Preconstruction Manager

Pay: Competitive, Based on Experience

About Us

We are a growing real estate development and property management organization focused on developing and managing quality, attainable housing across the Midwest. Our team takes a collaborative, hands-on approach to bringing projects from concept to completion, with a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and creating lasting community impact.

Position Overview

Hoppe Development is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager to lead estimating, budgeting, value engineering, and constructability for our development projects. This position ensures projects enter construction with reliable budgets, schedules, and buyout plans, with a dedicated focus on affordable housing developments and their funding constraints.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual through GMP-level estimates in support of Development pro formas.
• Lead design-phase reviews, value engineering, and constructability reviews with architects and engineers.
• Manage bid packages, trade outreach, bid leveling, and recommendations.
• Build preconstruction schedules and procurement plans for long-lead items.
• Maintain historical cost databases and unit-cost benchmarks.
• Hand off budgets, scopes, and buyout logs to project teams.
• Track market pricing trends and communicate cost risks to Development.
• Lead subcontractor interviews and provide selection recommendations.
• Define scope matrices and exclusions to prevent gaps and disputes.
• Run preconstruction meetings with design teams and drive decisions that align with the budget.
• Establish bid forms, scope sheets, and bid-leveling templates.
• Set buyout strategy and manage early procurement for long-lead items.
• Lead estimating and budgeting for affordable housing projects, including LIHTC, HOME, and state housing finance agency programs, keeping budgets aligned with layered financing sources and developer pro formas.
• Navigate the cost requirements of tax credit deals, including hard cost caps, 9% versus 4% credit budgets, and cost certification requirements.
• Manage compliance-driven costs such as Davis-Bacon prevailing wage, HUD/agency wage determinations, and Section 3 reporting where applicable.
• Build and maintain unit-cost benchmarks specific to affordable and workforce housing.
• Coordinate with development consultants, syndicators, and state agencies on budget documentation and cost certifications.
• Lead value engineering that protects scope quality while meeting affordability constraints.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of estimating or preconstruction experience.
• Affordable housing experience strongly preferred, including LIHTC projects, cost certifications, and agency compliance.
• Proficiency with estimating and takeoff software.
• Strong understanding of multifamily building systems and costs.
• Demonstrated safety leadership, communication, accountability, problem solving, and teamwork.
• Proficiency with company project management systems.

Why Join Us

• Make a meaningful impact by helping create quality, attainable housing and stronger communities.
• Take on a high-visibility role with direct access to leadership and the opportunity to influence project success.
• Join a collaborative, supportive team that values your expertise and contributions.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, paid time off, parental leave, 401(k) matching, and a commitment to work-life balance.