Preconstruction & Procurement Specialist

Lightspeed•Chicago, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

LightSpeed Build Technologies is hiring a Preconstruction & Procurement Specialist to turn design-team takeoffs and initial estimates into complete bid packages, run bids with subcontractors and suppliers for work the company does not self-perform, and purchase approved projects. The role builds and manages the subcontractor and supplier network, owns the final project pricing, and develops repeatable pricing and purchasing processes informed by project results. It brings construction experience to a team working with robotics. The position applies the company’s robotic-construction cost model to compare the cost of building a home using its approach with traditional construction, including remaining on-site work. It also supports customer-ready proposals and pricing reviews, tracks estimated versus actual costs, coordinates procurement and deliveries, and manages change-order cost impacts. The position is onsite in Northbrook, Illinois, with travel to job sites as needed.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in residential construction estimating, preconstruction, purchasing, or bid management, working with real project costs including materials, labor, and regional variation.
Experience running bid packages and working with subcontractors and suppliers.
Ability to read plan sets and work from takeoffs, and identify scope gaps before they become change orders.
Strong Excel skills and experience with estimating or takeoff tools such as Bluebeam, RSMeans, or Procore.
Clear communication skills and ability to explain and stand behind pricing with customers.
Ability to work onsite in Northbrook, Illinois, and travel to job sites as needed.

Nice To Haves

Degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field.
Prefab, panelized, or modular construction experience.
An existing Chicago-area subcontractor and supplier network.
Multi-family or affordable housing experience.
Experience setting up purchasing or purchase order processes at a growing company.
Familiarity with Revit or model-based takeoffs.

Responsibilities

Build complete trade bid packages from plan sets, Revit takeoffs, and initial estimates, documenting scope, assumptions, and exclusions.
Apply the robotic-construction cost model to compare the cost of the company’s building approach with traditional construction, including remaining on-site work.
Turn bids into customer-ready proposals and participate in pricing reviews with prospects and partners as the construction cost expert.
Track estimate-versus-actual costs on each job and feed findings back into cost data.
Build and maintain a network of subcontractors and suppliers across foundations, MEP, roofing, finishes, and site work.
Solicit, level, and compare bids, and recommend awards based on price, scope, and reliability.
Negotiate pricing and terms, and prepare subcontract and purchase agreements for approval.
Buy out approved projects by locking in material pricing and lead times and issuing purchase orders.
Help establish purchase order, receiving, and vendor-tracking processes for repeat production.
Coordinate delivery timing with the Production & Delivery Manager so materials arrive when needed at the factory and job site.
Manage change orders and their cost impact with customers and subcontractors.