Precon Manager, Sports & Entertainment

ARCO/Murray National Construction•Chicago, IL

19h

About The Position

ARCO’s Sports & Entertainment team is seeking a Precon Manager to guide sports, recreation, and entertainment facility projects from early site evaluation through preconstruction. The role helps clients assess development opportunities and move projects toward construction by leading due diligence, entitlements, design coordination, cost planning, and schedule development. As a trusted client advisor, the Precon Manager connects business goals with practical design and construction solutions in partnership with ARCO’s design and construction teams. Projects may involve considerations such as site access, event operations, audience experience, specialized building systems, and schedule certainty. The role includes assessing prospective sites and development conditions; coordinating design and technical partners; developing budgets, cost estimates, cash-flow analyses, and schedules; evaluating design and value-engineering options; and managing risks, decisions, and scope gaps. It also includes site visits and support for business development through client relationships, proposals, marketing initiatives, and presentations.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (any discipline), Architecture, Real Estate, Construction Management, or a related field.
2–5 years of preconstruction, project management, development, design coordination, or related project delivery experience.
Ability to coordinate stakeholders and manage project scope, budget, schedule, and decisions from early planning through delivery.
Strong communication, organization, analytical, and client-service skills, including the ability to explain technical and cost tradeoffs to varied audiences.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Microsoft Project.

Nice To Haves

Experience with building systems or mechanical equipment.
EIT or PE; ARCO/Murray supports EITs pursuing licensure.

Responsibilities

Evaluate prospective sites and coordinate surveys and architectural, civil, structural, MEP, geotechnical, environmental, and other due-diligence work as appropriate.
Assess zoning, entitlements, permitting, utilities, access, parking, traffic, and operational needs; coordinate with authorities, landowners, brokers, attorneys, and development partners.
Serve as a primary client contact through preconstruction and translate the owner’s goals for the venue, budget, schedule, and operations into actionable project decisions.
Lead early design coordination across internal teams, architects, engineers, specialty consultants, and other partners, from concept planning through permit and construction documents.
Develop and maintain preliminary budgets, cash-flow analyses, cost estimates, milestone schedules, and project assumptions; communicate changes and tradeoffs clearly.
Evaluate design options and value-engineering opportunities, explaining cost, schedule, quality, operational, and project-risk implications.
Identify and manage preconstruction risks, open decisions, scope gaps, and long-lead considerations; align clients and internal teams on owners, action items, and next steps.
Visit sites, conduct visual assessments, meet with local authorities, and support preliminary site and project planning.
Build working relationships with ARCO’s design and construction teams.
Support business development through client relationships, proposals, marketing initiatives, and presentations.

Benefits

Industry-leading performance-based bonus program and discretionary bonus compensation based on individual and company performance.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Traditional and Roth 401(k).
Tuition reimbursement for associates.
Scholarships for associates’ children up to $28,000 per child.
One-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel.
One week of paid volunteer leave each year.
100% charitable match.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
Paid parental leave.