Preconstruction Lead - Columbus, OH Market

HGC•Columbus, OH

About The Position

HGC Construction is seeking a Preconstruction Lead to own the preconstruction process for awarded projects across the Columbus market, from initial project kickoff through handoff to operations. The role brings clients, design partners, estimators, trade partners, and internal teams together to align project scope, budget, schedule, and expectations. The Preconstruction Lead manages bid packages and scope development, coordinates trade partners and design teams, supports budget and cost-plan development with estimators, drives procurement planning and preconstruction milestones, and leads early project setup. The role is accountable for the overall process and client communication, rather than personally producing every estimate. It also represents HGC in client meetings and ensures operations teams receive coordinated scopes, established budgets, clear schedules, and a strong understanding of project expectations. The position works in an office environment and on active construction sites with heavy machinery and advanced safety requirements. Employees must comply with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

5+ years of commercial construction experience, including preconstruction, project management, estimating, or a related leadership capacity.
Experience working on complex commercial or institutional construction projects.
Strong understanding of the construction process, from project award and preconstruction planning through procurement, project setup, and field execution.
Ability to manage project-wide priorities while tracking bid packages, scopes of work, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
Working knowledge of estimating principles, construction costs, and budgeting processes, with the ability to understand and confidently communicate project numbers.
Experience coordinating with architects, engineers, subcontractors, and internal project teams to resolve challenges and drive decisions.
Familiarity with construction delivery methods, including CMAR, GMP, and Design-Build, as well as value management and procurement processes.
Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills, including comfort leading meetings and working directly with clients.
Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and ability to take ownership, anticipate challenges, and keep multiple projects moving forward.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Own and drive the preconstruction process for awarded Columbus-market projects from kickoff through handoff to operations.
Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, design partners, and internal teams throughout preconstruction, aligning project goals, budget, scope, and schedule.
Lead the development and management of bid packages and clearly defined, complete, coordinated trade scopes; identify scope gaps, overlaps, and risks.
Partner with estimators to develop, review, and communicate project budgets and cost plans, using estimating resources for takeoffs and detailed pricing.
Coordinate architects, engineers, consultants, and trade partners on design development, constructability reviews, value management, and timely decisions.
Lead trade partner engagement, bid solicitation, scope reviews, and procurement planning, aligning pricing, scope, and schedule expectations.
Drive preconstruction schedules and milestones, including design deliverables, bidding, permitting, procurement, and project requirements.
Lead early project setup and planning with operations, establishing expectations and identifying potential challenges and resource needs.
Represent HGC Construction in client meetings, presentations, and project discussions, communicating budgets, strategies, challenges, and solutions.
Ensure a seamless transition from preconstruction to operations by providing project teams with coordinated scopes, established budgets, clear schedules, and project expectations.