Preconstruction Manager - Water & Wastewater

The Haskell Company; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The Haskell Company is seeking a senior Preconstruction Manager to lead all preconstruction activities on large volume water projects. You will develop preliminary budgets, lead value engineering, manage bid packages, and coordinate with design teams and subcontractors.

You will mentor Preconstruction Specialists, ensure timely estimates, manage risks, and drive compliance with RFPs. A BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management or 5–8 years experience in water/wastewater is required.

Qualifications

• BS in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent plus 5 years of experience; or 8 years in relevant work.
• Water and wastewater construction experience is required.
• Ability to understand owner/engineer requirements with minimal information.
• Knowledge of construction materials, market conditions, and trade practices.
• Experience with estimating software and strong MS Office skills.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• General Management: oversee Preconstruction Specialists and assign projects.
• Pre-Estimate: collaborate with design teams and lead value engineering.
• Estimate Development: compile multi-disciplined estimates into a single document.
• Subcontractor Management: secure quotes, develop bid packages, and manage relationships.
• Post Estimate: handoff budgets, assist with scope-of-work documents.
• Data & Training: maintain estimating databases and train staff.
• Travel: occasional travel 5–20% as needed.

Skills

Water & wastewater construction

Team mentoring

Project leadership

Effective communication

Education

BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management

Tools

Beck Destini

Accubid

Bluebeam

InSite

Job description

At Haskell, you’re not just joining a company, you’re joining a nationally recognized Top Workplace where diverse perspectives and inclusive thinking drive stronger outcomes. Whether you’re starting out, growing your expertise, or leading the way, you’ll find a culture grounded in trust, driven by excellence, and built to support your goals. Here, you’ll have the opportunity, flexibility, and sense of belonging to grow your career your way—while making a real impact.

In this role, you will be responsible for all preconstruction activities on large volume water projects, including developing preliminary budgets, value engineering, preconstruction schedules, procurement plan, prequalification of subcontractors, detailed take-off and estimating, definition of bid package scopes, the subcontractor/supplier bidding process, evaluation of bids, presentation of detailed estimates of the work, evaluation of alternatives and comparative studies.

Job Responsibilities:

• General Management:
  • Manage and Mentor Preconstruction Specialists.
  • Assign projects to direct reports and manage their job costing and expenses.
  • Manage performance reviews for direct reports.
  • Responsible for understanding the Precon process flow and adherence to it.
• Pre-Estimate
  • Collaborate with design teams to influence cost, scope, and schedule outcomes.
  • Lead constructability reviews and value engineering processes.
  • Lead Target Value Design process.
  • Participates in or leads Estimate Plan meeting. Develops Estimate Plan with proposal leader and ensures proposal team is clear on strategy and expectations.
  • Responsible for the team executing on that strategy.
  • Identifies resource needs and coordinates with discipline chiefs and Director of Precon as needed.
  • Leads team kick-off meeting and assigns action items.
• Estimate Development
  • Leads team of estimators assigned to a deliverable.
  • Responsible for compiling work products from multi-disciplinary estimators into a single complete estimate.
  • Ensures that the estimating team has the information necessary to develop their estimates. If information is lacking, is responsible for communicating the need to the proposal leader, design team, or customer, as required for that proposal.
  • Manages RFI lists (subcontractor, internal, and/or owner), as required per proposal.
  • Reviews proposal milestone dates with estimate team and tracks individual progress. Responsible for timeliness of estimate completion and communication to proposal leader and Director of Preconstruction, if deadlines are in jeopardy.
  • Responsible for ensuring that clarifications are clear, complete, and compiled into a single document. Coordinates with marketing for inclusion in the formal proposal.
  • Responsible for or assists with the completion of owner bid form. Coordinates with marketing for inclusion in the formal proposal.
  • Ensures estimate is compliant with RFP documents. Responsible for communicating to proposal leader when deviations are necessary.
  • Leads estimate review meeting.
  • Presents final deliverables to both internal leadership and external customers.
  • Identifies and manages project risks, including contingency development.
• Subcontractor Management
  • Builds and maintains subcontractor relationships.
  • Develops subcontractor search and communication strategy and ensures that the sub engagement team adheres to that strategy. Responsible for receiving at least three (3) quotes per bid package, unless otherwise agreed to by the proposal leader.
  • Meets with local subcontractors as needed.
  • Organizes, leads, or participates in pre-bid meetings, if required.
  • Leads development of subcontractor bid packages, including but not limited to, NDAs, RFP, drawings, scopes-of-work, bid forms, contract attachments, schedules, and site logistics plans. Coordinates with operational resources, as needed, to ensure completeness of bid packages.
  • Works with the Business Diversity Coordinator when proposing on federal or public sector agency projects to develop a Small and/or WMBE business participation engagement plan that complies with project requirements.
  • Receives quotes and conducts subcontractor analysis. Organizes and leads scope review meetings. Makes recommendations for selection.
• Post Estimate
  • Responsible for submitting the project budget to accounting.
  • Leads handoff meeting with the operations team.
  • Assists the Project Management team with compiling scope-of-work documents for contractual agreements.
  • Responsible for compiling lessons learned for the precon phase, if applicable.
  • Participates in lessons learned meeting at project close. Understands budget underruns and overruns, and communicates those lessons learned to the precon department.
  • May assist the Project Management team with buyout.
  • May assist the Project Management team with change orders.
• Database Maintenance
  • Contributes to maintenance of preferred subcontractor database.
  • Contributes to maintenance of bid forms and bid packages database.
  • Contributes to maintenance of cost history database.
  • Contributes to maintenance of estimating database.
• Digital / Technical Expectations:
  • Lead use of estimating platforms, model-based takeoffs, AI-assisted workflows, and cost databases.
• Training and Development:
  • Trains Preconstruction Specialists and other personnel, as needed.
  • Aids in development and maintenance of training program.
• Travel
  • Meets with local subcontractors, attends bid walks, and attends conferences as necessary.
  • Expected travel 5-20% of time as needed.

Education & Years of Experience:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in accredited construction-related curriculum, such as Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent plus 5 years of experience; or 8 years of relevant experience.

To thrive in this role, you'll need:

• Water & Wastewater Construction experience
• Ability to understand owner/engineer requirements with conceptual ability to work with minimal information.
• Knowledge of construction, materials system, market conditions and trade practices.
• Knowledge of estimating software (preference for Beck Destini, Accubid, Bluebeam, InSite, etc.).
• Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office suite programs.
• Detailed and deadline oriented, well-organized and ability to prioritize.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal clients, external clients, and subcontractors.

At Haskell, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, professional development opportunities, and more. Join us and be part of a team where your contributions make a difference.

Environmental Factors and/or Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, and arm, hand and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application/form information. The associate frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, or protected veteran status. Haskell will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessities. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Haskell is a Drug-Free Workplace.