Director of Preconstruction Services

Merit Construction is an award-winning Knoxville-based general construction firm with more than 40 years of experience serving clients across East Tennessee. We provide preconstruction, construction management, project management, and lean construction services for commercial projects.

About the role

The Director of Preconstruction Services leads the company's preconstruction efforts. In collaboration with the senior leadership team, this role provides strategic leadership, secures new work, and aligns preconstruction activities with the company's mission, vision, and strategy.

Reports to: President and CEO
Works closely with: President and CEO, CFO, VP of Project Management, VP of Field Operations, VP of Business Development, Business Development Manager, Office Manager

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership – Provide mentorship and leadership to advance the organization’s strategic initiatives. Champion initiatives and oversee teams responsible for delivering action items. Build relationships through professional and community engagement. Maintain a positive company image with clients, potential clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Project Pipeline – Collaborate with senior leadership and Project Executives to cultivate customer relationships, maintain a healthy backlog, and evaluate potential pursuits through a Go/No-Go process to ensure alignment with company strategy, values, and goals.
• Preconstruction – Accountable for the overall performance of preconstruction efforts, measured by:
  • Customer Satisfaction – Promote customer-focused approaches by anticipating needs, understanding priorities, and building trust-based relationships.
  • Financial – Ensure estimates are accurate and competitive. Organize and oversee estimating efforts across Project Executives and Project Managers. Assist with RFP responses, customer interviews, and presentations. Complete budget estimates from limited design information with detailed written scope proposals, filling gaps with reasonable assumptions.
  • Quality – Monitor estimate progress to ensure adequate review time, with the estimate workbook fully completed prior to the due date. Review all final estimates for accuracy and completeness before formal quotation. Participate in project hand-off meetings to ensure the project team thoroughly understands the estimate prior to construction start.
  • Systems – Establish and improve standard operating procedures for preconstruction services. Develop strategies to generate broad subcontractor and supplier interest, ensure competitive bid coverage, and give the company an advantage. Organize all correspondence, bids, and proposals in a consistent format. Complete estimates and proposals on time and professionally. Make site visits and attend pre-bid meetings. Maintain the vendor database and build trusting relationships with subcontractors through ethical standards.
  • Risk Management – Serve as an active risk mitigation team member through subcontractor and supplier qualifications, evaluation of unique project challenges, and planning safety into project estimates.
• Communication – Clearly communicate the company’s mission, vision, and strategy. Document and share lessons learned so others benefit from insights gained.

Requirements

• B.S. or B.A. in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field
• Experienced leader with appropriate industry experience who leads by example
• Advanced math and computer skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to generate accurate quantity takeoffs and pricing
• Ability to develop preliminary budget estimates and bid work in the open bid market
• Ability to estimate diverse project types
• Technical writing skills needed to write comprehensive proposals, qualifications, clarifications, subcontracts, and purchase orders
• Excellent organizational, management, and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated ability to track and meet timelines in a fast-paced environment
• Experience assigning work to others and holding them accountable for results
• Proven track record of building relationships with customers
• Sound judgment, decisiveness, and big-picture perspective
• Strong desire to succeed and be held accountable for results

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid Time Off and paid holidays
• 401(k)

Location: Knoxville, TN
Schedule: Full-time