Pre-Construction Director

SCS is looking for a Pre-Construction Director for our Energy Business Unit. This a leadership role responsible for overseeing the front-end planning, estimating, and strategic development of large-scale environmental and infrastructure projects, with a focus on renewable natural gas (RNG) and landfill gas-to-energy (LFGE) initiatives. This role leads the response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), ensuring alignment between client expectations, design intent, budget, and execution strategy. The Preconstruction Director plays a pivotal role in winning work, guiding projects through the design phase, and setting the foundation for successful project delivery. This position is client-facing and includes leading preconstruction from early conceptual estimating through subcontract award and contract execution, providing clear, presentation-ready budget narratives and recommendations. For this role you can be remote or hybrid out of any SCS office. There will be travel nationwide, up to 35% for this role.

How you can make an impact

• Review and support cost models, escalation studies, and benchmarking data.
• Lead, review and/or support quantity take-offs, subcontractor pricing, and risk allowances to produce reliable Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposals.
• Lead estimating from first conceptual budget through design development, buyout, and subcontract execution, maintaining estimate versions and assumptions through each design iteration.
• Develop variance summaries between estimates as the design evolves and lead value engineering studies to close gaps while protecting scope, quality, and schedule.
• Assemble presentation-ready estimate packages that clearly communicate scope, assumptions, risks/allowances, alternates, escalation, and recommended procurement strategies to owners and internal leadership.
• Review and support value engineering efforts to optimize cost, schedule, and sustainability.
• Collaborate with the project management, engineering, procurement, and construction teams to align technical design with constructability and budget.
• Support design reviews to ensure compliance with contract scope, project budget and schedule.
• Champion Target Value Delivery (TVD) principles and early subcontractor engagement.
• Build and maintain a national database of qualified trade partners across key specialties.
• Champion the project buyout bid/proposal process including scope definition, bid leveling, and subcontractor selection.
• Prepare detailed bidder instructions, trade-specific clarifications, and comprehensive bid packages; solicit bids, manage bidder communications, and perform bid leveling/tabs to support award decisions.
• Make subcontractor award recommendations and lead/coordinate negotiations to finalize scopes, commercial terms, insurance requirements, and damages/liquidated damages exposure prior to subcontract execution.
• Proactively identify lead-time, market, and supply-chain constraints (materials/equipment) and propose innovative alternatives and procurement strategies to mitigate cost and schedule risk.
• Foster strong relationships with specialty contractors in landfill systems, pipeline work, electrical/controls, mechanical, building erecting, and HVAC systems.
• Support development of preconstruction schedules, integrating procurement and construction milestones.
• Conduct constructability reviews and risk assessments to identify and mitigate early-stage project risks.
• Address risks related to design, logistics, permitting, and procurement.
• Serve as the primary point of contact during preconstruction for budget tracking, scheduling, and procurement strategy.
• Partner with business development to shape pursuit strategies, proposals, and client presentations.
• Translate complex technical and regulatory requirements into clear cost and schedule impacts for clients and agencies.
• Support & closely collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of estimators, contract managers, design managers, and schedulers.
• Develop and implement best practices, SOPs, and training programs for preconstruction.
• Promote a culture of ownership, technical excellence, and sustainable project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in estimating and preconstruction, with at least 5 years in a leadership role required.
• Proven track record of leading successful design-build pursuits and delivering GMP proposals for projects ranging from $20M to $200M.
• Experience managing subcontractor bid processes and building trade partner networks.
• Knowledge of environmental systems and regulatory compliance is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent pursuits/projects, consistently meet deadlines, and produce accurate, high-quality deliverables.
• A strong work ethic and “can-do” attitude; thrives in a collaborative team environment with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with estimating platforms (WinEst, Sage, DESTINI, ProEst), experienced with scheduling platforms (MS Project, Primavera P6) and BIM/VDC workflows.
• Proven ability to interface with clients, negotiate with trade partners, and drive projects from pursuit through construction handoff.
• Valid driver’s license with a driving record in good standing required.

Pay Range

USD $120,000.00 – USD $180,000.00 /Yr.

Additional Information

Please note that our pay ranges are determined by several factors, including relevant experience, internal pay equity, and location. They do not include any of the amazing benefits of being an employee-owner, which are listed below.

SCS is building a world where environmental systems and infrastructure strengthen the health, safety and resilience of communities – from reducing methane emissions at landfills to producing alternative energy, from repurposing contaminated properties to sequestering carbon.

As a 100% employee-owned firm, we bring a long-term perspective, personal ownership and shared success to everything we do. We live our values every day: We care. We are a team. We are tenacious.

Join us and be part of a team where your work has real impact – on the world and on your own growth.

As a growing firm, we offer excellent opportunities for career advancement and a comprehensive package, including:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance
100% employer- funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and 401K including employer match
Annual Bonus Program
Student Debt Employer Contribution Program
Paid holidays, PTO and Paid Parental Leave

SCS Engineers is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). SCS provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran or disabled status.

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