Preconstruction Manager - Federal

Eastern Contractors Corporation; Duluth (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage (

401(k) with company match up to 5%

Discretionary Paid Time Off (DPTO)

Plum Benefits

ESOP

Job summary

Eastern Contractors Corporation seeks an experienced Federal Pre-Construction Manager to lead early-stage planning, estimating, and proposal development for federal construction projects.

You will bridge business development, design partners, and operations, ensuring bids are accurate, competitively priced, and fully compliant with FAR, DFARS, Davis-Bacon, Buy American, and agency guidelines. Prior federal project experience is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management or related field.
• 7–10+ years of construction estimating and planning experience.
• Minimum 5 years dedicated to federal/DoD projects.
• Proven track record on multi-million dollar pursuits ($5M–$35M+).
• Experience with USACE, NAFVAC, AFCEC, GSA, VA or DHS.

Responsibilities

• Lead early-stage planning, estimating and proposal development for federal bids.
• Coordinate with business development, design partners, and operations.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, Davis-Bacon Act and Buy American.
• Structure pre-construction strategies across Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, MATOC/IDIQ.

Skills

Estimating

Planning

Regulatory compliance

Bid development

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Architecture or related field

Tools

Bluebeam Revu

Procore

Timberline

MC2

Primavera P6

Job description

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Federal Pre-Construction Manager to lead, coordinate, and execute all early-stage planning, estimating, and proposal development efforts for federal government construction projects. In this role, you will be the strategic anchor bridging business development, design partners, and operations. You will ensure our federal bids are highly accurate, competitively priced, fully compliant with federal procurement regulations, and structured for seamless field execution.

Key Responsibilities

Federal Proposal Support and Compliance

• Solicitation Review: Analyze complex RFPs, IFBs, Sources Sought notices, and federal solicitations to evaluate risk, scope, and technical requirements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all pricing, procurement, and labor models adhere strictly to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), DFARS, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Buy American Act, and specific agency guidelines.
• Proposal Development: Lead the development of pricing volumes and provide data-driven technical content to support bid submissions.
• Delivery Frameworks: Structure pre-construction strategies across varying contract vehicles, including Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, MATOC, and IDIQ frameworks.

Estimating and Cost Control

• Phase Budgeting: Formulate detailed conceptual, schematic, and final design estimates using historical cost indices and real-time market data.
• Takeoffs & Pricing: Perform comprehensive quantity takeoffs and compile direct self-perform costs alongside complex subcontractor bid packages.
• Value Engineering: Lead milestone design reviews and value engineering sessions to optimize project costs without sacrificing government-mandated requirements.
• Database Maintenance: Update and refine internal historical cost databases, escalating indices, and pricing benchmarks across different regional federal markets.

Subcontractor Procurement & Risk Management

• Market Outreach: Source, qualify, and expand a robust network of trade partners, prioritizing small, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses to satisfy federal subcontracting goals.
• Bid Leveling: Conduct exhaustive subcontractor bid scoping, leveling, and post-bid reviews to eradicate gaps or scope overlaps.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluate design gaps, geotechnical anomalies, material supply chain friction, and timeline constraints to build a proactive risk mitigation matrix.

Collaboration & Project Transition

• Design Management: Partner closely with architects, engineers, and consultants during the pre-development phases of Design-Build projects.
• Operational Handoff: Structure and lead the formal transition meeting to hand off estimates, buyout files, initial schedules, and logistic plans to the project management and field operations teams.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or a strictly related field.

General Experience

7-10+ years of construction estimating and planning experience.

Federal Focus

Minimum of 5 years dedicated exclusively to vertical or horizontal federal/DoD construction projects.

Project Capacity

Proven track record managing multi-million dollar pursuits, ideally ranging from $5M to $35M+.

Agency Familiarity

Experience working with agencies such as USACE, NAFVAC, AFCEC, GSA, VA, or the Department of Homeland Security.

Technical Skills and Certifications

Software Fluency

Mastery of estimating platforms (Bluebeam Revu, Procore, Timberline, MC2).

Scheduling Systems

Proficient in interpreting and creating baseline timelines using Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.

Technical Frameworks

Clear comprehension of Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) and Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC).

Employment Details

• Full-Time, Salaried
• Location: Duluth, GA

Benefits

• Up to 85% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with 100% company match up to 5%
• Discretionary Paid Time Off (DPTO) - We offer a Discretionary Paid Time Off (DPTO) program to support work-life balance. Employees may request time off in advance through the company system, with manager approval based on business needs
• Plum Benefits: Employee discounts on entertainment, travel, shopping, and lifestyle experiences
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Physical Requirements

• Work in office environments.
• Communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through electronic communication.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.

EEO

Eastern Commercial is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About Eastern

Eastern Contractors Corporation (ECC) is the industrial general contracting division of Eastern Companies, delive