Preconstruction Manager

The Preconstruction Manager leads the planning, development, and strategic execution of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing preconstruction activities for complex construction projects. Acting as a bridge between pursuit, design, estimating, and operations, this role provides technical, commercial, and leadership expertise to develop accurate project budgets, identify risks and opportunities, optimize constructability, and position projects for successful execution. The Preconstruction Manager works closely with clients, consultants, trade partners, and internal teams to deliver cost-effective and innovative solutions from concept through project award and handover.

Why This Role Matters to Modern Niagara

The Preconstruction Manager plays a pivotal role in securing profitable work and setting projects up for operational success. By providing strategic leadership during the early phases of a project, this role helps Modern Niagara mitigate risk, strengthen client relationships, develop competitive project solutions, and ensure seamless transitions to project delivery teams. Their expertise directly influences project outcomes, customer satisfaction, and business growth.

Key Impact / Purpose

• Drive Successful Project Pursuits and Winning Strategies
• Reduce Risk and Improve Project Certainty
• Enable Efficient and Profitable Project Delivery

Duties and Responsibilities:

Preconstruction & Project Development

• Lead MEP preconstruction activities from project pursuit and conceptual design through tender, contract award and transition to Operations.
• Establish the overall MEP preconstruction strategy in alignment with project objectives, client requirements, schedule, budget and procurement strategy.
• Participate in schematic design, design development and construction document phases, providing MEP technical and constructability input.
• Review project drawings, specifications, narratives and other contract documents to identify scope requirements, inconsistencies, omissions, coordination issues and potential risks.
• Establish project assumptions, exclusions, clarifications and scope requirements throughout the preconstruction process.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive MEP scopes of work for mechanical, electrical and associated building systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve project cost, schedule, quality, constructability and lifecycle performance.
• Lead or participate in design-assist activities and provide technical recommendations to owners, consultants and construction partners.
• Establish clear preconstruction milestones and deliverables to support project procurement and construction schedules.
• Lead or oversee the preparation of conceptual, budget, design development, tender, negotiated and design-build estimates for MEP scopes.
• Review detailed quantity takeoffs, labour requirements, material costs, equipment costs, subcontractor pricing, and project-specific requirements.
• Collaborate with Estimating teams to validate pricing assumptions, labour productivity, material pricing and market conditions.
• Collaborate with Estimating team to solicit, evaluate, and negotiate pricing from subcontractors, suppliers and trade partners.
• Analyze quotations and identify scope gaps, exclusions, qualifications, inconsistencies, and commercial risks.
• Oversee the development of accurate project budgets and cost plans at various stages of design.
• Lead value engineering exercises and develop alternative solutions that provide cost, schedule, or performance benefits.
• Provide leadership with recommendations regarding project pricing, risk, contingency and commercial strategy.

MEP Technical & Constructability Leadership

• Provide technical leadership across mechanical and electrical building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, piping, sheet metal, hydronics, fire protection, electrical distribution, lighting, controls/BAS and other relevant building systems.
• Review designs for constructability, coordination, maintainability and compliance with applicable codes, standards and client requirements.
• Participate with MEP design reviews and constructability reviews with consultants, architects, engineers and trade partners and identify any design deficiencies.
• Collaborate with Internal Engineering team in detail Engineering design reviews, including items such as, load calculations, design temperatures, plant load calculations, acoustics requirements etc.
• Evaluate alternative systems, materials, equipment, and installation methodologies.
• Review and provide input on Construction…