Director of Preconstruction

About the role

We’re looking for a Director of Preconstruction who is sharp, steady, and respected in the room — someone who can stand in front of an owner with a conceptual budget and defend every line of it. The real job is being the person owners trust before a single shovel hits the ground.

Responsibilities

• Own a deep pipeline of ground-up and renovation projects from first concept through groundbreaking.
• Direct conceptual, schematic, design development, GMP, and lump-sum estimates — and stand behind every one.
• Build and analyze cost models that hold up under pressure through precon and bidding.
• Partner with operations to align margins, labor rates, and strategy so estimates win work that performs.
• Maintain the cost history database that makes every future estimate sharper than the last.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of preconstruction managers and estimators.
• Coordinate workloads and schedules with your Preconstruction Managers so deadlines are hit without burning people out.
• Help hire the next generation of MCL estimators and invest in their training and development.
• Set the standards — implement department policies and SOPs with a continuous-improvement mindset.
• Guide owners, architects, and internal teams through every phase of project development — and strengthen the relationships that bring MCL repeat work.
• Deliver presentations that turn complex cost data into decisions owners can make with confidence.
• Stay ahead of the market — estimating technology, construction methods, costs, wages, and delivery trends.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive, management-level experience in preconstruction, estimating, or construction.
• Led diverse commercial projects — ground-up and renovation — from concept through construction documents, including GMP and CMAR delivery (preferred).
• Fluent in RFP/RFQ preparation, contract negotiations, scheduling, and purchasing.
• Comfortable splitting time between the office and active job sites — PPE on and ready.
• Can juggle multiple projects and priorities at once — travel is limited, but the pace isn't.

Qualifications

• Know your way around estimating platforms like Timberline or On-Screen Takeoff, plus Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Hold a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field (preferred) — or have the track record that proves you don't need one.
• Can lead a room of owners, architects, and subs — and lead a team with the same confidence.

Our Values

• Passionate — you care deeply about the work, the craft, and the people around you. This is more than a job to you.
• Dedicated — you show up fully every day. When things get hard—and they will—you stay engaged.
• Thorough — details matter. You don't hand something off or close it out until it's done right.
• Respectful — you treat the owner, the sub, the laborer, and everyone in between with respect. It's not situational here—it's the standard.

What You're Walking Into

MCL Construction has been building Omaha and the surrounding region since 1987. We build with integrity, show up with purpose, and leave every project — and every relationship — better than we found it. Our reputation is built on people who show up, lead from the front, and take real pride in what gets built.

You’ll work with experienced teammates on projects that shape communities, in a culture that values your judgment and the impact of your work.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous PTO
• Travel opportunities