Preconstruction Solutions Manager

Job Description

Preconstruction Solutions (PCS) is a key subdomain of Southland’s Building Lifecycle Solutions (BLS), focused on enabling consistent and accurate estimating across all trades—Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection. This role supports pre-award efforts by helping teams align on how work is scoped, estimated, and pursued across the company.

As the Manager of Preconstruction Solutions (PCS), you will lead the improvement and standardization of estimating tools and related processes. This includes both internally developed solutions and platforms such as Trimble Accubid, Fast Est, Fast Pipe, Fast Duct, Bluebeam, Excel, and emerging tools.

The focus is simple: make it easier for teams to build accurate estimates, share work across divisions, and improve estimating performance over time.

You will work closely with estimating and preconstruction teams, divisional leadership, and BLS partners to ensure tools and processes support how work is pursued and won, and that lessons learned carry forward into future estimates. Travel to divisional offices is required.

═══════════════════════════════════════ WHAT YOU’LL DO: ═══════════════════════════════════════

═══════════════════════════════════════ RELATIONSHIP BUILDING/MANAGEMENT ═══════════════════════════════════════

• Build working relationships with estimating teams, preconstruction leaders, supply chain management, and divisional leadership.

• Provide clear direction on estimating tools and align efforts with business needs.

• Promote a culture of collaboration, shared accountability, and continuous improvement across Building Lifecyle Solutions (BLS) and estimating teams.

• Stay connected to how teams work and where they are running into issues.

• Act as a central point of contact for estimating tools and processes.

• Engage with industry groups and trade organizations to stay current on emerging technologies and trends that could benefit Southland.

═══════════════════════════════════════ WORKFLOW OPTIMIZATION ═══════════════════════════════════════

• Review estimating processes across divisions to identify gaps and inconsistencies.

• Define and roll out practical, repeatable ways of working that teams can use.

• Standardize key parts of the estimating process (takeoff, estimate structure, pricing approach) where it adds value.

• Support both traditional and model-based estimating and help define when to use each.

• Align estimating with proposal development and downstream construction needs.

• Improve how estimate data is structured, checked, and carried across tools.

• Support early-stage and conceptual estimating where design information is limited.

• Reduce rework and improve handoffs from preconstruction into engineering and execution.

• Help define what a good estimate looks like and identify where teams are performing well or need improvement.

═══════════════════════════════════════ TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT ═══════════════════════════════════════

• Support the rollout and improvement of estimating, takeoff, and bid management tools.

• Provide direction on how tools are used across trades without overcomplicating workflows.

• Guide development and use of internal tools.

• Simplify how teams track and compare subcontractor and vendor pricing.

• Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies, including AI-driven tools, where they provide real value.

• Ensure tools connect where needed with other systems across Building Lifecyle Solutions.

═══════════════════════════════════════ CHANGE MANAGEMENT ═══════════════════════════════════════

• Lead rollout of new tools and changes to how teams work, ensuring smooth adoption with minimal disruption.

• Engage stakeholders early to communicate benefits and address concerns.

• Gather feedback from users and adjust based on what is working.

• Design and support training so teams are comfortable using new tools.

• Roll out updates in a way that fits how divisions operate.

• Support adoption without adding unnecessary process.

═══════════════════════════════════════ SUPPORT AND DOCUMENTATION ═══════════════════════════════════════

• Provide guidance and mentorship to strengthen estimating capabilities across teams.

• Develop and maintain clear, usable documentation for tools, processes, and standards.

• Support teams in resolving issues and removing blockers.

• Help define how estimating data is structured, captured, and reused.

• Support the use of historical data to improve estimate accuracy and consistency.

• Establish feedback loops between preconstruction and project teams to improve estimate performance over time.

• Help connect estimated values to actual outcomes to refine assumptions and pricing approaches.

• Monitor what’s working, identify gaps, and adjust as needed.

═══════════════════════════════════════ STRATEGIC PLANNING & GOVERNANCE ═══════════════════════════════════════

• Collaborate with BLS leadership to ensure preconstruction technology goals align with overall corporate strategy.

• Align preconstruction technologies with business needs and priorities across the company.

• Help define and maintain a clear direction for estimating tools and processes.

• Establish standards that drive consistency across divisions while allowing flexibility where needed.

• Participate in planning efforts to align technology decisions with operational needs and priorities.

• Stay aware of industry shifts, including model-based estimating and AI-driven tools, and bring forward practical ideas worth exploring.

• Stay aware of industry shifts, including model-based estimating and AI-driven tools, and bring forward ideas worth exploring.

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in construction, engineering, information technology, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction, estimating technologies, or related roles supporting estimating teams.

• Strong understanding of estimating and preconstruction across MEP and fire protection trades.

• Experience with estimating, takeoff, and bid management tools, and how they are applied in practice.

• Ability to define, standardize, and improve processes across teams without overcomplicating them.

• Experience working across divisions and driving alignment where it adds value.

• Understanding of how estimating connects to downstream construction, fabrication, and project execution.

• Experience supporting or leading technology rollouts, adoption efforts, or process improvements.

• Strong communication, listening, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to assess complex issues, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions.

• Interest in emerging technologies, including model-based estimating and AI-driven tools.

• Willingness to travel as needed to support divisional offices and teams.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].