Senior Director, Technology and Life Sciences

McGough Construction CO, LLC

Raleigh (NC)

On-site

USD 178,000 - 237,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Insurance coverage for medical, dental

Vision and life insurance

Generous retirement plans

Voluntary benefit plans

Parental leave

Substantial paid time off

Holiday pay

Job summary

McGough Construction CO, LLC seeks a Senior Director, Technology & Life Sciences to lead national preconstruction strategy for a diverse portfolio of regulated facilities. You will drive growth, set estimating standards, and guide GMP cost modeling while aligning with regional teams to ensure consistent delivery across markets.

The role requires executive leadership, extensive experience in Life Sciences contracting, and a track record of building high-performing, cross-location teams focused on

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management is required
15+ years of general contracting experience required
7+ years in a senior estimating or preconstruction leadership role required
Experience with complex, process-driven or regulated Technology & Life Sciences facilities required
Demonstrated enterprise or multi-office leadership experience required
Strong understanding of owner/design/contractor dynamics required
Deep knowledge of process systems and regulatory compliance required
Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams across locations required
Strategic thinker with strong financial and risk management capability required
Preferred: Registered Professional Engineer (PE)
Preferred: Experience in bio-pharma, semiconductor, manufacturing, and/or Food & Beverage sectors
Preferred: Experience with multiple project delivery methods (CMAR, Design-Build, GMP)

Responsibilities

Lead national preconstruction strategy for the Technology & Life Sciences sector, supporting growth and profitability.
Partner with Executive Leadership, Business Development, and Regional Leadership to identify target markets and pursuits.
Coordinate with regional offices to align opportunities, staffing plans, and technical resources.
Develop and standardize sector-specific cost benchmarks, estimating protocols, and risk mitigation strategies.
Provide executive guidance on delivery models, procurement strategy, phasing, and constructability in regulated environments.
Monitor industry trends (cGMP, cleanrooms, process integration, regulatory requirements) and integrate into enterprise practices.
Strengthen strategic client relationships through early engagement and technical credibility.
Mentor pursuit teams to elevate performance and win rates.
Oversee development of GMP cost modeling and GC/fee strategies across sector projects.
Establish enterprise standards for self-perform pricing and subcontractor buyout.
Prepare and oversee cost models for schematic and GMP estimates.
Bridge owners, architects, engineers, regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and internal teams.

Skills

Strategic business development

Executive relationship management

Persuasive communication

Analytical thinking

Organization & prioritization

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management

Job description

McGough is a respected partner that brings six generations of experience to high profile, unique and complex construction projects. We take great pride in our people and their extraordinary expertise in planning, development, construction and facility management. McGough employee tenure reflects the commitment and pride we share in our work. Ask anyone who knows us - the caliber of our people sets us apart.

SENIOR DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES

The Senior Director, Technology & Life Sciences provides enterprise-level strategic leadership for all preconstruction services within the Technology & Life Sciences sector. This role drives national growth, technical excellence, and financial performance by leading estimating strategy, risk mitigation, and early project development for complex, regulated, process-driven environments. The Senior Director partners closely with regional offices to align pursuit strategy, technical standards, and resource planning—ensuring consistent delivery excellence across markets. This position builds high-performing teams, strengthens client relationships, and ensures seamless transition from pursuit through execution, positioning the company as a premier builder of pharmaceutical, biotech, advanced manufacturing, and laboratory facilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management
Required: 15+ years of general contracting experience
Required: 7+ years in a senior estimating or preconstruction leadership role
Required: Experience with complex, process-driven or regulated Technology & Life Sciences facilities
Required: Demonstrated enterprise or multi-office leadership experience
Required: Strong understanding of owner/design/contractor dynamics
Required: Deep knowledge of process systems and regulatory compliance
Required: Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams across locations
Required: Strategic thinker with strong financial and risk management capability
Preferred: Registered Professional Engineer (PE).
Preferred: Experience in bio-pharma, semiconductor, manufacturing, and/or Food & Beverage sectors.
Preferred: Experience with multiple project delivery methods (CMAR, Design-Build, GMP)

SKILLS

Strategic business development and growth planning
Client relationship management and executive presence
Persuasive communication and influence
Analytical thinking and sound business judgment
Organization, prioritization, and follow-through
Team leadership and cross-functional collaboration

CORE RESPONSIBLITIES

Technology & Life Sciences Sector Strategy & Enterprise Alignment: Lead national preconstruction strategy for the Technology & Life Sciences sector, supporting growth, profitability, and market expansion. Partner with Executive Leadership, Business Development, and Regional Leadership to identify target markets and pursuits. Coordinate with regional offices to align opportunities, staffing plans, and technical resources. Develop and standardize sector-specific cost benchmarks, estimating protocols, and risk mitigation strategies. Provide executive guidance on delivery models, procurement strategy, phasing, and constructability in regulated environments. Monitor industry trends (cGMP, cleanrooms, process integration, regulatory requirements) and integrate into enterprise practices. Strengthen strategic client relationships through early engagement and technical credibility.

