Pre-Construction Manager

Position: Pre-Construction Manager (Permanent)
Pre-Construction Manager

Infrastructure Division

Location:

UK (project-dependent)

Hours:

08:00 – 17:30
Salary:
Competitive + package (PAYE or Contract considered)

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Manager to lead the end-to-end operational and technical pre-construction process across major infrastructure schemes.

This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for shaping winning bid strategies, aligning technical delivery with commercial objectives, and ensuring high-quality, compliant and competitive submissions across complex civils projects.

The successful candidate will operate at a senior level, influencing directors, engaging directly with clients and frameworks, and leading multidisciplinary teams to secure work across highways, rail, water, energy and enabling works sectors.

The Role

Reporting to the Commercial Director and Head of Pre-Construction, you will take ownership of allocated infrastructure bids from early client engagement through to tender settlement and post-submission follow-up.

You will be responsible for:

Leading bid/no-bid decisions and strategic bid planning sessions

Managing all operational tender inputs including programme, methodology, BIM, resources and sequencing

Producing and managing detailed tender methodologies

Developing and coordinating tender programmes (including producing programmes where required)

Aligning methodology and programme with pricing, labour outputs and commercial assumptions

Reviewing preliminaries, commercial models and risk allowances

Ensuring full compliance with client specifications, scoring matrices and submission protocols

Supporting value engineering, innovation and alternative technical proposals

Leading internal governance, approvals and risk reviews

Presenting operational and technical tender settlements to Directors

Representing the business at client briefings, forums and industry events

Maintaining ownership of submitted tenders and monitoring progress

You will act as the operational face of the business from pre- to post-tender stage.

Key Responsibilities

Bid & Strategy Leadership

Lead pre-construction across allocated infrastructure bids

Shape winning strategies aligned to client drivers and evaluation criteria

Support pipeline development through early engagement with clients and framework managers

Programme & Technical Integration

Coordinate planning, design management and construction methodology

Ensure clear alignment between programme, price and delivery strategy

Manage multidisciplinary input from estimating, planning, operations and supply chain

Commercial & Risk Oversight

Review commercial models, preliminaries and risk allowances

Challenge assumptions to strengthen bid competitiveness

Maintain governance and assurance throughout the tender lifecycle

Client & Market Engagement

Engage with clients, consultants and stakeholders pre- and during tender

Maintain awareness of competitor positioning and market trends

Contribute to business development and strategic growth

About You

You will bring:

A minimum of 8 years’ experience within pre-construction and/or senior operational or commercial roles in civils or infrastructure

A proven track record of leading and winning major infrastructure bids

Strong knowledge of estimating, planning, design coordination and bid writing

Excellent understanding of infrastructure construction methodologies

Solid commercial acumen and risk management capability

Experience working under NEC3/NEC4 (JCT and bespoke forms advantageous)

Strong presentation, communication and influencing skills

Confidence managing senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams

Experience across major infrastructure frameworks (e.g. rail, highways, water, public sector programmes) is highly desirable.

Qualifications

Essential:

Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline

Significant infrastructure pre-construction experience

Desirable:

Chartered status (MCIOB, MICE, RICS)

NEC3/NEC4 contract training

Experience with public sector frameworks

Why Apply?

Exposure to nationally significant infrastructure schemes

Leadership-level influence within a growing division

Varied and complex project portfolio

Strong package and long-term career pathway