Pre-Construction Support & Constructability Lead - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

About the role

The Pre-Construction Support & Constructability Lead serves as the Owner's Representative lead for constructability, pre-construction planning, cost and schedule development, and modular execution strategy. This role partners with client stakeholders, engineering teams, EPC contractors, and suppliers to influence critical decisions before construction begins.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead pre-construction planning activities across multiple projects and program workstreams.
• Review engineering deliverables throughout design development to ensure projects are fully constructible, executable, and aligned with program objectives.
• Facilitate constructability reviews with engineering, operations, procurement, commissioning, and construction stakeholders.
• Lead Target Value Delivery (TVD) initiatives to align design decisions with approved program budgets while preserving operational and technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain design-phase cost models, schedule forecasts, execution strategies, and project readiness assessments.
• Identify opportunities for modularization, prefabrication, and off-site fabrication that improve schedule certainty, labor efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Evaluate construction sequencing, access strategies, logistics plans, crane studies, material handling methods, and site utilization requirements.
• Support procurement planning by identifying long-lead equipment, critical materials, fabrication requirements, and early work packages.
• Cook up coordination with project controls, engineering, procurement, commissioning, and construction teams to align execution assumptions and program milestones.
• Assess construction market conditions, contractor packaging strategies, labor availability, and supply chain risks.
• Develop construction readiness reviews and stage-gate assessments to support funding, authorization, and procurement decisions.
• Support development of contracting strategies including EPC, Design-Build, CMAR, Agency CM, and hybrid delivery models.
• Provide independent owner-side recommendations regarding execution strategy, cost impacts, schedule impacts, and program risks.
• Identify and escalate issues that may impact project delivery, startup objectives, operational readiness, or regulatory milestones.
• Mentor junior staff and assist in establishing best practices, standards, and processes across the program.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Project Management, or related field.
• 20+ years of experience in pre-construction, project management, construction management, program management, or EPC project delivery.
• Experience supporting major capital projects exceeding $500 million in total installed cost; experience on multi-billion-dollar programs preferred.
• Potentially relevant industry experience: Pharmaceutical, Semiconductor, Advanced Manufacturing, Data Center, Chemical, EV Battery, Life Sciences, Oil and Gas, or other complex industrial facilities.
• Experience developing conceptual estimates, cost models, execution plans, construction schedules, and project delivery strategies during front-end planning and design phases.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary workshops, design reviews, value engineering sessions, risk reviews, and decision-making forums.
• Experience evaluating construction logistics, labor strategies, site constraints, and construction readiness requirements.
• Experience with Primavera P6, scheduling platforms, estimating systems, project management information systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Demonstrated expertise in constructability reviews, execution planning, and design-to-construction transitions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with clients, engineering firms, construction managers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and executive stakeholders.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes without direct contractual authority.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environments with multiple stakeholders and evolving project requirements.
• Strong understanding of modular construction, off-site fabrication, industrial assembly strategies, and advanced work packaging principles.
• Strong understanding of contracting models, procurement approaches, and risk allocation methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate competing project priorities and develop practical recommendations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills with comfort presenting to executive leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred; will also consider semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, data center, chemical, EV battery, life sciences, oil and gas, or other complex industrial facilities.
• Experience with Primavera P6, scheduling platforms, estimating systems, project management information systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Demonstrated expertise in constructability reviews, execution planning, and design-to-construction transitions.
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate with clients, engineering firms, construction managers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and executive stakeholders.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environments with multiple stakeholders and evolving project requirements.
• Strong understanding of modular construction, off-site fabrication, industrial assembly strategies, and advanced work packaging principles.
• Strong understanding of contracting models, procurement approaches, and risk allocation methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate competing project priorities and develop practical recommendations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills with comfort presenting to executive leadership teams.

Skills

• Pre-construction, project management, construction management, program management, or EPC project delivery experience.
• Experience with Target Value Delivery (TVD) initiatives.
• Experience with modular construction, off-site fabrication, and advanced work packaging principles.
• Experience with Primavera P6, scheduling platforms, estimating systems, project management information systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience with contract negotiation and procurement strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Benefits

AtkinsRéalis offers a full-time position with a competitive compensation package that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and short- and long-term disability benefits
• Employer-matched 401(k) with 100% vesting
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid Time Off
• Leaves of absence options
• Flexible work options
• Recognition and employee satisfaction programs
• Employee assistance program
• Voluntary benefits

Pay

$170,000 - $200,000+ annually depending on skills, experience, and geographical location.

Schedule

Full-time position.