Director of Pre-Construction

Description

• Leadership role in a well-established structural steel fabrication business
• Ensure smooth hand-off of awarded jobs to project execution teams and support early-stage startup as needed
• Serve as an escalation point for complex estimating challenges, risk mitigation, and proposal strategy
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, detailing, fabrication, field, and sales teams to validate assumptions and drive constructability
• Oversee all structural steel estimating and takeoff processes; ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and competitiveness
• Provide regular reporting on bid pipelines, win/loss results, margin variance, and forecasting
• Manage the full bidding process: RFP review, scope clarification, subcontractor solicitation, bid compilation, value engineering, and proposal delivery
• Lead, mentor, and manage a preconstruction team (3–4 staff), providing coaching, performance feedback, and training
• Develop, maintain, and enforce margin targets and cost control strategies
• Identify and pursue bid opportunities in structural steel in our target markets
• Drive continuous process improvements in estimating, workflows, tools, and departmental standards
• Analyze project plans, specifications, and drawings; develop cost models, material schedules, and quantity takeoffs

Requirements

• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and comfort with calculating complex cost estimates
• Experience interpreting structural drawings, specifications, and design documents
• Minimum 5 years of direct experience in structural steel estimating (takeoffs, cost modeling, proposals)
• Experience operating independently, making high-impact decisions, and thriving in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated ability to source and manage subcontractor bids, vendor relationships, and supplier pricing
• Exhibit a strong sense of urgency, self-motivation, and accountability — you will be expected to work independently and make decisions quickly
• Deep understanding of structural steel fabrication, erection, detailing, and shop/field coordination
• A proactive problem-solver, able to anticipate issues and respond quickly
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• You are results-oriented, deadline-driven, and maintain composure under pressure
• You are comfortable with ambiguity and can develop structure where things are not yet defined
• You have confidence in your estimating judgement, but also collaborate when needed
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel especially), takeoff/estimating software, and ability to learn proprietary systems
• Strong ability to control margins, assess risk, and handle bid-to-execution transition
• Proven track record of managing and leading a small estimating/preconstruction group

Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, etc.)
• 401(k) plan with employer matching
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunity to lead/process improvements and have a measurable impact on profitability

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance