Overview In this role, you lead preconstruction for large water and wastewater projects, shaping pursuit strategies and guiding CMAR and fixed-price design-build efforts from concept to GMP. You act as a central liaison among operations, estimating, and design, building relationships with owners, designers, and vendors while mentoring the preconstruction team. You balance cost, schedule, constructability, and life-cycle performance to drive project success. This is an influential position that advances McCarthy's water/wastewater market footprint.
Responsibilities- Develop pursuit strategy and network with designers, owners and vendors at industry events
- Lead preconstruction for collaborative delivery projects (CMAR and Progressive Design Build) and for fixed-price design-build after award
- Prepare and oversee preconstruction schedules with cross department buy in and multiple GMP considerations
- Develop and review cost estimates at all design milestones (10%-100%) and coordinate self-perform estimates
- Oversee risk management, budget control, and contractual compliance; present to owners per guidelines
- Coordinate trade partner and vendor qualification and buy ins; maintain relationships with subcontractors for competitive advantage
- Represent McCarthy at design and coordination meetings and lead ongoing status and action-item tracking
- Mentor and train preconstruction staff; manage owner/stakeholder relationship plans
- Track schedules, General Conditions, and scope alignment; ensure timely deliverables in approved formats
- Support design decisions and value engineering to balance cost, schedule, and life-cycle costs
- Maintain knowledge of cost elements and sustain safety and EEO/AA program implementation
- Attend industry events and uphold McCarthy's professional industry presence
Key requirements- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Engineering; or equivalent experience
- Minimum 10 years of estimating, design management, or field management on large-scale projects
- Proven experience leading preconstruction for complex projects (>$100M) with water/wastewater focus
- Experience managing subcontracts, purchase orders, and relationships with owners, designers, trade partners, and vendors
- Strong leadership, communication, and presentation skills; ability to influence internal and external stakeholders
- Knowledge of CMAR, Progressive Design-Build, and GMP processes; ability to manage risk and budget controls
- Demonstrated ability to mentor staff and build long-term client relationships
- Alignment with McCarthy core values and a value-added approach to preconstruction
- Self-starter; highly motivated
- Strong written and verbal communication; effective at presenting to varied audiences
- Relationship management and cross-functional collaboration
- Water/wastewater construction principles and practices
- Cost estimating across design milestones and GMP development
- Preconstruction scheduling and budget management