Preconstruction Lead

Citizen Design Build Inc.
· Victoria, BC
· Full-time
The Preconstruction Lead owns the front end of Citizen's work — sourcing and pricing opportunities, building and tracking project budgets, and carrying the estimate through handover and change management. It's a versatile role on the production team, working closely with the Project Coordinator and reporting to the Production Manager.
About Us  Citizen Design Build Inc. is a company focused on working within Indigenous communities, using construction as a mechanism for transformational change. We take a collaborative approach for every project, integrating the client's needs while ensuring we can provide a sustainable, energy-efficient design for each build. This is accomplished by working closely with our skilled team of apprentices, carpenters, site managers, project managers, and designers, while incorporating our Core Values — Care, Culture, Quality, and Cause — into every part of our process.

Key Responsibilities  BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT   Source and qualify new business opportunities — tenders, RFPs, bonded, and commercial work — and manage prequalifications, proposal submissions, and the opportunity pipeline
Support the owners on relationship-based business development, particularly with First Nations partners, with pricing, proposals, and meetings as needed; the owners continue to lead these relationships
ESTIMATING & BUDGET MANAGEMENT   Lead estimating end to end — quantity takeoffs, subtrade and supplier pricing, and labour and general-conditions build-ups — for relationship-based work and competitive, bonded, and commercial tenders
Maintain Citizen's cost database and estimating templates, adapting conventional estimating to Citizen's cost model so bids stay both competitive and accurate
Prepare bid proposals, tender submissions, and pricing narratives, and manage the bid calendar, addenda, and closing requirements
Own the project budget from award through close-out — keeping estimated-versus-actual tracking current and feeding actual costs back into the estimating database
COORDINATION   Lead the handover from estimate to procurement, working with the Project Coordinator to review subtrade and vendor quotes and align the awarded scope with the estimate
Manage change orders through construction — identifying scope beyond the estimate, pricing and communicating the cost impact, and supporting the Project Coordinator in coordinating the resulting work
Take part in internal tactical meetings and, as a versatile member of the production team, support the Project Coordinator on scope management and production needs as they arise
Ensure that teamwork and our team culture remain paramount in all work decisions — in order for Citizen to continue to be an amazing place to work, we all have to lean in together and give it all we've got

Skills and Qualifications   5+ years of professional estimating or quantity surveying experience, including some at a commercial level; residential experience is welcome
A Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors designation (PQS or CEC), or progress toward one, is a strong asset
A track record of producing complete, accurate estimates and standing behind them, comfortable adapting conventional estimating to a non-standard cost model
Strong people skills — confident meeting clients, presenting a proposal, and building trust with subtrades and partners; some sales or proposal experience, with clear, jargon-free writing
Organized and systems-minded, able to keep budgets and tracking current across several projects; strong in Excel, with an interest in AI and other tools, and working knowledge of construction contracts, bonding, and tender processes
Valid BC driver's licence, with occasional travel to project sites and partner communities; positive attitude, hardworking, reliable, motivated to learn
Schedule and Location  SCHEDULE  Full-time, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am–4:00 pm
LOCATION  Citizen Office, Victoria, BC (in-office, with occasional travel)
COMPENSATION  $48–$60 per hour, based on experience and qualifications
OUR COMMITMENT  Citizen jobsites have a zero-tolerance policy for unprofessional, discriminatory, aggressive, or demeaning behaviors. You will be expected to act respectfully and cooperatively towards a diverse range of people, and can expect the same courtesy from others in return.