Preconstruction Manager

Position at Leopardo Construction

Leopardo Construction is looking for a Preconstruction Manager to join our growing Hoffman Estates team. This opportunity is a great fit for a professional experienced in preconstruction, project management, and estimating to work on top‑notch projects in a variety of markets from healthcare, multi‑family residential, hospitality, to aviation. The Preconstruction Manager takes a leadership role during preconstruction and bidding efforts in both estimating and operations.

On the estimating side, this role is responsible for conceptual estimating, cost analysis, and estimate coordination in RFP responses and various bidding efforts on medium to large projects. On the preconstruction operations side, this role will take the lead or assist the market lead on general conditions, scheduling, logistics plan, and procurement schedule depending on the task and availability of internal team members.

• Plan and lead preconstruction under direction of the designated market lead. Conduct preconstruction kickoff meeting with the client and internal kickoff meeting with the estimating team to review preconstruction strategy and vision.
• Assist the designated market lead in developing the strategy, vision and establishment of project profitability for each project.
• Organize and lead the transition meeting between the project operations team and the preconstruction team. Coordinate follow‑up meetings.
• Collaborate with the project team to determine and execute the best strategies for winning new projects, whether competitive or negotiated efforts. Lead the bid efforts as required.
• Understand, review and execute the bid requirements within the established deadlines for hard bid, competitive bid, conceptual, schematic, design development and Guaranteed Maximum Price estimates. Set fee goals when required. Role within the bid effort may include team leader, team member or sole estimator.
• Develop comprehensive, accurate and competitive conceptual estimates and budgets. Execute hard bid win strategies balancing the pursuit, profitability and client relations.
• Create the general conditions estimate for review by designated market lead prior to submission to client.
• Take an active role in maximizing the participation of self‑performed trades in each project.
• Review value alternative solutions taking into consideration cost, schedule, maintenance, and life cycle cost implications.
• Monitor staff time budget during the preconstruction phase of the project.
• Monitor (and create when necessary) budget variance analysis reports (cost control log) allowing for clear identification of changes to the estimate, such as changes requested by clients or derived from updates to design documentation.
• Prepare or oversee preparation of preconstruction schedule with buy‑in from internal departments. When required, create realistic and detailed schedules for all design, approval, estimating, purchasing and construction activities. Interface with design, ownership, and estimating team for scheduling of key deliverables.
• Analyze permitting requirements for the project with designated market lead to facilitate and help coordinate submissions.
• Interface with project design team to provide cost, schedule, and logistics feedback on suggested alternatives to be considered. Manage design team as required.
• Participate in interviews and interview preparation.
• Assemble constructability reviews for each project identifying best practices emphasizing high quality, cost efficiency, and lowering risk profiles.
• Attend preconstruction OAC meetings with design team and ownership as primary Leopardo representative, along with support as required from project Vice President/Project Executive and estimating team. Take and issue meeting minutes if not completed by others.
• Provide guidance and training assistance to estimating team members during preconstruction assignments on projects.
• Interface with various internal team members including marketing, estimating, VDC, safety, and market leaders.

• Minimum of 10+ years of estimating/preconstruction experience is highly…