We’re seeking a Preconstruction Manager to oversee early-stage planning, cost development, and bid strategy for commercial construction projects across the Kansas City region. This position leads projects from initial evaluation and design development through final pricing, subcontractor selection, and transition to the construction team.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct preconstruction planning, feasibility reviews, estimating, budgeting, and final bid development.
- Establish project costs at each design stage, including conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) proposals, and final pricing.
- Analyze design documents and technical specifications to define scope, assess costs, and identify missing details or potential conflicts.
- Build project-specific pricing models and evaluate financial risks against current market conditions.
- Lead value-engineering sessions to identify practical design and material alternatives that control costs while maintaining project quality.
- Develop trade scopes, bid invitations, subcontractor packages, and purchasing strategies.
- Manage subcontractor and supplier outreach, proposal reviews, price negotiations, and bid comparisons.
- Resolve discrepancies between bids, including exclusions, overlapping scopes, and unpriced work.
- Refine budgets as drawings, client requirements, and project specifications evolve.
- Assess construction sequencing, project schedules, site constraints, and material lead times during planning.
- Maintain coordination with clients, architects, engineers, consultants, trade contractors, and vendors.
- Partner with project managers and field leaders to transfer approved budgets, scope details, schedules, and pricing assumptions into construction.
- Contribute to client presentations, project interviews, proposals, and business development initiatives.
- Present cost forecasts, estimating assumptions, project risks, and potential savings to company leadership and clients.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of experience in preconstruction, estimating, or commercial construction.
- 10+ years of overall commercial construction experience is preferred.
- Strong background in conceptual and detailed estimating, budget development, cost analysis, and value engineering.
- Experience guiding projects through multiple design and preconstruction phases.
- Knowledge of Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), negotiated work, hard bids, and competitive procurement.
- Ability to interpret architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings and specifications.
- Experience developing subcontractor scopes, bid packages, procurement strategies, and project budgets.
- Understanding of construction methods, sequencing, scheduling, logistics, and purchasing timelines.
- Proven ability to analyze, negotiate, and compare subcontractor and supplier proposals.
- Knowledge of labor rates, material costs, subcontractor availability, and construction market trends.
- Proficiency with estimating software, Microsoft Office, and construction management platforms.
- Strong financial analysis, negotiation, communication, and relationship-management skills.
- Ability to oversee multiple bids and meet competing deadlines.
- Must reside within commuting distance of Lenexa or the greater Kansas City area, or be able to commute reliably.
Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Established company with a strong commercial project pipeline
- Leadership of preconstruction across varied project types
- Direct collaboration with executive leadership and key stakeholders
- Opportunities for career advancement and increased leadership responsibility
- Collaborative, team-oriented culture