Preconstruction Manager

Join our dynamic field support team as a Preconstruction Manager! In this vital role, you'll play a key part in leading the estimating, budgeting, and pre-planning phases for commercial and industrial electrical projects. This role bridges the gap between sales/bidding and field operations, ensuring that all awarded projects have clean buyouts, accurate scopes, and seamless handoffs to Project Managers. During lower-bidding cycles, the Preconstruction Manager acts as a senior estimator and serves as the primary mentor to junior estimating staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as primary point of contact for Estimating & Proposal Development
• Lead complex commercial and industrial project estimates, plan reviews, scope scoping, and proposal generation using Accubid and digital takeoff tools.
• Bid and win targeted projects to maintain department throughput, meeting company volume, and gross margin targets.
• Perform thorough risk analysis during bidding to identify potential design ambiguities, schedule bottlenecks, and labor productivity challenges before project submission.
• Serve as key stakeholder Preconstruction & Project Handovers.
• Direct post-bid reviews, turnover meetings, and initial setup to guarantee a standardized, transparent handoff from estimating to field Project Managers.
• Build “Construction Estimate” and setup project in Accubid Change Order
• Collaborate with project teams to review and assist with major submittal packages and technical documentation as required on targeted projects.
• Serve as primary point of contact for Buyout & Scope Management.
• Oversee major material, equipment, and subcontractor buyouts to secure target margins before projects hit the field. Negotiate vendor pricing, delivery schedules, and sub-tier agreements to protect company cash flow and gross profit.
• Serve as mentor and trainer for estimating staff.
• Function as the primary mentor and coach for junior estimating staff, providing direct training in takeoff accuracy, pricing models, and electrical system fundamentals.
• Guide junior estimators through plan reading, symbol identification, and database input to accelerate their transition into independent bidders.
• Supports continuous improvement & database maintenance efforts.
• Refine internal estimating databases, labor units, and historical productivity tracking to improve future bid accuracy based on closed-job data and field lessons learned.
• Collaborate with operations and field leadership to evaluate recurring installation challenges and update standard operating procedures and estimating assemblies accordingly.

• Minimum 5+ years of electrical estimating and preconstruction experience in commercial/industrial contracting.
• Strong proficiency in electrical estimating software (e.g., Accubid) and Bluebeam/digital takeoff tools.
• Deep understanding of electrical theory, NEC codes, installation methods, and field labor productivity.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with clients, general contractors, and internal field operations teams.