Director of Estimating & Preconstruction

Commercial Construction | Northern Virginia / Mid-Atlantic

A growing commercial general contractor in the Northern Virginia market is seeking a high-impact Head of Bidding & Estimating to lead and modernize its preconstruction and estimating function.

This is a highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the CEO and will play a critical part in the company’s long-term growth strategy.

We are not looking for someone who simply produces estimates.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can:

• drive smart pursuit strategy
• build trust with owners and clients
• improve estimating systems and discipline
• confidently represent the company in the room
• help scale the organization through operational excellence

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong commercial construction estimating expertise with executive presence, leadership ability, business acumen, and a forward-thinking mindset.

The company is actively investing in:

• operational systems
• process improvement
• AI and technology integration

The Head of Bidding & Estimating will help build the engine behind that growth.

You will lead bidding strategy, oversee estimating workflows, improve forecasting accuracy, strengthen subcontractor engagement, and help ensure the company is pursuing the right work, not simply the most work.

This role will directly influence:

• project selection
• margin protection
• client relationships
• revenue growth

The organization performs a mix of:

• negotiated work
• GMP projects
• hard bids

Projects range across:

• athletic & recreation
• education
• faith-based
• commercial construction sectors

• Oversee all estimating and bid development activities
• Develop accurate, competitive, and strategically positioned estimates
• Lead pricing strategy from conceptual budgeting through final submission
• Partner with operations and leadership teams to align pricing with execution realities
• Improve win rates while protecting profitability

• Establish estimating standards, workflows, and accountability systems
• Develop bid calendars, forecasting tools, and reporting metrics
• Improve estimating consistency, accuracy, and turnaround times
• Build and maintain historical cost databases and benchmarking systems
• Reduce fire drills and create a more predictable bidding environment

• Participate in owner meetings, presentations, and preconstruction discussions
• Build credibility and trust with clients and partners
• Clearly communicate pricing, assumptions, risks, and value engineering opportunities
• Represent the company professionally in high-stakes conversations
• Strengthen subcontractor participation and coverage
• Improve vendor relationships and bid competitiveness
• Ensure proper scope coverage and minimize pricing gaps
• Support negotiations and procurement strategy where needed

• Help modernize the estimating function through AI and technology tools
• Improve data visibility and decision‑making capabilities
• Bring a continuous improvement mindset to systems and workflows

• 10+ years of commercial construction estimating and/or preconstruction leadership experience
• Experience leading large commercial bids and negotiated pursuits
• Strong understanding of:
• GMPs
• hard bids
• subcontractor management
• Experience managing multiple pursuits simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment
• Proven ability to lead teams or cross‑functional bid coordination efforts

• polished and professional
• confident in front of owners and executives
• emotionally mature
• highly accountable
• data‑driven
• calm under pressure
• clear and concise communicator

This person must be able to walk into a room independently, represent the company well, and build trust quickly.

• takes ownership
• thrives in high‑accountability environments
• is hungry, competitive, and growth‑oriented
• embraces feedback and coaching
• wants to build something meaningful
• is excited by change and modernization
• is interested in leveraging AI and emerging technology to improve operations