Director of Pursuits

VR Mechanical Solutions Inc.•Ajax, ON

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

VR Mechanical Solutions is seeking an experienced and motivated Director of Pursuits to join our growing Pursuits Division. We are looking for an accomplished leader who thrives in the collaborative environment of preconstruction— someone who enjoys strategy, developing people, solving complex challenges, building trusted relationships, and guiding teams through the pursuit of Ontario's most significant construction projects. Reporting to the Vice President of Preconstruction and working primarily from our head office in Ajax, the Director of Pursuits is responsible for leading the planning, coordination, and execution of major pursuits across Ontario's healthcare, institutional, commercial, industrial, and mission-critical sectors. The Director leads the Pursuits Division while working closely with Estimating, Engineering, Operations, Business Development, executive leadership, clients, consultants, and construction partners to deliver disciplined pursuit execution, exceptional client service, and successful project outcomes. If you are ready to help shape the future of our Pursuits Division while contributing to some of Ontario's most exciting construction projects, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you!

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in pursuits, preconstruction, estimating, engineering, construction management, project management, or a related role.
Demonstrated leadership experience within mechanical contracting or complex design-build, healthcare, institutional, commercial, industrial, or mission-critical construction environments.
Strong understanding of construction delivery models, estimating principles, procurement strategies, scheduling, risk management, and project lifecycle management.
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams while successfully managing multiple concurrent pursuits.
Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
Strong commercial and technical acumen with the ability to evaluate project opportunities and support sound business decisions.
Ability to review and interpret drawings, specifications, design and proposal documents, contracts, and technical information.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and current construction management and collaboration platforms.

Nice To Haves

Degree, diploma, or trade background in Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Business, or an equivalent combination of education and industry experience.
Experience leading Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, Alliance, IO, healthcare, institutional, industrial, or mission-critical pursuits.
Familiarity with VDC and design processes and programs, collaborative project delivery models, and emerging technologies supporting preconstruction and pursuit management.
Professional designations such as P.Eng., PMP, Gold Seal, LEED, or equivalent industry credentials.

Responsibilities

Lead the Pursuits Division by providing direction, mentorship, and accountability while ensuring pursuits are effectively planned, resourced, executed, and continuously improved.
Lead, mentor, and develop the Pursuits team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, professionalism, and continuous learning.
Direct the planning, resource allocation, and execution of multiple concurrent pursuits to ensure company objectives, client commitments, and pursuit milestones are achieved.
Lead pursuit planning activities including opportunity assessments, Go / No-Go evaluations, pursuit kickoffs, executive reviews, and major milestone meetings.
Provide leadership and guidance throughout complex pursuits, supporting the team in resolving technical, commercial, organizational, and client challenges.
Collaborate with leadership on divisional workload, resource requirements, and overall team performance while supporting future growth.
Provide leadership throughout the pursuit and preconstruction process by integrating technical, commercial, and operational perspectives to position projects for success.
Direct the development and execution of pursuit strategies, major deliverables, execution plans, schedules, and submission requirements for strategic opportunities.
Manage design development, constructability reviews, procurement planning, value engineering, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management activities in collaboration with Engineering, Estimating, Operations, and external project partners.
Review and evaluate drawings, specifications, procurement documents, subcontractor and vendor proposals, scope of work documents, owner requirements, and technical submissions to identify risks, opportunities, scope gaps, compliance requirements, and competitive advantages.
Work closely with estimating teams on pricing strategies, pursuit deliverables, commercial evaluations, budgeting, proposal development, and overall pursuit competitiveness.
Lead proposal development, client presentations, interviews, and major submission activities while ensuring a consistent, high-quality representation of VR Mechanical's capabilities.
Ensure successful transition of awarded pursuits into preconstruction and project execution through effective planning, communication, and stakeholder alignment.
Represent VR Mechanical by building trusted relationships and promoting collaborative partnerships that support long-term growth and successful pursuit delivery.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with owners, consultants, general contractors, design partners, industry partners, and other major stakeholders.
Participate in client meetings, interviews, networking events, conferences, and other necessary engagements while representing VR Mechanical with professionalism and integrity.
Support business development initiatives through market awareness, opportunity identification, client engagement, and strategic partnering activities.
Promote VR Mechanical's technical expertise, collaborative approach, and commitment to delivering innovative, client-focused solutions.
Maintain awareness of market trends, procurement models, emerging technologies, and industry developments to support informed pursuit planning and future growth.
Strengthen the performance of the Pursuits Division by promoting consistency, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across people, processes, and technology.
Champion consistent pursuit management practices, standards, and processes that improve quality, efficiency, accountability, and overall pursuit execution.
Foster collaboration across Pursuits, Estimating, Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Business Development, and executive leadership to ensure alignment throughout the preconstruction process.
Oversee pursuit reporting, documentation, lessons learned, and performance metrics to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
Encourage the adoption of technologies, management tools, and innovative practices that enhance communication, coordination, and overall team effectiveness.
Contribute to the continued development of the Pursuits Division by identifying opportunities to improve capabilities, strengthen best practices, and support organizational growth.