Director of Preconstruction
SL Recruit, Richmond, VA, United States
Director of Preconstruction | MEP Contractor
A well-established and growing MEP contractor in Virginia is seeking a Director of Preconstruction to lead and elevate their estimating and preconstruction function. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, understands how to drive strategy from concept through buyout, and wants to build and mentor a strong team.
What You’ll Be Doing:
Lead all preconstruction efforts including estimating, takeoffs, bid strategy, and subcontractor buyout
Develop and present conceptual, schematic, and final estimates with accuracy and confidence
Partner closely with PMs, Superintendents, and leadership to ensure alignment throughout the lifecycle
Drive subcontractor relationships and negotiate scopes, pricing, and terms
Identify constructability issues, risk exposures, and value engineering opportunities early
Build and maintain historical cost data to strengthen future estimating accuracy
Analyze bid results and provide insight on wins/losses to improve strategy
Mentor and develop a team of estimators
What They’re Looking For:
~12+ years of construction experience across multiple phases (new construction + renovations)
Strong background in MEP systems across commercial, institutional, and education projects
Leadership experience with the ability to build and guide a team
Ability to produce and defend detailed estimates from conceptual through final
Strong communication skills — able to translate technical details into clear strategy
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive
(Bachelor’s in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred, but not required with equivalent experience)
Why This Role Stands Out:
Opportunity to
own and shape the preconstruction function
within a growing company
Strong leadership visibility and influence on project strategy
Collaborative, team-first culture with long-term growth potential
Diverse project portfolio across commercial and institutional sectors
#J-18808-Ljbffr
What You’ll Be Doing:
Lead all preconstruction efforts including estimating, takeoffs, bid strategy, and subcontractor buyout
Develop and present conceptual, schematic, and final estimates with accuracy and confidence
Partner closely with PMs, Superintendents, and leadership to ensure alignment throughout the lifecycle
Drive subcontractor relationships and negotiate scopes, pricing, and terms
Identify constructability issues, risk exposures, and value engineering opportunities early
Build and maintain historical cost data to strengthen future estimating accuracy
Analyze bid results and provide insight on wins/losses to improve strategy
Mentor and develop a team of estimators
What They’re Looking For:
~12+ years of construction experience across multiple phases (new construction + renovations)
Strong background in MEP systems across commercial, institutional, and education projects
Leadership experience with the ability to build and guide a team
Ability to produce and defend detailed estimates from conceptual through final
Strong communication skills — able to translate technical details into clear strategy
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive
(Bachelor’s in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred, but not required with equivalent experience)
Why This Role Stands Out:
Opportunity to
own and shape the preconstruction function
within a growing company
Strong leadership visibility and influence on project strategy
Collaborative, team-first culture with long-term growth potential
Diverse project portfolio across commercial and institutional sectors
#J-18808-Ljbffr