Strategic Preconstruction Lead: Estimating, Design & Budgets

Hensel Phelps; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Employee ownership

Job summary

Hensel Phelps is seeking a Senior Preconstruction Lead to drive planning, budgeting, and scheduling for complex projects. You will coordinate with owners, designers, trade partners, and internal teams to align scope, budget, and schedule, ensuring a smooth transition to construction.

With 8+ years in preconstruction and strong leadership, you will guide cost planning, procurement strategy, and risk mitigation while communicating project status and collaborating with stakeholders to optimize

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of progressive preconstruction, estimating, or related project delivery experience.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with preconstruction/estimating tools and scheduling fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate preconstruction planning, budgeting and scheduling activities for assigned projects.
• Develop and maintain preconstruction schedules identifying key milestones.
• Prepare, update, and reconcile cost estimates from concept through final design documents.
• Support development of GMPs, lump-sum proposals and estimate iterations.
• Facilitate coordination among owners, designers, trade partners, VDC, and internal teams.
• Conduct constructability, scope and value-analysis reviews to identify optimization opportunities.
• Communicate project status, design impacts, budget updates and scheduling considerations.
• Support procurement planning and trade partner engagement, including scope development and bid reviews.
• Identify and communicate preconstruction risks and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate permitting and approval activities to support timely progress.
• Prepare and maintain preconstruction deliverables like cost models and design logs.
• Facilitate turnover from preconstruction to construction with documented decisions.

Skills

Preconstruction planning

Cross-functional leadership

Cost estimation

Budget management

Scheduling basics

Communication

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or related field

Tools

Estimating tools

Scheduling software

Preconstruction software

Job description

Hensel Phelps is seeking a Senior Preconstruction Lead to drive planning, budgeting, and scheduling for complex projects. You will coordinate with owners, designers, trade partners, and internal teams to align scope, budget, and schedule, ensuring a smooth transition to construction.

With 8+ years in preconstruction and strong leadership, you will guide cost planning, procurement strategy, and risk mitigation while communicating project status and collaborating with stakeholders to optimize