Chief Estimator/Director of Preconstruction

OHLA USA is a global construction and infrastructure company dedicated to building a better, safer, and more sustainable world. With projects spanning across Europe, Latin America, and North America, we bring international expertise and innovative solutions to the communities we serve. OHLA Building, a division of OHLA USA, is a leading general contractor specializing in vertical construction, delivering high-quality commercial, institutional, and mixed-use projects.

About the role

The Chief Estimator/Director of Preconstruction will oversee and lead all estimating and preconstruction functions, ensuring accurate cost projections, competitive bids, and successful project acquisition. This role plays a critical part in driving OHLA Building’s growth, profitability, and risk-aware project planning by managing estimating teams, coordinating with clients, and developing winning strategies for both negotiated and hard-bid pursuits.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead and manage the estimating and preconstruction team across multiple projects and pursuits to ensure cost-effective and risk-conscious execution.
  • Mentor, train, and develop Estimators and Preconstruction Managers to strengthen both technical capabilities and commercial acumen.
  • Collaborate with executive leadership to align team performance with company financial goals and risk management standards.
• Estimating & Preconstruction Management
  • Oversee preparation of conceptual, schematic, and detailed cost estimates for commercial, institutional, and mixed-use building projects with a focus on margin optimization and risk mitigation.
  • Manage preconstruction deliverables including cost-effective budgets, schedule integrity, value engineering, constructability reviews, and comprehensive risk assessments.
  • Ensure accuracy, transparency, and profitability of all estimates, proposals, and bid submissions.
  • Lead bid reviews, subcontractor scope analysis, and final pricing strategy to ensure competitiveness while maintaining healthy project margins.
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for clients during the preconstruction phase, proactively managing expectations around cost, schedule, and risk.
  • Build strong client relationships by delivering strategic, value-driven solutions that balance quality, cost, and risk exposure.
  • Participate in client presentations, interviews, and negotiations to help secure profitable new business opportunities.
• Market Strategy & Subcontractor Relationships
  • Develop and maintain relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, and industry partners to ensure competitive pricing, quality performance, and early identification of financial and execution risks.
  • Monitor market conditions, labor trends, and material costs to drive informed and profitable pricing strategies.
  • Support business development teams by providing data-driven estimating input to assess the financial viability of target projects and pursuits.
• Risk Management, Profitability & Compliance
  • Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks in project scope, pricing, logistics, and scheduling to avoid exposure and cost overruns.
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, contract requirements, and evolving industry standards.
  • Deliver regular reporting and insights to executive leadership on preconstruction activity, profitability forecasts, risk profiles, and overall project pipeline health.
  • Champion a culture of cost discipline, risk awareness, and commercial accountability across the preconstruction function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive estimating and preconstruction experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success managing estimates for large-scale vertical building projects (commercial, institutional, mixed-use), with a focus on profitability and strategic risk reduction.
• Strong knowledge of estimating techniques, cost control systems, scheduling, and industry best practices.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and estimating software (e.g., Autodesk Build, Primavera P6, Bluebeam, or equivalent).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate value, risk, and return on investment to both clients and executive leadership.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will require the ability to freely access all points of a construction site in wide-ranging climates and environments. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability & Life Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
• Tuition Reimbursement after 1 year of employment
• Personal Time Off Program (PTO)
• Engaging work environment