Director of Preconstruction

Director of Preconstruction - Industrial Construction?? Irvine, CAA well-established, employee-owned national Design-Build General Contractor is hiring a Director of Preconstruction to lead its Western Region estimating function, based in Irvine, CA.Headquartered in the Midwest and operating nationally for over 20 years, this contractor has expanded across multiple U.S. markets and delivers projects in industrial, cold storage, commercial, healthcare, residential, adaptive reuse, and office sectors. The business is known for a people-first culture, long-term growth strategy, and employee ownership model that rewards team success.This position will take ownership of preconstruction across the Western Region, supporting operations in Southern California, Northern California, Nevada, and Arizona.The immediate focus is industrial construction, with responsibility to grow the regional estimating capability over time.You will inherit a lean local team consisting of a Senior Estimator and Estimating Coordinator, while also partnering with a larger national preconstruction group based at HQ.This is a genuine leadership role, but the company wants someone who still enjoys the technical side of estimating and wants to stay close to the work - and not just manage.Responsibilities include:Leading all preconstruction and estimating activity across the Western RegionPreparing conceptual budgets, GMPs, detailed estimates, and bid proposalsReviewing drawings, specifications, RFPs, and bid packages for scope and riskManaging subcontractor outreach, bid leveling, scope analysis, and negotiationsSupporting presentations, client pursuits, and early-stage business development effortsPartnering with operations teams for seamless handover from preconstruction to deliveryHiring, mentoring, and developing future regional estimating talentHelping scale the Western Region team in line with company growth plansCollaborating with the national preconstruction division on strategy, resources, and best practiceDriving value engineering and cost planning solutions for clientsHiring, training and scaling the divisionTravel is minimal, limited to occasional job walks, client meetings, or short overnight trips. No extensive project travelWhat we're looking for:Minimum 10 years experience in construction estimating / preconstruction with a California based General ContractorAbility to lead teams while remaining hands-on technicallyStrong subcontractor market knowledge across Southern California and/or Western U.S.Experience pricing ground-up industrial, logistics, warehouse, manufacturing, or similar projectsStrong commercial acumen with excellent communication and presentation skillsStable career history with leadership credibilityDegree in Construction Management, Engineering, or similar preferredExperience working at a Director level is preferredExperience working for a Top 200 ENR GC is requiredCompensation & benefits:Competitive base salary based on experiencePerformance bonus structureFull healthcare benefits401(k)PTO packageEmployee ownership / wealth-building opportunityLong-term progression within a growing national platformWhy this opportunity:Lead a full region rather than just a single officeHigh-visibility role with direct impact on regional growthBacked by an established national contractor with strong resourcesLean team environment with autonomy and no bureaucracyHands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys estimating, not just managingMinimal travel compared to many industrial GC rolesOpportunity to build and shape the Western Region preconstruction team over timeIf you are interested, please apply directly with a bid list and resume.

Created: 2026-05-08