Preconstruction Manager

Ajax Building

$80K — $110K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of preconstruction/estimating experience in commercial construction
  • Strong grasp of project construction phases, pricing, and delivery
  • Experience leading preconstruction efforts through GMP phases
  • Preferred experience with higher education and municipal projects
  • Ideal candidates should be familiar with the South Carolina market
  • Strong client-facing communication and meeting leadership skills
  • Ability to influence design processes collaboratively

Responsibilities

  • Lead preconstruction planning and cost strategies from concept to GMP
  • Guide pricing and validate estimates to align with project goals
  • Develop conceptual budgets and design-phase estimates
  • Create cost reports and value engineering analyses during design phases
  • Prepare GMP proposals and present to clients
  • Provide constructability feedback and cost-effective design recommendations
  • Engage with design teams to challenge assumptions and promote buildability

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
  • Life & AD&D Insurance with Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
  • Family Support and Paid time off including Paid Holidays
  • Group Legal and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Identity Theft Protection and Pet Insurance
  • Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program and Pre-tax Transportation benefits
Full Job Description
Job Description

SUMMARY

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.

This is a client-facing position requiring strong leadership in meetings and the ability to influence the design process in a collaborative, solutions-oriented manner. The role reports to the Director of Preconstruction Services and supports project teams across Florida, with some travel required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • 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 and municipal projects across the South Carolina market


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
  • Ideal candidate will have South Carolina market experience (Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, etc.)
  • 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
  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)
  • Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
  • Willingness to travel for project meetings and presentations as needed


BENEFITS

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, Short-term Disability insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, Family Support, Pre-tax Paid Parking/Public Transportation, Paid time off, Time Away Benefits, Paid Holidays, Group Legal, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program

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