Senior Preconstruction Manager & Estimator (Public Sector)

CORE; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

HSA/FSA

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) with company match

Equipment: cell phone, laptop

Travel costs reimbursed

In-office, not remote

Discretionary year end bonus

Job summary

CORE is seeking a Senior Preconstruction Manager/Estimator to lead and execute the most complex public sector pursuits in California, guiding projects from concept and master planning through GMP and subcontractor buyout. You will serve as the primary client contact, provide technical leadership, and mentor estimators across a multi-office region.

The role demands executive communication, strong commercial judgment, and the ability to manage risk across cost, schedule, and scope, with travel

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in construction estimating and preconstruction management with a general contractor, construction manager, or design build firm.
• Demonstrated leadership of preconstruction on complex, high value projects.
• Experience with progressive design build, lease leaseback, and CM at Risk delivery.
• Strong track record on California public sector projects (K-12, higher education, civic/municipal).
• Leadership of subcontractor solicitation, bid review, negotiation, and buyout on multi package projects.
• Experience mentoring or leading junior estimators and preconstruction staff.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with ability to lead executive meetings.
• Working knowledge of California public contract law, prevailing wage, and DSA/HCAI processes.
• Proficiency with estimating tools (Bluebeam, MS Project, Excel); Destini experience highly desirable but not required.
• Valid California driver’s license and ability to travel within Northern California.

Responsibilities

• Own preconstruction strategy and execution on CORE’s largest and most complex public sector pursuits from early master planning through GMP and subcontractor buyout.
• Serve as primary preconstruction lead and client contact, building long-term owner and design partner relationships.
• Direct quality control for scope development, unit pricing, and line item cost estimating; review GMP packages.
• Lead subcontractor solicitation, bid review, negotiation, and buyout on high value packages.
• Identify, quantify, and manage project risk; develop mitigation strategies for cost, schedule, constructability and scope.
• Lead constructability reviews, value engineering workshops, and design phase problem solving.
• Mentor and oversee preconstruction staff; support their professional development.
• Contribute to major pursuit efforts including cost strategy, interviews, and client presentations.
• Collaborate on department standards and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain organized project files and estimate documentation in CORE systems (e.g., Destini, Smartsheet).
• Ensure compliance with California public contract law, prevailing wage, and skilled and trained workforce rules.

Skills

Executive communication

Client relations

Leadership

Mentoring

Risk management

Constructability reviews

Value engineering

Public sector experience

Design-build/CM at Risk knowledge

Multi-office coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

Bluebeam Revu

Microsoft Project

Excel

Destini (Beck Technology)

Job description

CORE is seeking a Senior Preconstruction Manager/Estimator to lead and execute the most complex public sector pursuits in California, guiding projects from concept and master planning through GMP and subcontractor buyout. You will serve as the primary client contact, provide technical leadership, and mentor estimators across a multi-office region.

The role demands executive communication, strong commercial judgment, and the ability to manage risk across cost, schedule, and scope, with travel