager/Director to join its commercial construction team. This senior role focuses on delivering complex projects from early design through contract award, developing budgets, leading estimating efforts, and maintaining client relationships.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in commercial construction with Tier 1 GC experience, excels in budgeting, GMP development, and value engineering, and can lead teams across design, estimation,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of commercial construction experience with preconstruction/estimating responsibility.
• Experience with Tier 1 / large-scale General Contractor.
• Strong estimating, budgeting, GMP development, and bid management skills.
• Excellent client-facing and presentation abilities.
• Proven ability to lead multiple pursuits and projects concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full preconstruction process from conceptual design through project award.
• Develop and manage conceptual, schematic, and GMP estimates.
• Review plans and contract documents to identify risks and opportunities.
• Lead value engineering and constructability reviews.
• Create detailed project budgets, cost models, bid strategies, and schedules.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, owners, and vendors; manage solicitations.
• Provide accurate cost and schedule analysis throughout design.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Lead preconstruction meetings and client presentations.
• Assist with pursuits, proposals, and interviews.
• Build relationships with clients, design teams, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Mentor estimating and preconstruction staff; collaborate with operations for transition to construction.

Skills

Commercial construction

Preconstruction/estimating

Leadership

Client relations

Presentations

Negotiation

Job description

Our client is a highly established ESOP General Contractor seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager / Director to join their commercial construction team.

This is a senior-level opportunity for a proven preconstruction professional with strong experience delivering complex commercial construction projects from early conceptual stages through contract award. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing budgets, leading estimating efforts, managing client relationships, and driving projects through the preconstruction process.

Multifamily, residential, and purely industrial candidates will not be considered. Candidates must have a strong background in commercial construction with a Tier 1 General Contractor.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full preconstruction process from conceptual design through project award.
• Develop and manage detailed conceptual, schematic, and GMP estimates.
• Review plans, specifications, scopes, and contract documents to identify risks and opportunities.
• Lead value engineering and constructability reviews.
• Develop detailed project budgets, cost models, bid strategies, and schedules.
• Manage subcontractor and vendor solicitation, leveling, and scope reviews.
• Coordinate closely with architects, engineers, owners, consultants, and project teams.
• Provide accurate cost and schedule analysis throughout the design process.
• Identify potential project risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Lead preconstruction meetings and presentations with clients and project stakeholders.
• Assist with project pursuits, proposals, interviews, and presentations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, design teams, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Mentor and provide leadership to estimating and preconstruction staff.
• Collaborate with operations teams to ensure a smooth transition from preconstruction into construction.

Required Experience:

• 8+ years of commercial construction experience, with significant preconstruction/estimating responsibility.
• Previous experience working for a Tier 1 / large-scale General Contractor is required.
• Proven experience managing preconstruction for complex commercial projects.
• Strong understanding of commercial construction methods, materials, costs, and sequencing.
• Experience with conceptual estimating, budgeting, GMP development, value engineering, and bid management.
• Strong subcontractor and vendor relationships.
• Excellent understanding of drawings, specifications, contracts, and construction documents.
• Strong client-facing and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple pursuits and projects simultaneously.
• Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Performance-based bonus
• Unlimited PTO
• Career progression into senior leadership
• Opportunity to work on major commercial construction projects with an industry-leading GC