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Gilbane is looking for a Director of Preconstruction to provide company-wide leadership for preconstruction across the organization, establishing standards, building capability, and supporting the successful pursuit, planning, and startup of complex and high-impact projects. This role partners with operations, estimating, purchasing, virtual design in construction (VDC), safety, quality, scheduling, and executive leadership to improve front-end planning, strengthen risk identification, and drive consistency in how projects are positioned for successful execution. The job could be located anywhere there is a major Gilbane Building Company office in the continental United States. 

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Provide company-wide leadership for the preconstruction function in close collaboration with operations and other departments
  • Establish enterprise preconstruction standards, tools, and governance that integrate safety and quality into all preconstruction processes
  • Partner with operations, estimating, purchasing, virtual design in construction (VDC), safety, quality, scheduling, business development, and executive leadership to align priorities, improve consistency, and support business objectives
  • Monitor adoption of preconstruction standards across business units and identify systemic gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Critical Project Support
  • Directly support high-priority and complex pursuits and projects by performing hands-on preconstruction activities, including estimating, planning, risk analysis, phasing, logistics, and strategy development
  • Provide executive-level oversight and guidance on pursuits and projects with significant risk, visibility, complexity, or strategic importance
  • Ensure critical projects are set up for success through robust planning, early risk identification, clear handoff expectations, and alignment across teams
  • Step in to stabilize, redirect, or escalate projects when preconstruction challenges arise
• Training & Capability Development
  • Develop and implement enterprise preconstruction training programs covering estimating, planning, risk management, safety, and quality integration
  • Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and onboarding programs for preconstruction staff and operational leaders
  • Standardize best practices, mentor team members, and help build bench strength and succession within the function
• Safety by Design (Front-End Safety Integration)
  • Champion “Safety by Design” principles during planning and design phases
  • Identify high-risk scopes and embed mitigation strategies into plans
• Quality Planning & Assurance
  • Embed quality standards and inspection requirements into scopes and plans
  • Ensure constructability reviews address quality risks and rework prevention
• Estimating & Risk-Based Budgeting
  •  Oversee estimates with risk, safety, quality, procurement, and execution considerations incorporated
  • Ensure appropriate contingencies for safety controls and quality assurance
• Project Planning & Coordination
  • Collaborate with operations and scheduling to develop execution plans that prioritize safe sequencing, quality outcomes, and reliable project startup
  • Reinforce planning and handoff standards through coaching, direct involvement, and executive review of major pursuits and projects
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Lead discussions on safety, quality, and risk management strategies
  • Drive value-based solutions that improve safety, quality, constructability, and overall project outcomes
• Procurement & Trade Partner Strategy
  •  Support trade partner and procurement strategies, including evaluation of subcontractors based on safety, quality, capability, and project fit
  • Ensure scopes clearly define expectations, commercial assumptions, and risk ownership
• Risk Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead early identification of safety hazards and quality risks
  •  Track KPIs such as estimate accuracy, quality of handoff, training effectiveness, risk reduction, and other indicators of preconstruction performance
  • Capture lessons learned and integrate into future training and standards

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field
• 15+ years of construction experience with significant preconstruction leadership responsibility
• Demonstrated success supporting large, complex, or high-risk pursuits and projects directly
• Experience establishing standards, processes, or training programs across multiple business units, regions, or project teams
• Strong knowledge of safety practices and quality management systems
• Experience developing and delivering training programs and mentoring others within the function
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, support executive decision-making, and operate effectively in a highly collaborative environment

Key Competencies

• Safety-first and quality-driven mindset
• Thorough understanding of industry best practices
• Strong leadership with hands-on capability
• Strategic thinking with ability to dive into details when needed
• Training, coaching, and facilitation skills
• Risk identification and problem-solving

Measures of Success

• Improved consistency and quality of preconstruction planning across the organization
• Stronger pursuit and project startup outcomes through earlier identification and management of risk
• Higher-quality handoffs from preconstruction to operations on major pursuits and projects
• Greater adoption of enterprise standards, tools, and training programs
• Increased confidence among operations and executive leadership in preconstruction readiness on critical work

Salary to be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience of the applicant, as well as the internal equity and alignment with the team.

This ranges from $220,000-275,000 plus benefits and retirement program.

Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees’ education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status. Click here to view the physical demands and working conditions required to perform this role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Note to Recruiters, Placement Agencies, and Similar Organizations: Gilbane does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our jobs alias, website, or to any Gilbane employee. Gilbane will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Gilbane and will be processed accordingly.