Director of Preconstruction

Overview

The Opportunity

As a Preconstruction Manager, you will lead preconstruction activities from project pursuit through turnover to operations, helping to deliver accurate estimates, comprehensive planning, and successful project outcomes. You will collaborate closely with estimating, operations, design management, procurement, and clients to develop competitive solutions, identify risks, and support strategic decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

You will serve as a key contributor to pursuit teams, helping to drive project success through thorough planning, cost analysis, value engineering, and stakeholder alignment.

Location

You will work from our Enterprise Headquarters in Detroit, MI, or one of our regional offices in Kalamazoo, MI, Pittsburgh, PA, or Charlotte, NC.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Mentor and support estimators and preconstruction team members.
• Lead preconstruction efforts from project pursuit through turnover, including estimating, budgeting, planning, and risk management.
• Develop and review conceptual through final cost estimates to ensure accuracy and alignment with project goals.
• Support bid strategy, subcontractor engagement, and proposal development for project pursuits.
• Collaborate with owners, architects, engineers, and internal teams to evaluate scope, schedule, constructability, and cost.
• Identify project risks and opportunities and develop value engineering solutions to optimize project outcomes.
• Present estimates, pricing strategies, and project recommendations to clients and leadership.
• Maintain cost models, benchmarking data, and estimating best practices.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field required; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Five plus years of progressive experience in estimating, preconstruction, or related construction leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, estimating principles, procurement strategy, contracts, and risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex pursuits, influence stakeholders, and support successful project outcomes.
• Strong communication, leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills.

Ideally, you'll also have

• Experience with CM at Risk, Design-Build, and negotiated delivery methods.
• Experience leading large, complex pursuits with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with estimating systems, Microsoft Excel, and enterprise construction platforms.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, leadership, and project teams.
• A process improvement mindset and commitment to standardization, quality, and continuous improvement.

Walbridge is an equal opportunity employer with a culture that promotes diversity in the workforce.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, military or protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, and termination.