Director of Preconstruction

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

About the Opportunity: A well-established commercial general contractor is looking to appoint a Director of Preconstruction to lead and develop its preconstruction function in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced preconstruction professional to take a leadership role within a growing business, overseeing estimating strategy, managing client relationships, and driving successful project delivery from initial concept through to construction. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the preconstruction department, supporting business development, and helping secure a strong pipeline of commercial projects.

Key Responsibilities: Lead and oversee all preconstruction activities, including conceptual estimating, budgeting, cost planning, value engineering, and bid strategy. Manage and develop the preconstruction team, providing leadership, mentorship, and support to ensure continued professional growth. Establish and maintain strong relationships with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and other key project stakeholders. Oversee estimates from early design through to final pricing, ensuring accuracy, competitiveness, and alignment with project requirements. Work closely with business development and operations teams to evaluate new opportunities and develop effective project delivery strategies. Lead preconstruction meetings, design reviews, constructability assessments, and risk evaluations. Identify opportunities for value engineering, cost efficiencies, and alternative construction solutions. Manage bid schedules, subcontractor solicitation, scope reviews, and proposal preparation. Support client presentations, project interviews, and negotiations to help secure new business. Develop and implement processes to improve estimating accuracy, departmental efficiency, and overall preconstruction performance. Monitor market conditions, material pricing, subcontractor capacity, and construction trends to inform budgeting and procurement strategies.

Requirements: Significant experience in commercial construction, with a strong background in preconstruction and estimating. Previous experience leading or managing a preconstruction team, ideally within a commercial general contracting environment. Proven ability to oversee complex estimates, budgets, and competitive bid processes. Strong understanding of construction methods, scheduling, cost control, subcontractor procurement, and project risk management. Experience across commercial building sectors such as healthcare, education, office, industrial, or other institutional projects. Excellent communication, negotiation, and client relationship management skills. Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, project management, design teams, and external stakeholders. Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance cost, quality, schedule, and client expectations. A degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.

The Opportunity: This role offers the chance to take ownership of a key business function within an established commercial contractor, influence preconstruction strategy, and contribute directly to the company's continued growth. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop a high-performing team, strengthen client relationships, and help deliver a diverse portfolio of commercial construction projects throughout the Charlotte market.