Director of Preconstruction & Project Planning

Job Title: Director of RM Preconstruction & Project Development

Report to: VP of Operations (Renu)

Role: The Director of Preconstruction & Project Development is a senior leadership role responsible for guiding projects from early pursuit and conceptual development through the successful transition to construction. This position oversees all preconstruction and project development activities, ensuring projects are strategically planned, competitively positioned, financially sound, and operationally executable.

Serving as a key partner to Operations, Business Development, and Executive Leadership, the Director leads the preconstruction team, establishes best practices, and drives consistency, accuracy, and innovation across estimating, budgeting, scheduling, subcontractor procurement, and risk management. This role requires strong technical expertise, executive-level communication, and the ability to align people, process, and strategy to support company growth and project success.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Department Management:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Preconstruction & Project Development department, including staffing, organizational structure, workload planning, and performance


• Establish, implement, and continuously improve departmental procedures, standards, and tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and


• Mentor and develop preconstruction staff through coaching, training, and clear performance expectations, fostering a collaborative and accountable team


• Act as the executive-level liaison between Preconstruction, Operations, Business Development, and Compliance for all projects flowing through

Project Development & Preconstruction Oversight:

• Lead project development efforts from pursuit through handoff, ensuring alignment with client objectives, company strategy, and operational


• Oversee the preparation of all preconstruction deliverables, including conceptual and detailed estimates, project budgets, schedules, logistics plans, procurement strategies, scopes of work, schedules of values, and project-specific compliance


• Facilitate effective internal and external coordination to ensure seamless project kickoffs and smooth transitions from preconstruction to construction

Cost Planning, Estimating & Financial Strategy:

• Direct the development and review of accurate, competitive, and risk-aware cost estimates across all project


• Establish and validate project budgets and cost models that support profitability, transparency, and informed decision-making.

• Partner with Operations and Finance to support forecasting, cash flow planning, and long-term financial

Value Engineering & Constructability:

• Lead value engineering and constructability reviews in collaboration with architects, engineers, consultants, and


• Identify innovative construction methods, material alternatives, and phasing strategies that enhance value, reduce risk, and optimize schedules while maintaining quality, safety, and performance

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Proactively identify project-specific risks during preconstruction and develop mitigation strategies related to scope, cost, schedule, logistics, and


• Collaborate with the Compliance team to oversee subcontractor prequalification, ensuring alignment with insurance, financial, safety, and contractual


• Ensure adherence to public contract regulations, prevailing wage requirements, DSA standards, and other applicable laws and

Subcontractor & Vendor Strategy:

• Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with subcontractors, vendors, and trade


• Expand and strengthen the qualified subcontractor pool to support competitiveness and


• Oversee bid leveling, scope development, and subcontractor selection to ensure best value procurement and clear contractual

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• Primarily office-based with extensive computer use for estimating, planning, coordination, and documentation.


• Frequent interaction with internal teams, clients, consultants, and trade partners through meetings, calls, and video


• Periodic site visits required for project evaluation, kickoff coordination, and collaboration with field teams; may involve walking active construction sites with varying

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field


• Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive construction industry experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership or director-level preconstruction role.


• Demonstrated success delivering public works projects such as K–12 schools, higher education facilities, and municipal

• Strong working knowledge of public contracting laws, DSA requirements, and prevailing wage

Skills & Competencies:

• Proven executive-level leadership, mentoring, and team development


• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to balance detail-oriented


• Advanced understanding of project financials, cost planning, forecasting, and risk


• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills with internal and external


• Proficiency with construction and estimating software (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project).


• High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to safety and