Senior Preconstruction Manager - Building

Position Overview

The Senior Preconstruction Manager serves as the central leader responsible for the strategic, technical, and operational execution of the firm’s preconstruction efforts for civil, structural, and architectural systems of a project. This role bridges business development, design, estimating, engineering, procurement, and operations to ensure projects are accurately scoped, competitively positioned, and commercially sound before transitioning to construction. The Preconstruction Manager establishes standards, manages resources, coordinates with estimating, participates in client engagement, and ensures project budgets, schedules, risk profiles, and procurement strategies are aligned with client expectations and company goals. The role is critical in shaping project outcomes and enabling profitable, well-coordinated project delivery.

District Overview

Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc. is a full-service engineering consulting and design firm serving a broad range of industrial markets. With more than 1,300 engineers and design professionals across all major engineering disciplines, we support the industrial, transportation, power, water/wastewater, mining, building, and oil, gas & chemical markets.

Our operations-focused engineering approach integrates over 130 years of construction expertise to deliver safe, efficient facilities — finishing projects on schedule and ensuring that Nobody Gets Hurt.

The Industrial & Water Engineering team includes process, mechanical, electrical, controls, structural, architectural, geotechnical, and civil disciplines. We specialize in EPC and design-build delivery for industrial projects in markets including:

• Datacenters
• Mineral Processing
• Renewable Fuels
• Pulp & Paper
• Industrial Energy, Water & Utilities

Location

This position is based in Lenexa, Kansas. Opportunities for flexible work are available.

Responsibilities

• Define preconstruction standards and workflows aligned with business goals.
• Lead trade partner outreach, process improvement, digital innovation, and benchmarking.
• Develop KPIs, reporting, and support pursuit strategy and go/no‑go decisions.
• Lead and mentor preconstruction and trade partner teams.
• Allocate resources effectively and support recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management.
• Coordinate with internal and external design professionals.
• Establish early alignment with project leadership.
• Lead presentations and milestone reviews. 
• Clarify project goals, priorities, budgets, and risks.
• Guide feasibility studies and early planning.
• Oversee estimating strategy, benchmarking tools, and cost data.
• Integrate constructability, market conditions, procurement, and logistics.
• Validate budgets at design milestones.
• Develop schedules and sequencing strategies. Incorporate permitting, procurement, fabrication, and delivery timelines.
• Coordinate site logistics, phasing, and temporary operations.
• Align design intent with cost, schedule, and constructability.
• Coordinate architects, engineers, and specialty subs. Manage design reviews, logs, and clarifications.
• Direct BIM/VDC use for validation and clash prevention.
• Lead procurement strategy, RFQ/RFP development, trade outreach, qualification, scope review, and bid leveling.
• Assess market capacity, cost volatility, and labor/material risks.
• Support long‑lead procurement and early awards.
• Identify and mitigate financial, design, schedule, and scope risks.
• Document assumptions and contingencies.
• Deliver high‑quality outputs including cost models, schedules, logistics plans, basis‑of‑design narratives, clarification logs, and GMP/budget packages.
• Support commercial term development and coordinate with legal and leadership.
• Align contract terms with delivery models.
• Implement cost modeling and estimating platforms.
• Ensure data accuracy, cost history tracking, and escalation modeling.
• Adopt tools that improve efficiency and competitiveness.
• Ensure complete documentation for transition to construction.
• Support kickoff meetings and assist early buyout and mobilization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 20+ years of experience in estimating, preconstruction, and project management, with proven results on industrial and heavy commercial projects.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, building systems, materials, market pricing, and multiple delivery models (DBB, DB, DA, EPC, CMAR, IPD).
• Skilled in estimating, scheduling (Primavera P6), and takeoff tools (Bluebeam, OST); proficient in Microsoft Office and willing to learn InEight.
• Experienced in design‑phase coordination, budget development, value engineering, and detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage cross‑functional teams and multiple pursuits under tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication, client‑facing, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ethical, detail‑oriented, and committed to mentoring and collaboration.
• Professional certifications (CPE, PMP) preferred; OSHA 30‑Hour a plus. #LI-TJ1