Electrical Preconstruction Director

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

The Electrical Preconstruction Director will be responsible for taking the lead on a particular estimate(s) and providing direction to other team members. They will accurately calculate project costs by preparing budgets for Electrical/Technology/Low Voltage Systems. Budgeting efforts apply to projects in pursuit and those awarded to the company.

Successful candidates will be very well organized, have excellent communication skills, be computer literate, and possess prior construction industry experience with advanced knowledge to perform quantity takeoff. The project pursuits will focus on larger, more technically complex work such as Electric Vehicle (EV), semiconductor, and food & beverage manufacturing facilities.

• Responsible for bidding work accurately, competitively, and on time.
• Review all RFP or design documents to establish a complete understanding of requested scope of work and develop RFI lists for project clarifications.
• Coordinate with project team to provide takeoff, estimating, constructability analyses, value engineering, cost control, and scope reviews.
• Estimate and "fill in the gaps" for complete pricing when only conceptual design documents are available.
• Take off all materials and prices, identify subcontractor involvement, solicit subcontractor and/or manufacturer prices, and estimate direct field labor.
• Assist internal team members in building positive relationships with local and national material suppliers and equipment vendors to provide current pricing of lighting, distribution equipment, low voltage systems, and miscellaneous material pricing.
• Assist internal team members in maintaining positive relationships with local and national electrical/technology/low voltage system subcontractors to verify market conditions and labor issues.
• Assist internal team members responsible for maintaining current subcontractor and material costs within our estimating software.
• Contribute data for conceptual estimating measures, such as man-hours and/or cost per linear foot, per square foot, by system, by spec, by building type, etc.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field, or a combination of education (including trade schools) and professional experience.
• 15+ years of experience as an estimator in electrical systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. Experience with Trimble On-Screen Takeoff software is preferred.
• Ability to review bid documents and offer design critique and/or VE opportunities.
• Must work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Must have demonstrated success in leadership, safety awareness, good follow‑up skills, coaching, and teamwork.
• Effective written and oral communication skills, and interpersonal skills.

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design‑build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award‑winning, high‑profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Design‑Build Firms – Design‑Build Contractor (Top
  5).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top
  5).

• Discretionary Annual Bonus:
  Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including:
  Medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to:
  Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.