Preconstruction Manager

Burns Group is a family-owned business, established in 1977, proudly serving the civil construction and aggregates industry across the Southeast. Our operations span heavy civil construction, logistics, and recycling—driven by a commitment to quality, innovation, and service. Guided by our core values—Own It, Say What You Mean, Raise the Bar, and Build for More—we empower our people to lead with integrity, deliver excellence, and pursue long-term impact in every project. Discover what it means to be #burnsbuilt.

Role Description

The Preconstruction Manager owns projects before they are built. This role leads opportunities from intake through award and ensures a clean, structured handoff to Project Management. The Preconstruction Manager quarterbacks Business Development, Estimating, Operations, and the client to ensure we pursue the right work, price it strategically, de-risk it early, and prepare it for successful execution. This is not a bid coordinator role. This is an ownership position responsible for protecting margin, strengthening execution, and ensuring growth happens intentionally. Great projects are won before they are built.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Opportunity Leadership

• Own assigned opportunities from intake through award


• Evaluate pursuits against capacity, risk profile, and strategic alignment


• Drive internal pursuit strategy and maintain momentum across teams


• Make clear, disciplined bid / no-bid recommendations


• Align leadership around pursuit strategy and desired outcomes

2. Client & Preconstruction Leadership

• Lead or support client meetings during pursuit phase


• Build trust through preparation, clarity, and transparency


• Present pricing strategy, scope clarifications, and value engineering options


• Serve as the preconstruction face of Burns throughout pursuit

3. Estimating & Pricing Strategy

• Review estimates for scope gaps, risk exposure, and constructability issues


• Ensure cost build reflects how the project will actually be executed in the field


• Recommend pricing posture, contingency approach, and markup strategy


• Submit proposals and ensure documentation aligns with negotiated intent

4. Risk & Execution Alignment

• Identify scope, schedule, and contractual risks early


• Coordinate with Operations and Project Controls to validate assumptions


• Develop preliminary execution plans and milestone schedules


• Ensure risks are mitigated, priced, or consciously accepted


• Align internal teams on delivery strategy prior to contract execution

5. Structured Handoff to Project Management

• Lead formal preconstruction handoff meetings


• Deliver complete scope narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and risk registers


• Support early and critical-path buyout strategy


• Ensure awarded projects are executable on Day 1

What Success Looks Like

• Higher-quality wins — not just higher bid volume


• Disciplined pursuit selection aligned with company strategy


• Minimal scope gaps at project start


• Strong margin alignment between estimate and field execution


• Reduced early change orders due to preconstruction misses


• Clients who trust our process before construction begins


• Clean, confident project starts

Qualifications & Experience

Ideal Background: You’ve bid it — and you’ve built it.

• Experience as a Project Manager, Estimator, or Operations leader


• Strong understanding of heavy civil field execution realities


• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams


• Comfortable and confident in client-facing environments


• Strong commercial awareness and contract literacy


• Proven risk identification and mitigation capability


• Decisive, disciplined decision-maker


• High accountability and ownership mindset

Work Environment

• Office-based with regular collaboration with field and leadership teams


• Client meetings and occasional travel required


• High collaboration and high ownership role

All candidates must be able to pass the following: 

• Drug Screen


• Background & MVR Screening
  

Employment Eligibility:
Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility will be required if selected for hire.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
Burns Dirt is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.