Preconstruction Manager - Commercial Construction

An established commercial general contractor serving the Kansas City region is seeking an accomplished Preconstruction Manager to lead planning, estimating, budgeting, and bid strategy across its commercial project portfolio. This leader will guide each project from early feasibility and design development through final pricing, subcontractor selection, and a seamless handoff to the operations team.

The ideal candidate brings a deep commercial construction background, advanced estimating expertise, and experience steering projects through multiple preconstruction phases. You will be central to controlling project costs, uncovering value-engineering opportunities, and producing competitive, profitable proposals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction planning, feasibility studies, estimating, budgeting, and final bid development.
• Prepare conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) proposals, and final project pricing.
• Review architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings to define scope, evaluate costs, and identify gaps or conflicts.
• Build project-specific pricing models and assess financial risk based on current market conditions.
• Drive value-engineering efforts to identify cost-effective design and material alternatives without compromising quality.
• Develop trade scopes, bid packages, subcontractor invitations, and procurement strategies.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier outreach, proposal reviews, negotiations, and bid leveling.
• Resolve pricing discrepancies, exclusions, overlapping scopes, and unpriced work.
• Update project budgets as designs, client requirements, and specifications evolve.
• Evaluate sequencing, schedules, site constraints, and material lead times during preconstruction.
• Coordinate with clients, architects, engineers, consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout planning.
• Partner with project managers and field leadership to transition approved budgets, scopes, schedules, and pricing assumptions into construction.
• Support client presentations, project interviews, proposals, and business development efforts.
• Present cost forecasts, estimating assumptions, project risks, and savings opportunities to leadership and clients.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction, estimating, or commercial construction.
• 10+ years of overall commercial construction experience preferred.
• Strong command of conceptual and detailed estimating, budgeting, 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 read and interpret architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings and specifications.
• Experience developing subcontractor scopes, bid packages, procurement strategies, and project budgets.
• Solid understanding of construction methods, sequencing, scheduling, logistics, and purchasing timelines.
• Proven ability to evaluate, negotiate, and level subcontractor and supplier proposals.
• Knowledge of labor rates, material costs, subcontractor availability, and local market trends.
• Proficiency with estimating software, Microsoft Office, and construction management platforms.
• Excellent financial analysis, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple bids and competing deadlines.
• Must live within commuting distance of Lenexa or the greater Kansas City area, or be able to commute reliably to the office.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• An established organization with a strong commercial project pipeline.
• Leadership opportunities across a diverse commercial portfolio.
• Direct collaboration with executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Career advancement with opportunities for expanded leadership responsibility.
• A collaborative, team-oriented culture.