Associate Director of Preconstruction

Quanta Services•Omaha, NE

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Preconstruction is a senior leader responsible for delivering accurate, competitive, and strategically aligned cost solutions while elevating preconstruction standards, talent capability, and pursuit effectiveness across the organization. This role blends hands-on estimating leadership with enterprise-level perspective, serving as a trusted advisor to executives, a credible presence for clients, and a mentor who strengthens how preconstruction work gets done. Key Responsibilities: Estimating Strategy: Lead pricing strategy and estimate development for large, complex, and high‑visibility pursuits with a focus on accuracy, transparency, and sound risk judgment. Establish, validate, and document estimate assumptions, risk registers, contingencies, and escalation logic. Ensure estimates align with company risk tolerance, market positioning, and delivery strategy. Review and approve final pricing prior to executive sign‑off, standing behind the work with confidence and accountability. Participate in estimate‑to‑actual reviews and drive corrective action to strengthen future performance. Preconstruction Strategy & Pursuits: Support disciplined go/no‑go decisions, pursuit planning, and workload forecasting to focus teams on the right work. Plan and participate in pursuit meetings and client interviews, providing clarity and confidence throughout the process. Build and maintain strong relationships with key regional clients through honest communication and consistent follow‑through. Partner closely with Business Development on strategic planning and major pursuits across business units. Shape win strategies, interview messaging, and value propositions that are clear, authentic, and differentiated. Provide insight on market conditions, labor and material trends, subcontractor capacity, and risk exposure. Serve as a senior preconstruction voice in executive and operations discussions. Leadership & Development: Directly manage the Senior Estimating Manager and Senior Preconstruction Manager, setting clear expectations and accountability. Mentor high‑potential estimators and preconstruction managers through a structured leadership pipeline. Support workforce planning, hiring, goal setting, training, and succession planning for critical roles. Establish performance expectations centered on accuracy, collaboration, accountability, and sound judgment. Foster an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and proud of their work. Standards, Systems & Knowledge: Define, implement, and uphold company‑wide estimating standards, templates, workflows, and data practices. Champion consistency across cost models, scope tracking, bid leveling, and risk documentation. Provide functional leadership for estimating tools, cost databases, assemblies, benchmarking, and specialty modules. Partner with IT and Operations to evaluate, implement, and optimize technology that supports accuracy and scalability. Oversee historical cost data, ensuring it reflects actual outcomes, market conditions, and regional nuances. Lead post‑project cost reviews and translate lessons learned into improved assemblies and benchmarks. Promote continuous improvement and consistent use of data while allowing appropriate professional judgment. Enterprise Integration: Collaborate with Operations, Finance, Business Development, Owners, Designers, and specialty groups to ensure alignment from pursuit through execution. Ensure clean, informed handoff from preconstruction to operations, including budgets, risks, and key assumptions. Provide insight to Executive leadership on technology roadmaps, talent needs, and scalability. Support long‑term planning for estimating and preconstruction as the organization grows. Serve as a steward of institutional knowledge, supporting continuity, clarity, and future readiness.

Requirements

Deep understanding of multiple delivery methods, contracts, procurement strategies, and risk allocation (IPD, DBB, DB, CMAR, P3).
Advanced proficiency with estimating platforms, takeoff tools, Excel, analytics, and cloud-based project management and collaboration systems; familiarity with AI-assisted estimating tools preferred.
Strong financial modeling skills and ability to apply data-driven judgment to pricing, risk, and decision-making.
Ability to synthesize complex technical and financial information into clear, executive-level insights.
Strategic, enterprise-minded leader with executive presence and credibility with clients and senior stakeholders.
Influences outcomes through clarity, trust, professionalism, and sound judgment—balancing precision with speed.
Demonstrates full ownership, follow-through, and commitment to developing people and future leaders.
Demonstrated success delivering accurate, reliable estimates for large, complex, and high-value projects while operating beyond project-level execution to influence pursuit strategy and outcomes.
Proven ability to lead teams through high-stakes pursuits with quality win rates aligned to organizational strategy, including close partnership with Director- and VP-level leadership.
Strong track record of driving measurable improvements in bookings, productivity, and overall estimating performance at a regional or enterprise level.
Experience building, mentoring, and retaining high-performing estimating teams, including developing managers and future senior leaders across projects or regions.
Demonstrated impact strengthening and standardizing preconstruction processes while enabling smooth, confident transitions from estimate to execution.
Active contributor to enterprise-wide preconstruction initiatives, company-wide pursuit strategy, and market expansion efforts, with increasing scope and executive visibility.
Proven effectiveness serving as a trusted advisor and right hand to executive level leaders, supporting strategic decisions and long-term capability planning.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Extensive experience leading large, complex preconstruction and estimating efforts, including accountability for high‑value pursuits, pricing strategy, and risk management across multiple delivery methods and contract structures.
Proven record of improving bookings, productivity, and overall performance.
Demonstrated success operating at a senior preconstruction leadership level—managing and mentoring teams, influencing executive and client decisions, supporting enterprise‑wide initiatives and pursuit strategy, and contributing to market growth.

Nice To Haves

CCM, PE, LEED, Lean, or CST, preferred
professional certifications a plus

Responsibilities

Lead pricing strategy and estimate development for large, complex, and high‑visibility pursuits with a focus on accuracy, transparency, and sound risk judgment.
Establish, validate, and document estimate assumptions, risk registers, contingencies, and escalation logic.
Ensure estimates align with company risk tolerance, market positioning, and delivery strategy.
Review and approve final pricing prior to executive sign‑off, standing behind the work with confidence and accountability.
Participate in estimate‑to‑actual reviews and drive corrective action to strengthen future performance.
Support disciplined go/no‑go decisions, pursuit planning, and workload forecasting to focus teams on the right work.
Plan and participate in pursuit meetings and client interviews, providing clarity and confidence throughout the process.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key regional clients through honest communication and consistent follow‑through.
Partner closely with Business Development on strategic planning and major pursuits across business units.
Shape win strategies, interview messaging, and value propositions that are clear, authentic, and differentiated.
Provide insight on market conditions, labor and material trends, subcontractor capacity, and risk exposure.
Serve as a senior preconstruction voice in executive and operations discussions.
Directly manage the Senior Estimating Manager and Senior Preconstruction Manager, setting clear expectations and accountability.
Mentor high‑potential estimators and preconstruction managers through a structured leadership pipeline.
Support workforce planning, hiring, goal setting, training, and succession planning for critical roles.
Establish performance expectations centered on accuracy, collaboration, accountability, and sound judgment.
Foster an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and proud of their work.
Define, implement, and uphold company‑wide estimating standards, templates, workflows, and data practices.
Champion consistency across cost models, scope tracking, bid leveling, and risk documentation.
Provide functional leadership for estimating tools, cost databases, assemblies, benchmarking, and specialty modules.
Partner with IT and Operations to evaluate, implement, and optimize technology that supports accuracy and scalability.
Oversee historical cost data, ensuring it reflects actual outcomes, market conditions, and regional nuances.
Lead post‑project cost reviews and translate lessons learned into improved assemblies and benchmarks.
Promote continuous improvement and consistent use of data while allowing appropriate professional judgment.
Collaborate with Operations, Finance, Business Development, Owners, Designers, and specialty groups to ensure alignment from pursuit through execution.
Ensure clean, informed handoff from preconstruction to operations, including budgets, risks, and key assumptions.
Provide insight to Executive leadership on technology roadmaps, talent needs, and scalability.
Support long‑term planning for estimating and preconstruction as the organization grows.
Serve as a steward of institutional knowledge, supporting continuity, clarity, and future readiness.