Senior Pre-Construction Manager, BESS

Burns & McDonnell; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

You will collaborate with Business Development and engineering leaders to define pursuit strategies, oversee cost models, and ensure timely, competitive bids. Strong leadership, communication, and project-management expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in engineering, architecture, construction, or related field with 5 years related professional experience in design and/or project management.
• 12 years of progressive construction and pre-construction experience preferred.
• Leadership and management experience supervising pre-construction or estimating teams.
• Experience in utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) or similar.
• Excellent oral and written communication; ability to present to executives and clients.
• Strong project management skills and a strategic perspective.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Understanding EPC, Design-Build, and CMAR delivery methods.
• Deep knowledge of BESS equipment technology.
• Ability to influence, lead, and manage change.
• Strong commercial acumen in contracts and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to pre-construction managers, estimators, schedulers, and staff.
• Manage section workload to meet timelines and billable targets.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and retain pre-construction staff.
• Champion company culture, values, and safety across workflows.
• Manage budgets, overhead, software licensing, and resources.
• Partner with BD and practice leaders to define pursuit strategies.
• Lead pursuit strategy meetings and client interviews.
• Review RFPs to assess viability and risk.
• Direct the preparation of cost models from concept to detailed bids.
• Ensure standard WBS and cash flow forecasting.
• Maintain estimating database and track pricing trends.
• Chair estimate and risk review sessions with leadership.
• Monitor budgets and schedules across pursuits.
• Sponsor constructability reviews and value analysis.
• Adopt BIM and digital takeoff tools.
• Oversee subcontractor pre-qualification and bids.
• Collaborate on contract terms, warranties, tax and tariff considerations.
• Foster partnerships with trade contractors.
• Establish handoff protocols from pre-construction to execution.
• Participate in mobilization reviews and procurement alignment.
• Conduct audits for lessons learned and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Team mentoring

Strategic thinking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/architecture/construction

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

BIM

Digital takeoff

Job description

You will collaborate with Business Development and engineering leaders to define pursuit strategies, oversee cost models, and ensure timely, competitive bids. Strong leadership, communication, and project-management expertise are essential.