Strategic Preconstruction Lead - Client-Facing & GMP Expert

STO Building Group; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account

401(k)

Life & AD&D Insurance

Short-term Disability

Job summary

Ajax Building Company, part of the STO Building group, is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager. The Preconstruction Manager leads project planning and cost strategy from early concept through GMP, ensuring alignment between design, budget, and constructability.

This role serves as a strategic partner to clients, design teams, and operations - guiding pricing, validating estimates, and helping drive efficient, well-coordinated project outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction/estimating within commercial construction.
• Strong understanding of how projects are built, priced, and delivered across all phases of construction.
• Experience leading or supporting preconstruction efforts from concept through GMP development.
• Experience with higher education and/or municipal projects preferred.
• Ability to operate effectively in a client-facing role and lead meetings with confidence.
• Demonstrated ability to guide and influence the design process in a proactive, collaborative manner.

Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction efforts from conceptual budgeting through design development and GMP execution in partnership with Operations.
• Serve as the strategic lead during preconstruction - guiding pricing, validating estimates, and ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Develop and oversee conceptual budgets, cost models, and design-phase estimates without being responsible for detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Create and distribute design phase deliverables, including cost reports, value engineering analyses, and budget updates.
• Prepare and lead GMP proposal development and client presentations.
• Provide constructability feedback and value engineering recommendations to advance design in a cost-effective manner.
• Proactively engage with design teams to challenge assumptions and drive efficient, buildable solutions
• Solicit and evaluate subcontractor and vendor pricing in coordination with the estimating team
• Maintain and utilize historical cost data to support forecasting and benchmarking
• Serve as a primary point of contact with clients, architects, engineers, and consultants during preconstruction
• Lead and participate in client and design meetings, clearly communicating cost impacts and project strategy
• Build and maintain strong relationships to support both project execution and future business development
• Support higher education, healthcare, municipal, mission critical projects and more

Skills

Client-facing

Leadership

Cost estimation

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management

Job description

Ajax Building Company, part of the STO Building group, is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager. The Preconstruction Manager leads project planning and cost strategy from early concept through GMP, ensuring alignment between design, budget, and constructability.

This role serves as a strategic partner to clients, design teams, and operations - guiding pricing, validating estimates, and helping drive efficient, well-coordinated project outcomes.