Director of Preconstruction

MCL Construction

$100K — $130K *
Real Estate & Construction
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in management-level preconstruction or estimating roles
  • Experience leading diverse commercial projects from concept to construction
  • Proficient in estimating software (Timberline, On-Screen Takeoff) and standard office applications
  • Skilled in RFP/RFQ prep, contract negotiations, and scheduling
  • Bachelor's degree in related fields or equivalent experience
  • Strong leadership presence in front of clients and teams
  • Ability to manage multiple projects with a dynamic workload

Responsibilities

  • Oversee a portfolio of projects from initial concept through groundbreaking
  • Create and defend detailed cost estimates in various formats
  • Build robust cost models to withstand scrutiny during bidding
  • Collaborate with operations to ensure estimates align with project goals
  • Maintain a comprehensive cost history database for future reference
  • Lead and develop a high-performing team of preconstruction managers
  • Establish and enforce departmental policies focused on improvement

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
  • 401(k) with company matching contributions
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Travel opportunities for project oversight
  • Additional benefits available
Full Job Description
Description

We're looking for a Director of Preconstruction who is sharp, steady, and respected in the room - someone who can stand in front of an owner with a conceptual budget and defend every line of it.

The title is Director of Preconstruction. The real job is being the person owners trust before a single shovel hits the ground.

Day-to-Day

Lead the Numbers
  • Own a deep pipeline of ground-up and renovation projects from first concept through groundbreaking.
  • Direct conceptual, schematic, design development, GMP, and lump-sum estimates - and stand behind every one.
  • Build and analyze cost models that hold up under pressure through precon and bidding.
  • Partner with operations to align margins, labor rates, and strategy so estimates win work that performs.
  • Maintain the cost history database that makes every future estimate sharper than the last.

Build the Team
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of preconstruction managers and estimators.
  • Coordinate workloads and schedules with your Preconstruction Managers so deadlines are hit without burning people out.
  • Help hire the next generation of MCL estimators and invest in their training and development.
  • Set the standards - implement department policies and SOPs with a continuous-improvement mindset.

Be the Face of Precon
  • Guide owners, architects, and internal teams through every phase of project development - and strengthen the relationships that bring MCL repeat work.
  • Deliver presentations that turn complex cost data into decisions owners can make with confidence.
  • Stay ahead of the market - estimating technology, construction methods, costs, wages, and delivery trends.


The Right Fit

You're a strong fit if you:
  • Have 10+ years of progressive, management-level experience in preconstruction, estimating, or construction.
  • Have led diverse commercial projects - ground-up and renovation - from concept through construction documents, including GMP and CMAR delivery (preferred).
  • Know your way around estimating platforms like Timberline or On-Screen Takeoff, plus Excel, Word, and Outlook.
  • Are fluent in RFP/RFQ preparation, contract negotiations, scheduling, and purchasing.
  • Hold a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field (preferred) - or have the track record that proves you don't need one.
  • Can lead a room of owners, architects, and subs - and lead a team with the same confidence.
  • Are comfortable splitting time between the office and active job sites - PPE on and ready.
  • Can juggle multiple projects and priorities at once - travel is limited, but the pace isn't.


Competitive Compensation Package with benefits including: Medical, Dental & Vision • 401(k) with company match • Generous PTO • Travel opportunities • And more

You don't just price buildings. You earn the trust that gets them built.

If that speaks to you, let's talk.

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