Senior Preconstruction Manager

MBG Built•Saint Louis, MO

About The Position

MBG is seeking an experienced preconstruction professional to lead day-to-day preconstruction execution across our multifamily, hospitality, and senior living portfolio. This role is designed for a preconstruction leader who is ready to take full ownership of execution, including authoring budgets, interpreting project documents, leading bid processes, and developing team capability, with a clear path toward broader leadership within the organization. The Senior Preconstruction Manager will lead pursuits from early concept through GMP recommendation, serving as the primary driver of cost strategy, scope definition, and trade coordination. This role plays a critical part in ensuring projects are thoroughly understood, clearly scoped, and responsibly positioned before they transition to operations. The role is structured to operate with a high level of independence while working in direct partnership with the Director of Preconstruction. In addition to leading pursuits, this role plays an active part in developing preconstruction team members by setting clear expectations, reinforcing standards, and promoting independent problem-solving. The Senior Preconstruction Manager serves as a technical and executional resource for the team, helping elevate overall capability while intentionally reducing unnecessary escalation and dependency.

Requirements

This role requires demonstrated experience leading preconstruction efforts on complex commercial projects, with a strong emphasis on multifamily, hospitality, and senior living work.
Successful candidates will have a track record of authoring and defending project budgets through multiple design phases, leading bid processes including scope development and trade coordination, interfacing directly with owners and designers, and identifying and managing risk before projects transition to operations.
Candidates should bring a strong technical foundation, typically developed through a combination of formal education and hands-on leadership experience.
This role requires depth of experience gained through repeated ownership of preconstruction efforts, not limited exposure or task-based support.
Candidates should have led budgets, scope development, and bid processes independently and understand the responsibility that comes with committing a project to operations.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field is preferred.
Equivalent professional experience demonstrating technical rigor, financial understanding, and the ability to lead complex preconstruction efforts may also be considered.

Responsibilities

Authors concept, schematic, design development, and GMP-level budgets.
Establishes clear assumptions, allowances, alternates, and escalation considerations.
Understands and communicates cost drivers, risks, and opportunities by system and building type.
Develops and presents defensible cost strategies aligned with client expectations and market conditions.
Develops a thorough understanding of drawings, specifications, and project intent.
Identifies gaps, conflicts, and scope ambiguities early in the process.
Prepares and issues clarifications and assumptions to ensure consistent pricing and alignment.
Ensures the preconstruction team is pricing the same project, with a clear understanding of inclusions and exclusions.
Leads design-phase cost conversations with architects, consultants, and ownership.
Provides constructability input that balances budget, schedule, quality, and risk.
Guides teams toward target budgets while maintaining clarity and credibility.
Develops bid strategies by trade, scope, and market.
Prepares bid instructions and scopes of work that minimize ambiguity and risk.
Leads subcontractor outreach, bid leveling, scope alignment, and evaluation.
Conducts award and loss conversations with trade partners in a professional, transparent manner.
Identifies financial, scope, and execution risks before projects move to operations.
Recommends contingency and risk-mitigation strategies with clear rationale.
Makes informed, professional recommendations on cost, scope, and approach.
Ensures a clean, accurate, and well-communicated handoff to operations teams.
Confirms alignment on scope, assumptions, risk posture, and buyout strategy prior to project launch.