Preconstruction Services Director, Power

Role Summary

The Preconstruction Services Director 1 – Power provides executive leadership for the estimating and preconstruction function within JE Dunn’s power generation market. This role is responsible for leading the full preconstruction lifecycle for major natural gas, thermal power, and related energy infrastructure projects, ensuring the development of strategic, accurate, and competitive project solutions that support successful pursuits and profitable project execution.

Key Role Responsibilities - Core

• Leads overall preconstruction process, resulting in a comprehensive deliverable which includes competitive bids, negotiated proposals, cost estimates, analysis and budgets.
• Prepares and executes project win strategies by preparing for interviews and leading internal and external presentations of estimates and proposals to support the business development process.
• Oversees project teams and ensures successful execution and completion of preconstruction process.
• Manages relationships with key clients and design team contacts during the preconstruction phase.
• Capable of performing estimating tasks as needed, including self-perform estimating.
• Creates conceptual budgets.
• Reports accurate project cost history.
• Parsners with operations to review project risk assessment, scoring and completion.
• Reviews project business plan with other stakeholders, such as operations and office leadership, to ensure alignment and profitability.
• Learns and promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion within JE Dunn. Understands JE Dunn’s policy of non-discrimination and ensures positive, proactive implementation throughout the organization.

Key Role Responsibilities - Additional Core

• Develops and manages departmental and project win strategies. Leverages leads and relationships to enhance business development efforts.
• Manages the client presentation and sales processes in collaboration with the business development team throughout the business development lifecycle.
• Serves as a primary contact for clients and subcontractors throughout the preconstruction process. Leverages relationships to help clients transition from business development to preconstruction.
• Oversees final review, development and overall accuracy and completion of takeoffs and internal pricing.
• Manages the budget to limit variance during the estimating and preconstruction phases of the project.
• Assumes an influential leadership role in community and industry relationship building through networking, representing the organization and the preconstruction services function to help promote the interests of the company.
• Collaborates with operations executives to develop business plans and overall business strategies.
• Frequently participates in office, regional and/or national level leadership strategic planning and execution. Develops and supports company-wide initiatives, best practices and policies within the work program.
• Provides insight into market trends, cost escalation factors, and competitive intelligence specific to natural gas and thermal power to guide pursuit strategies.
• Identifies and understands power generation regulatory and permitting requirements to work with key stakeholders to ensure early compliance.
• Works with the project leadership team to manage trade partner procurement process including developing scopes of work, solicitations, interviews, and relationship management.
• Proactively identifies and tracks long‑lead and critical materials and equipment to support successful project delivery and develop risk‑mitigation procurement strategies.
• Leads development and execution of Power market preconstruction strategy in alignment with regional and national business objectives.
• Develops and maintains executive-level relationships with utilities, independent power producers, developers, OEMs, engineering firms, and key industry stakeholders to advance business development and market growth initiatives.
• Provides strategic guidance on project delivery approaches, commercial structures, contract strategy, and risk allocation for major EPC and design-build pursuits.
• Establishes and continuously improves power-specific preconstruction processes, estimating tools, benchmarks, and best practices to support scalable growth and execution excellence.
• Supports recruitment, talent development, succession planning, and mentoring of preconstruction professionals within the Power market.
• Partners with operations and business development leadership to evaluate market opportunities, prioritize pursuits, and allocate resources across the Power portfolio.
• Leads executive-level pursuit reviews and provides recommendations regarding project selection, risk profile, strategic fit, and expected returns.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to perform work accurately and completely, and in a timely manner.
• Communication skills, verbal and written (Advanced).
• Ability to conduct effective presentations (Advanced).
• Proficiency in MS Office with emphasis on strong Excel skills (Advanced).
• Ability to read and understand drawings and specifications (Advanced).
• Proficiency in construction estimating software (Advanced).
• Proficiency in required construction technology (Intermediate).
• Ability to prepare quantity surveys.
• Knowledge of the means and methods of construction management (Advanced).
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate within a team, internally and externally.
• Knowledge of specific trades and scopes of work (Advanced).
• Knowledge of self-perform and labor productivity (Intermediate).
• Knowledge of MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise), and SBA (Small Business Administration) regulations (Intermediate).
• Ability to develop General Requirements estimates.
• Knowledge of project processes and how each supports the successful completion of a project.
• Ability to develop proficiency in Lens, Revit and/or ASE software.
• Knowledge of Lean process and philosophy.
• Maintain a deep understanding of power generation technologies.
• Advanced understanding of EPC contracting methodologies, commercial negotiations, and project financial drivers.
• Advanced understanding of natural gas and thermal power generation systems, including design and preconstruction.
• Comprehensive understanding of cost drivers for major power plant components.
• Ability to analyze technical documentation such as process flow diagrams, equipment specifications, and OEM performance guarantees.
• Ability to lead early-phase constructability reviews for thermal power projects.
• Ability to coordinate and lead large teams (both internal and external) through the design and preconstruction process.
• Ability to develop and execute market growth strategies within the power generation sector.
• Ability to assess complex project risks and develop mitigation strategies during pursuit and preconstruction phases.
• Ability to influence executive stakeholders and build consensus across diverse internal and external teams.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering or related field (Required).
• In lieu of the above requirements, equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Experience

• 10+ years construction estimating experience including a minimum of 5+ years people management and 2+ years financial management.
• Proven track record managing major power generation projects including transmission and distribution from pursuit through preconstruction (preferred).
• Expertise in EPC delivery model, risk management, and commercial structures (preferred).
• Established network of relationships with utilities, developers, engineering partners, trade partners, OEM’s, and key industry stakeholders (preferred).
• Experience developing preconstruction strategies for natural gas combined-cycle, simple-cycle, RICE, or thermal power facilities (preferred)
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams through complex power project pursuits, design development, and commercial negotiations (preferred).
• Experience building, mentoring, and managing high-performing estimating and preconstruction teams (preferred).