Technical Due Diligence - Preconstruction Manager

JLL • Chicago, IL

6d • Remote

About The Position

The Preconstruction Manager turns project briefs into proposals ready for business approval and packages that the Build team can execute. The role leads estimating, bid packaging, and constructability from pursuit through award, ensuring projects are appropriately priced, scoped, and fundable before construction begins.

The position develops estimates, bid templates, and detailed take-offs; coordinates vendor strategy and bid collection with the Project Manager; and assembles comprehensive proposal packages covering scope, procurement, assumptions, schedule, resources, design and permits, commissioning, equipment and moves, and finishes. It supports Target Value Design, Go/No-Go decisions, and compliance review, then hands off the baseline—including scopes, vendor coverage, long-lead items, exclusions, and schedule assumptions—to the Construction Manager. The Preconstruction Manager remains available after handoff to address re-buy or missed-scope questions.

This is a remote position associated with Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; or San Francisco, CA. The position does not provide visa sponsorship; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in commercial preconstruction, estimating, or bid packaging on lump-sum and GMP work.
• Hands-on estimating experience and the discipline to maintain basis-of-estimate files that support a successful handoff.
• Proven vendor coverage practices, including site walks, RFIs, apples-to-apples scopes, and avoiding single-source surprises on bid day.
• Ability to write exclusions and assumptions and develop a procurement plan that withstands compliance review.
• Experience building a critical-path bid schedule and work-package structure that a Construction Manager can inherit.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• PMP or equivalent project management certification.
• Direct experience with estimating take-off technology and construction management technology.
• Target Value Design experience with an architectured cost model.
• Comfort with mission-critical, workplace, or landlord-controlled interiors, infrastructure, and sitework projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop estimates, bid templates, and detailed take-offs using estimating and takeoff technology.
• Lead vendor strategy with the Project Manager by sharing documents, scheduling site walks, issuing RFIs and clarifications, and collecting and leveling bids.
• Assemble proposal packages with detailed scope, procurement plan, exclusions, qualifiers and assumptions, safety and logistics plans, critical-path schedule, lump-sum versus GMP recommendation, resource plan, design and permit strategy, commissioning plan, equipment and move lists, and finishes plan.
• Support Target Value Design and translate construction documents into formal bid packages, scopes of work, and bid-form structures.
• Provide commercial backup and client-ready deliverables for Go/No-Go and compliance reviews.
• Hand off the baseline to the Construction Manager at Move-to-Construction, including scopes, vendor coverage, long-lead list, exclusions, and schedule assumptions.
• Remain available after handoff to resolve re-buy or missed-scope questions.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care.
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary.
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays.
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay.
• Supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package prioritizing mental, physical, and emotional health.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level