Design Assistant Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Pre-Construction Manager

At Synergi, we design, engineer, fabricate, and deliver some of the most visually impactful and technically complex architectural solutions in North America and beyond. From landmark commercial projects to highly customized architectural systems, our team combines craftsmanship, innovation, and execution to bring ambitious ideas to life. As a fast-growing company, we are investing in talented people who want to collaborate, take ownership, solve challenging problems, and help build something meaningful alongside a business with national and international momentum.

The Pre-Construction Manager is responsible for leading projects from initial client engagement through successful handover to Construction. Serving as the technical and operational lead throughout the pre-construction phase, this role ensures each project is thoroughly planned, commercially optimized, technically coordinated, and fully prepared for successful execution.

Reporting to the Vice President of Preconstruction, the Pre-Construction Manager works closely with the Business Development, Client Relations, Estimating, Engineering, and Construction teams to deliver projects that are truly "locked down" before construction begins. This includes developing the project execution strategy and means and methods, identifying and mitigating risks, validating scope and costs, coordinating engineering, aligning procurement, establishing project schedules, and ensuring customers have complete confidence in the delivery plan.

Primary Responsibilities/Functions

Lead the Pre-Construction Process

• Own projects from award through successful handover to Construction.
• Develop and manage the overall pre-construction plan, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate Engineering, Estimating, Procurement, Client Relations, and Sales to ensure projects are fully prepared for execution.

Deliver Commercial Success

• Protect and improve project gross profit through proactive planning, value engineering, and cost management.
• Confirm project scope, validate pricing, and secure competitive vendor and subcontractor quotations prior to handover.
• Identify commercial risks early and develop mitigation strategies to reduce project exposure.
• Ensure Technical & Project Readiness
• Coordinate engineering, shop drawings, RFIs, submittals, procurement, and schedules to ensure projects are construction-ready.
• Validate critical project information, including design interfaces, dimensions, finish floor elevations, and installation sequencing.
• Ensure all project documentation is complete, coordinated, and aligned with contract requirements and budget.

Build Strong Customer & Vendor Relationships

• Serve as the primary customer contact throughout the pre-construction design assist phase, providing regular progress updates and managing expectations.
• Develop collaborative relationships with owners, architects, contractors, consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors.
• Support key customer accounts by promoting consistency, responsiveness, and exceptional service.

Support Business Development

• Partner with Business Development, Client Relations, and Estimating to support design-assist opportunities, conceptual budgeting, proposals, and client presentations.
• Assist with contract scope reviews, project planning, and commercial negotiations to position projects for successful delivery.

Improve Processes & Performance

• Develop and implement standard operating procedures and best practices that improve project delivery and consistency.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of the pre-construction function, including estimating integration, planning tools, and project controls.
• Drive continuous improvement focused on quality, efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

Required Skills/Attributes

• Subcontractor and vendor relations
• Project management
• Risk management
• Customer service and account management
• Problem solving/analysis
• Technical capacity
• Cost estimation
• Communication proficiency
• Financial management
• Time management
• Communicating impacts to client in a timely manner

Required Education/Experience

• A degree or working towards a degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field of study
• Experience with project pitches
• Communicating with impact

Required Certifications/Licenses

• None required

Position KPIs

• Biweekly IPM meeting agenda prep
• Client meeting prep and agenda sent 24-36 hours ahead of client meeting
• Vendor quotes for every item
• Vendors scoped and bid leveled
• Effective sub contactor negotiation
• Schedules sent to client biweekly
• Change order log sent with monthly billings
• Submittal log sent monthly to client
• Handover schedule followed
• Recap updated to match final scope
• Budget and net profit targets met
• Drawings & Quotes filed correctly in the folder
• Client satisfaction in line with targets
• Accuracy and effectiveness of documented pre-construction meeting minutes and action items
• Scope of work completed for projects
• Specs reviewed
• Schedule reviewed

Work Environment

This job primarily operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. While performing some of the duties of this job, the employee is required to inspect projects and may be exposed to ongoing construction and various weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment may range from moderate to loud.

The employee is required to have a clean workspace in the office. In an instance where the employee is working offsite, at home, at a hotel, etc., the employee is required to have a clean workspace for virtual meetings, internally or externally with clients, vendors, etc.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must also occasionally lift and move up to 15 pounds.

Specific vision abilities include close vision and color vision.

Position may require remaining in a stationary position, often sitting for prolonged periods.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position (40 hours). Workdays are Monday through Friday, work times are dependent on department, projects, and supervisor's request and approval.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Travel

Capacity for occasional travel to local and national job sites