Preconstruction Executive

ABOUT CMC

CMC Development & Construction is a Texas-based, full-service commercial general contractor founded in 2016. We provide construction management, general contracting, design-build, and project management services across Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Our work includes higher education, healthcare, municipal, public safety, airport, and commercial projects. As a family-owned Texas HUB, Minority Business Enterprise, and Small Business Enterprise, we are guided by Integrity, Commitment, and Excellence—and our purpose of Developing Tomorrow.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

CMC is seeking a hands-on Preconstruction Executive to lead and build our companywide preconstruction and estimating function. This is an opportunity for an experienced commercial construction leader—such as a Preconstruction Director, Chief Estimator, or senior preconstruction professional—to shape departmental strategy while remaining actively involved in estimates, hard bids, negotiated pursuits, and client presentations.

The Preconstruction Executive will lead opportunities from initial evaluation through turnover to Operations, ensuring CMC submits complete, competitive, and executable proposals. The successful candidate will establish consistent standards, improve estimating accuracy, expand subcontractor participation, develop the preconstruction team, and support CMC’s continued growth throughout Texas.

WHAT YOU WILL LEAD

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for CMC’s preconstruction and estimating functions across all regions.
  • Personally lead complex estimates and pursuits, including hard bid, CSP/RFP, CMAR, design-build, JOC, GMP, and negotiated work.
  • Lead conceptual estimating, design-phase budgeting, final pricing, bid leveling, scope-gap analysis, and estimate reviews.
  • Establish consistent estimating procedures, templates, historical cost data, quality-control standards, and lessons-learned processes.
  • Evaluate drawings, specifications, schedules, logistics, market conditions, contract requirements, and project risks.
  • Develop value-engineering, constructability, phasing, procurement, and cost-saving strategies that protect project quality and owner requirements.
  • Partner with Business Development and executive leadership on opportunity evaluation, go/no-go decisions, proposal strategy, interviews, and client presentations.
  • Build strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, owners, architects, consultants, and other industry partners.
  • Lead subcontractor outreach and market engagement to achieve competitive, qualified trade coverage.
  • Recruit, mentor, and develop estimators and preconstruction professionals as the department grows.
  • Manage department workload, pursuit assignments, deadlines, resources, and performance metrics.
  • Present final estimates, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership.
  • Lead comprehensive preconstruction-to-operations handoffs and support buyout and project startup.
  • Compare estimated costs with actual project performance and incorporate findings into future estimates.
  • Serve as CMC’s senior preconstruction representative and communicate cost, schedule, procurement, and constructability considerations clearly.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a senior preconstruction leader who still enjoys the work of estimating. The ideal candidate can lead people and build systems while also rolling up their sleeves to review drawings, develop pricing, evaluate trade coverage, and guide major pursuits. This is not a purely administrative executive position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of progressive commercial construction experience in preconstruction, estimating, or construction management.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex estimates and pursuits from initial opportunity through final proposal and turnover.
  • Experience leading or developing preconstruction and estimating professionals.
  • Strong knowledge of conceptual estimating, subcontractor scope development, procurement, scheduling, constructability, value engineering, and construction risk.
  • Experience with hard bid and multiple alternative delivery methods, such as CSP/RFP, CMAR, design-build, JOC, GMP, or negotiated work.
  • Strong understanding of subcontractor markets, cost trends, bid leveling, and scope-gap analysis.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, presentation, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to balance hands-on estimating responsibilities with department leadership, process development, and staff development.
  • Proficiency with construction estimating and collaboration platforms such as BuildingConnected, OST Estimating, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, or comparable systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
  • Experience supporting public-sector, higher education, healthcare, municipal, airport, or commercial projects.
  
• LEED AP, DBIA, AACE, ASPE, or another relevant industry certification.

CMC Development & Construction is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.