Overview In this role you guide the Pre-Construction section for utility-scale BESS projects within an EPC/Design-Build/CM framework. You lead a growing team, align pursuit strategies with business development, and oversee cost modeling, constructability, and early procurement to drive profitable growth. You will coordinate with BD, engineering, and field teams to ensure winning proposals and smooth project handoffs. This position offers impact by shaping BESS delivery and advancing the firm's leadership in the sector.
Responsibilities- Provide leadership and coaching to pre-construction managers, estimators, schedulers, and staff
- Manage section workload, timelines, billable targets, and staffing
- Drive recruitment, onboarding, training, and retention of the pre-construction team
- Champion culture, values, and safety across proposals and workflows
- Oversee budgets, overhead, licensing, and resources
- Define pursuit strategies with BD and Practice Leaders
- Lead pursuit strategy meetings, client interviews, and commercial alignment
- Review RFPs for viability, resources, and risk
- Direct preparation of cost models from conceptual to Class 1 EPC bids
- Ensure standardized WBS, indirect costs, and cash flow forecasting
- Maintain historical estimating database and track pricing/trends
- Chair formal estimate and risk review sessions with leadership
- Monitor budgets, proposal costs, and deliverable schedules
- Act as executive sponsor for constructability reviews and value analysis
- Promote adoption of BIM and digital takeoff tools for accuracy
- Oversee subcontractor pre-qualification, bids, and risk assessments
- Collaborate on contract terms, bonding, warranties, and tax/tariff considerations
- Build strategic trade partner relationships
- Establish handoff protocols from pre-construction to execution
- Participate in early mobilization, buyouts, and alignment meetings
- Conduct periodic audits to identify improvements and lessons learned
Key requirements- Bachelor Degree in engineering, architecture, construction, or related field with 5 years of relevant experience
- 12+ years of progressive construction and pre-construction experience preferred
- Experience supervising and leading pre-construction or estimating teams
- Demonstrated experience with utility-scale BESS, solar-plus-storage, or substations is strongly preferred
- Excellent communication skills and ability to present complex information to all levels
- Strong project management and strategic thinking capabilities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Knowledge of EPC, Design-Build, and CMAR delivery methods preferred
- Deep knowledge of BESS equipment technology preferred
- Strong negotiation and client-facing skills
- High commercial acumen in contracts, risk, and subcontractor packaging
- leadership
- communication
- interpersonal skills
- estimating and cost modeling
- cash flow forecasting
- WBS standardization
