Preconstruction Manager

Layton Construction Company•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

Ajax Building Company, part of STO Building Group, is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager to lead project planning and cost strategy from early concept through GMP. The role ensures alignment among design, budget, and constructability and partners with clients, design teams, and operations to guide pricing, validate estimates, and support efficient, coordinated project outcomes. This is a client-facing position requiring leadership in meetings and the ability to influence design collaboratively and with a solutions-oriented approach. The position reports to the Director of Preconstruction Services, supports project teams across Florida, and requires some travel. The Preconstruction Manager leads preconstruction efforts from conceptual budgeting through design development and GMP execution, develops and oversees budgets, cost models, and design-phase estimates, and prepares cost reports, value engineering analyses, and budget updates. The role leads GMP proposal development and client presentations, offers constructability feedback, coordinates subcontractor and vendor pricing with the estimating team, and uses historical cost data for forecasting and benchmarking. The position supports projects across higher education, healthcare, municipal, mission critical, and other markets. Ajax Building Company is a commercial contractor founded in 1958, delivering complex projects across the Southeast. The company describes its culture as collaborative and team-oriented, with meaningful responsibility, exposure to diverse work, and paths for career advancement, supported by STO Building Group's global platform.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in preconstruction or estimating within commercial construction.
Strong understanding of how projects are built, priced, and delivered across all phases of construction.
Experience leading or supporting preconstruction from concept through GMP development.
Ability to operate effectively in a client-facing role and confidently lead meetings.
Demonstrated ability to guide and influence the design process proactively and collaboratively.
Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
Willingness to travel for project meetings and presentations as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience with higher education and/or municipal projects.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Lead preconstruction efforts from conceptual budgeting through design development and GMP execution in partnership with Operations.
Guide pricing, validate estimates, and ensure alignment with project goals.
Develop and oversee conceptual budgets, cost models, and design-phase estimates; detailed quantity takeoffs are not part of this responsibility.
Create and distribute design-phase deliverables, including cost reports, value engineering analyses, and budget updates.
Prepare and lead GMP proposal development and client presentations.
Provide constructability feedback and value engineering recommendations to advance design in a cost-effective manner.
Engage with design teams to challenge assumptions and promote efficient, buildable solutions.
Solicit and evaluate subcontractor and vendor pricing in coordination with the estimating team.
Maintain and use historical cost data to support forecasting and benchmarking.
Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, architects, engineers, and consultants during preconstruction.
Lead and participate in client and design meetings, communicating cost impacts and project strategy.
Build and maintain relationships that support project execution and future business development.
Support higher education, healthcare, municipal, mission critical, and other projects.