Preconstruction Manager – Data Centers

Position Summary

The Preconstruction Manager is responsible for leading the planning, estimating, budgeting, and preconstruction activities for mission-critical data center projects from initial pursuit through construction turnover. This role partners with clients, designers, trade partners, and internal operations teams to develop competitive, accurate, and executable project solutions while ensuring alignment with project goals for cost, schedule, quality, and constructability.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical construction knowledge with exceptional communication, leadership, and strategic thinking to support the successful delivery of complex, fast-paced hyperscale and enterprise data center projects.

Key Responsibilities

Preconstruction Leadership

• Lead all preconstruction efforts from project pursuit through handoff to operations.
• Develop and manage project budgets throughout conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document phases.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary preconstruction teams, including estimating, scheduling, BIM/VDC, procurement, and operations.
• Establish and maintain preconstruction schedules that support client milestones and procurement strategies.

Estimating & Cost Management

• Prepare conceptual, detailed, and GMP estimates with increasing levels of design completion.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and validate pricing assumptions.
• Analyze labor productivity, material pricing, escalation, market trends, and project-specific risks.
• Lead estimate reviews with executive leadership and project stakeholders.
• Develop value engineering and cost optimization strategies without compromising quality, reliability, or schedule.

Client & Design Team Collaboration

• Serve as the primary preconstruction contact for owners, architects, engineers, and consultants.
• Facilitate design coordination meetings and provide cost, schedule, and constructability feedback throughout design.
• Build trusted client relationships through transparent communication and proactive problem-solving.
• Present estimates, budgets, procurement strategies, and cost analyses to clients and executive leadership.

Procurement Strategy

• Develop procurement and bid package strategies that align with project schedules and market conditions.
• Identify long-lead equipment and develop early procurement plans for critical systems including:
  • Electrical distribution equipment
  • Generators
  • UPS systems
  • Switchgear
  • Mechanical equipment
  • Cooling systems
• Coordinate subcontractor prequalification, bid solicitation, leveling, and award recommendations.

Constructability & Risk Management

• Lead constructability reviews throughout design development.
• Identify project risks related to scope, logistics, permitting, utilities, procurement, labor availability, and schedule.
• Recommend mitigation strategies to improve project certainty.
• Collaborate with field operations to ensure seamless transition from preconstruction to execution.

Data Center Expertise

• Understand mission-critical infrastructure requirements including electrical, mechanical, structural, and commissioning considerations.
• Support planning for phased construction, concurrent operations, and owner occupancy requirements.
• Understand the importance of redundancy, uptime, reliability, and commissioning in mission-critical environments.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, delivery methods, and industry trends affecting hyperscale and enterprise data centers.

Team Development

• Mentor estimators and junior preconstruction staff.
• Promote collaboration across estimating, operations, design, and business development teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent industry experience may be considered.

Experience

• 8+ years of commercial construction experience with increasing responsibility in estimating or preconstruction.
• 3+ years leading preconstruction efforts on large, complex commercial projects.
• Experience with mission-critical or data center projects strongly preferred.
• Experience with Design-Build, CMAR, and GMP delivery methods.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of commercial construction estimating principles.
• Experience with conceptual estimating and progressive design pricing.
• Proficiency in estimating software (Sage Estimating, WinEst, DESTINI, or similar).
• Working knowledge of Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, BIM/VDC workflows, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to interpret architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings and specifications.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Financial Acumen
• Client Relationship Management
• Leadership & Team Development
• Negotiation
• Constructability Analysis
• Value Engineering
• Risk Assessment
• Schedule Awareness
• Communication & Presentation Skills
• Problem Solving
• Collaboration
• Attention to Detail

Success Measures

Successful Preconstruction Managers consistently:

• Deliver accurate and competitive project estimates.
• Develop reliable budgets throughout design progression.
• Build strong relationships with clients and design partners.
• Identify risks early and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Achieve successful project transitions from preconstruction to operations.
• Contribute to winning pursuits and repeat client business.
• Support predictable project outcomes related to cost, schedule, and quality.

Working Conditions

• Office-based with regular travel to project sites, client meetings, and design coordination sessions.
• Ability to work in fast-paced environments with multiple concurrent pursuits and active projects.
• Occasional travel may be required based on project location.