Vice President of Preconstruction-Commercial Construction

Kimmel & Associates•Arlington, VA

About The Position

The Vice President of Preconstruction will provide executive leadership for the preconstruction department, driving estimating excellence, operational consistency, client engagement, and business development support. The role oversees teams responsible for budgeting, estimating, value engineering, procurement strategy, and project planning from pursuit through project turnover. Working closely with executive leadership, operations, and business development teams, the Vice President will help secure new work, develop talent, improve processes, and ensure exceptional client service throughout the preconstruction lifecycle. The position is with a nationally recognized commercial general contractor delivering complex projects across multiple market sectors.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
15+ years of progressive commercial construction experience with significant leadership responsibilities in preconstruction or estimating.
Experience managing large, complex commercial projects across multiple market sectors.
Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and mentor future leaders.
Strong executive presence with exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
Deep understanding of conceptual estimating, cost planning, value engineering, procurement strategies, and risk management.
Demonstrated success partnering with operations, business development, and executive leadership.
Experience presenting to owners, developers, architects, and executive stakeholders.
Strong financial acumen and strategic planning capabilities.
Familiarity with industry estimating software and modern construction technologies.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Professional development and executive leadership opportunities are offered.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor regional preconstruction and estimating teams while fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
Establish and maintain best practices for estimating, budgeting, cost modeling, and preconstruction planning.
Partner with business development and operations leaders to develop winning pursuit strategies.
Oversee complex conceptual and detailed estimates for large-scale commercial construction projects.
Drive value engineering initiatives that maximize project value while maintaining quality and schedule objectives.
Build and maintain strong relationships with owners, architects, engineers, consultants, and trade partners.
Participate in client presentations, interviews, and executive-level meetings.
Develop departmental metrics, forecasting tools, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with operations to ensure seamless transition from preconstruction to project execution.
Recruit, develop, and retain top preconstruction talent while supporting succession planning initiatives.
Stay informed on market trends, labor conditions, material pricing, and emerging construction technologies.