Pre-Construction Manager

A good tender isn't just about winning the work. It’s about knowing what you’re actually signing up to deliver.

At SWI Fencing, we’re looking for a Pre-Construction Manager who can look beyond the tender price and ask the questions that matter before we commit:

Can we build it?
Can we build it in the time available?
Can we procure what we need?
What could go wrong?
And will the margin still be there when we finish?

If you naturally think this way, this could be the role for you. This is where projects are won or lost. Your job is to make sure SWI goes into a project with its eyes open.

You’ll work across tenders and opportunities from the early strategy stage, testing the proposed methodology, programme, procurement approach and commercial exposure before anything gets handed to Delivery.

You’ll be expected to challenge assumptions, identify gaps and find better ways to build the project.

That means you’ll:

• Review tender strategy and proposed project methodology
• Test programme logic and whether the delivery timeframe is genuinely achievable
• Assess buildability, staging and construction sequencing
• Identify long-lead items and supply-chain constraints
• Assess commercial, operational and delivery exposure
• Coordinate internal tender reviews and bring the right people into the conversation
• Prepare and coordinate proposals for client submission
• Lead value-engineering opportunities and alternative design workshops
• Challenge existing approaches and identify smarter ways to deliver
• Coordinate technical inputs, clarifications and design requirements
• Engage consultants, suppliers and specialist subcontractors to develop alternative systems and solutions
• Ensure the project is properly understood before commitment
• Hand the project across to Delivery with the programme, procurement strategy, risks and key assumptions clearly understood.

You need to understand what the drawings say but also what they mean when someone has to actually build the thing.

You need to understand programme not just produce one.

You need to understand margin and what can erode it before the first-person steps on site.

And when there’s a better way to build something, we expect you to find it.

You’ll probably be a good fit if you...

• Come from a senior pre-construction, estimating or delivery background
• Have experience in fencing, civil or broader construction
• Have strong construction methodology and buildability knowledge
• Can interrogate programme logic and delivery sequencing
• Understand procurement risks, long-lead items and supply-chain constraints
• Have strong commercial judgement and understand how delivery decisions affect margin
• Understand head contract exposure and back-to-back subcontract risk
• Have experience leading value-engineering initiatives
• Are comfortable bringing consultants, suppliers and subcontractors into the conversation to develop alternative solutions
• Can coordinate multiple technical and commercial inputs without losing sight of the bigger picture
• Take ownership rather than waiting for someone else to make the decision
• Understand that a successful handover to Delivery is just as important as winning the work

The handover matters.

Winning a project and throwing a folder over the fence isn't pre-construction.

We want Delivery to receive a project they understand and can execute.

That means the programme has been tested, procurement requirements are understood, key risks are visible, assumptions are documented and the methodology makes sense.

Your work should make the Delivery team's job easier because the difficult questions have already been asked.

Why SWI?

SWI Fencing delivers high-security fencing and construction packages across defence, government, infrastructure, transport, utilities and critical infrastructure.

We’re continuing to strengthen our NSW operation and building a Pre-Construction function that has a genuine influence on what work we pursue, how we price it and how we ultimately deliver it.

This isn't a role where you're simply responding to tenders that land in your inbox. You'll have the opportunity to influence the project before the contract is signed.

If you enjoy figuring out how something should actually be built and making sure the numbers stack up before we commit we'd like to hear from you.