People Leadership & Regional Team Oversight: Collaborate cross-functionally with regional teams and executive leadership to ensure cohesive strategy and execution. Mentor pursuit teams to elevate performance, accountability, and win rates. Represent the company professionally in all internal and external engagements. Support Lean principles, continuous improvement, and company values. Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support organizational success.

Preconstruction Leadership: Serve as executive sponsor for major Technology & Life Sciences pursuits. Lead conceptual, program-level, schematic, design development, and GMP cost modeling for strategic opportunities. Oversee development of reliable cost estimates including process systems, equipment, general conditions, materials, and labor. Establish enterprise standards for self-perform pricing and subcontractor scope leveling and buyout. Prepare and oversee GC and fee strategies aligned with project complexity and risk profile. Guide development of proposals, scopes of work, and general conditions documentation.

Estimating & Cost Strategy: Oversee development of schematic, design development, and GMP cost models across Technology & Life Sciences projects. Establish enterprise standards for pricing process systems, equipment, general conditions, materials, and labor. Direct subcontractor bid analysis, scope leveling, and buyout strategies in coordination with regional teams. Develop fee structures and risk-based contingency strategies aligned with project complexity. Implement structured cost risk analysis and scenario modeling to improve forecasting accuracy. Leverage historical data and market intelligence to support competitive positioning in all regions. Prepare and oversee cost models for schematic, design development, and GMP estimates. Develop reliable cost estimates including equipment, general conditions, materials, and labor. Price self-perform labor, material, and equipment using historic data and supplier input. Oversee subcontractor bid analysis and buyout processes. Prepare and oversee GC & Fee calculations on all project types.

Technical & Operational Integration: Bridge owners, architects, engineers, regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and internal teams. Support regional offices in developing schedules, logistics plans, and phasing strategies for active or regulated facilities. Ensure alignment between front-end specifications, compliance requirements, scopes of work, and budgets. Maintain deep expertise in process systems, building systems, cleanroom environments, and regulatory compliance. Partner with Operations to review project performance and embed lessons learned into future pursuits.

Project Execution Support: Ensure disciplined transition from preconstruction to operations across all regions. Provide executive-level guidance on technical, commercial, and risk-related challenges during execution. Support regional project teams in achieving owner objectives and company performance goals. Deploy specialized estimating or technical resources when necessary to support complex projects.

Leadership, Culture & Organizational Contribution: Collaborate cross-functionally with regional teams and executive leadership to ensure cohesive strategy and project execution. Mentor and coach pursuit teams to elevate performance, accountability, and win rates. Contribute actively to the Life Sciences and Business Development teams in support of shared growth goals. Represent McGough professionally and consistently in all internal and external engagements. Support and model Lean principles, continuous improvement, and the McGough Way. Attend project and company meetings and pursue ongoing professional development. Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support team and organizational success.

OFFICE AND TRAVEL

Office: Based in regional office. Travel: Attend regular business development meetings, make customer and project site visits as needed, overnight travel may be involved.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands outlined here are representative of those required for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. This position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a workstation or during meetings and travel (by plane or car). The employee must be able to lift up to 20 or 50 pounds as needed, demonstrate dexterity to write and use a computer keyboard and mouse, and possess the ability to hear, speak clearly, and distinguish colors on graphs and charts. The role also requires occasional visits to construction sites, where the employee may be exposed to dust, dirt, uneven surfaces, outdoor weather conditions, and extreme temperatures.

BASE SALARY RANGE

In alignment with our commitment to pay transparency, the base salary range for this position is $178,100 to $237,400, excluding fringe benefits or potential bonuses. If you join McGough, your final base salary will be determined by several factors, including geography, location, skills, education, and experience. Furthermore, we place significant value on pay equity among our current team members as part of any final job offer. Please note that the range provided above reflects the hiring range for this role. Hiring near the top end of this range would be atypical, as we aim to allow room for future salary growth.

BENEFITS