Preconstruction Director

Gilbane Building Company•Houston, TX

About The Position

Gilbane is seeking a Preconstruction Director to lead preconstruction and design phase services for all projects within a Division. This leader manages and develops the Division’s preconstruction support operations, which may include estimating, purchasing, virtual design and construction (VDC), and scheduling. The role manages staffing, budgets, workload, collaboration, and employee development while coordinating resources and expertise across Divisions. The Preconstruction Director participates in enterprise-level leadership and partners with business leaders, legal, business development, executives, and other Preconstruction Directors. The role contributes to risk mitigation, fee enhancement, client capture and account plans, and the long-term strategic direction of the organization. It also supports strong client, partner, and industry relationships and helps position Gilbane as the “Builder of Choice.” Gilbane describes the role as suited to an inclusive coach and leader who can build high-performing teams, communicate progress, assess results, and use business and market insights to make strategic decisions. The company offers training through Gilbane University and opportunities to develop leadership and technical skills. Salary is determined by factors including location, skills, education, experience, and internal equity. Qualified applicants offered the position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a similar technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
15 or more years of experience leading operations, procurement, estimating, scheduling, or supply chain management teams.
5–10 years of experience in the construction management or architecture/engineering industry.
Strong ability to drive change and proactively manage others.
Strategic, detailed, and structured approach to problem-solving.
Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with approachability toward internal and external colleagues.
Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
Proven record of delivering results in a complex business.

Nice To Haves

Experience with multiple project delivery types, such as CMR, DB, and IPD.
Design phase or design-build management experience.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop Division support operations, which may include estimating, purchasing, virtual design and construction, and scheduling.
Participate in the Preconstruction Peer Group and contribute to enterprise-level leadership.
Review contracts with business leaders and legal to develop risk mitigation and fee enhancement strategies.
Develop the technical and leadership skills of estimating, purchasing, VDC, and other applicable support operations staff.
Manage workload and promote collaboration among support operations departments within the Division.
Coordinate resources and share experience with other Divisions and Directors of Preconstruction.
Hire preconstruction staff to support the Division.
Manage preconstruction budgets and staff recoverability for the Division.
Provide strategic insights and recommendations to executive leadership.
Support employee career development and coaching through a team of managers.
Foster a positive and inclusive environment that motivates and engages team members.
Drive the organization’s long-term strategic vision and serve as a bridge between executives.
Partner with business development to align preconstruction with sales strategies, client capture plans, and account plans.
Optimize profit levers and gross profit margin tactics to achieve performance targets on new sales.
Strengthen client, partner, and industry relationships to help position Gilbane as the “Builder of Choice.”