Senior Manager, Preconstruction

Blue Signal Search; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is looking for a senior-level professional to join their preconstruction group. This role involves early project planning and coordination for complex construction initiatives, focusing on budgeting, risk assessment, and partner collaboration. Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience in commercial construction, with a strong preference for those with data center experience. The position emphasizes communication skills, estimating practices, and effective leadership to drive project success.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in commercial construction or preconstruction leadership.
• Strong background in technically complex projects, preferably mission critical or data centers.
• Ability to communicate with stakeholders clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop early-stage cost projections for construction efforts.
• Guide partner outreach and bid leveling for best value decisions.
• Lead quantity surveys and pricing validation to strengthen forecasts.
• Support early procurement planning for long lead equipment.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Estimating practices

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related field

Tools

Excel

Bluebeam

OST

Job description

A well-established construction firm with a broad national footprint is adding to its preconstruction group and seeking a senior-level professional to support early project planning and coordination on complex, high-profile initiatives. This role offers significant visibility, contributing across budgeting, early-stage coordination, sourcing efforts, and partner relationships. The ideal candidate will have strong industry insight, communicate effectively with key partners, and help steer early-phase decisions that enhance budget clarity, timeline coordination, and overall project performance. This opportunity is ideal for someone who enjoys solving challenging buildability questions, leading pursuits, and helping teams win and deliver sophisticated technical projects.

What You Will Do

• Develop early-stage cost projections and comprehensive estimates for complex, uptime-sensitive construction efforts ahead of completed design plans.
• Guide trade partner outreach, bid leveling, and scope alignment to support best value decisions.
• Partner with operations, design, and procurement teams to identify schedule, cost, and constructability risks early.
• Lead quantity surveys, pricing validation, and benchmark tracking to strengthen forecasting accuracy.
• Support early procurement planning for long lead equipment and critical building systems.
• Communicate pricing scenarios, cost-saving approaches, and sequencing plans to both internal teams and external partners.
• Mentor junior preconstruction and project staff on estimating practices, tools, and documentation standards.
• Contribute to pursuit strategy and help communicate project approach to prospective customers.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field, or comparable industry experience.
• Approximately 10 or more years of experience in commercial construction, estimating, or preconstruction leadership.
• Strong background supporting technically complex projects, with mission critical or data center experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with subcontractor pricing, scope development, quantity takeoffs, and early procurement planning.
• Working knowledge of construction means and methods, cost modeling, value analysis, and schedule impact evaluation.
• Ability to communicate clearly with internal teams, trade partners, consultants, and client stakeholders.
• Familiarity with industry standard estimating and document management tools such as Excel, Bluebeam, OST, and comparable platforms is helpful.