Director of Preconstruction

Director of Preconstruction

Location: Irvine, CA

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic Director of Preconstruction to lead estimating, budgeting, and planning efforts for projects in the Irvine/Orange County market. This leadership role is responsible for building and managing a high-performing preconstruction team, driving business development support, and ensuring accurate, competitive, and well-vetted project pursuits from conceptual design through GMP.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the preconstruction department, including estimators, preconstruction managers, and support staff
• Oversee conceptual estimating, budgeting, and cost planning for pursuits from early design through construction documents
• Develop and maintain relationships with owners, developers, architects, and subcontractor/trade partners
• Lead value engineering efforts and constructability reviews with design and operations teams
• Oversee the development of GMPs, bid packages, and subcontractor scopes of work
• Partner with business development and marketing on proposals, interviews, and client pursuits
• Standardize and continuously improve preconstruction processes, estimating tools, and cost databases
• Provide market intelligence on labor, material costs, and subcontractor availability/pricing trends
• Support risk assessment and contract strategy in collaboration with operations and legal
• Mentor and develop preconstruction staff, building bench strength for future growth
• Represent the company at industry events and with key regional partners/clients

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in construction estimating/preconstruction, including 5+ years in a leadership role
• Deep knowledge of the Orange County/Southern California construction market
• Experience across a range of project types (commercial, mixed-use, industrial, life sciences, or similar) preferred
• Strong command of estimating software (On-Screen Takeoff, Sage, Destini, or similar) and cost modeling
• Proven track record of winning and successfully transitioning pursuits into executed projects
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, and client relationship-building skills
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience)