Director of Preconstruction-General Construction

Job description

About the Company The company is a nationally recognized general contractor known for delivering highly technical and complex projects across life sciences, healthcare, and advanced technology sectors. As an employee-owned company, they foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and long-term value creation through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). With a strong presence in the Bay Area, the firm partners with leading developers and institutions to deliver cutting-edge facilities in one of the most competitive construction markets in the country. About the Position The Director of Preconstruction is a senior leadership role responsible for setting the strategic direction of preconstruction operations across the San Francisco Bay Area. This individual will lead high-performing estimating teams, drive pursuit strategy, and serve as the critical bridge between business development, design, and construction operations. This role is highly visible and client-facing, requiring deep expertise in conceptual estimating, self-perform capabilities, and risk management within complex urban construction environments. Key Responsibilities include: Leading preconstruction strategy for major pursuits across healthcare, life sciences, and advanced technology sectors Overseeing conceptual and detailed estimating, ensuring alignment with internal self-perform capabilities and market conditions Driving Go/No-Go decisions, pursuit planning, and win strategies for negotiated work Acting as a senior client-facing leader during interviews, presentations, and proposal efforts Leading constructability reviews and Target Value Design (TVD) processes to maintain budget alignment Directing value engineering efforts and managing cost options throughout design development Overseeing subcontractor engagement, bid packaging, and scope coverage Building and maintaining strong relationships with key Bay Area subcontractors and trade partners Identifying and mitigating project risks, including logistics, procurement, and schedule challenges Partnering with Operations to ensure seamless transition from preconstruction to project execution Requirements Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field 12–15+ years of construction experience, with significant time in preconstruction/estimating leadership Strong experience in the San Francisco/Bay Area construction market Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of self-perform estimating and labor unit costing Proficiency in estimating platforms such as Timberline/Sage (or similar) Experience with scheduling tools such as Primavera P6 Familiarity with VDC/BIM tools (e.g., Revit, Assemble) and 5D estimating workflows Leadership & Core Competencies: Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and manage complex pursuits Strong client-facing presence with experience in interviews and negotiated procurement Excellent communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking skills Ability to manage multiple high-value pursuits under tight deadlines Benefits Competitive executive-level compensation ($275K–$325K) plus discretionary bonus Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – 100% company-funded ownership stake Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (PPO and HSA options with company contributions) Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability coverage Untracked/unlimited vacation policy and 9 paid holidays Paid parental leave 401(k) with up to 4% company match and immediate vesting