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We’re on the search for a Preconstruction Leader on behalf of our client in the general contracting industry with a wonderful culture of leaders who care about their people and their customers. Our client is committed to the community and providing an excellent career path. If you have 7–10 years of progressive experience in preconstruction and estimating, ideally in a design-build environment, this could be the role for you.
The Preconstruction Leader will lead all preconstruction activities for commercial light industrial projects, serving as the primary liaison between clients, design teams, and internal stakeholders. This role focuses on shaping projects during early design stages by integrating design, cost, and constructability solutions to deliver accurate budgets, mitigate risks, and ensure alignment with client objectives. This position is key to growing the commercial light industrial division and supporting the company’s design-build delivery process.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage all preconstruction efforts for commercial light industrial projects, including estimating, budgeting, and design coordination.
Collaborate with business development to qualify leads and convert opportunities into awarded projects.
Facilitate early design coordination meetings and value-engineering workshops to align scope, cost, and schedule.
Build and maintain a robust local subcontractor network to support project execution.
Prepare accurate conceptual and detailed cost estimates, proposals, and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) agreements.
Ensure compliance with client requirements and regulatory standards.
Oversee smooth handoff from preconstruction to project management upon award.
KEY EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
7–10 years of progressive experience in preconstruction and estimating, ideally in a design-build environment.
Strong knowledge of construction means, methods, and commercial market requirements.
Proficiency in estimating software (Sage, ProEst, Bluebeam) and Microsoft Office Suite.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with clients, design partners, and subcontractors.
Experience developing subcontractor networks and engaging local markets.
Familiarity with government proposal compliance is an asset.
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS AND CULTURE ATTRIBUTES
Strategic thinker with proactive problem-solving skills.
Collaborative and team-oriented, fostering strong internal and external relationships.
Adaptable and resourceful in a fast-paced environment.
Committed to integrity, accountability, and delivering quality outcomes.
Entrepreneurial mindset focused on growth and continuous improvement.
Strong communicator and facilitator, able to lead meetings and influence decisions.
Waterstone Human Capital is a premier Canadian executive search and human capital advisory firm specialized in fostering high-performance, culture-driven organizations. Founded in 2003, the company is recognized for its unique "Recruit for Fit" approach, helping companies across North America hire top talent and build strong, sustainable cultures.
Better leaders, better cultures, better results. It’s no surprise Waterstone’s promise has culture right in the middle — the same place where culture sits in every high-performance organization, including ours.
Since 2003, we’ve been providing retained executive search services and leadership and culture advisory services like culture measurement, leadership assessment and leadership, team and culture development. Over that time, we’ve been champions and enablers of high-performance leadership and cultures. We built a thriving learning community and ecosystem around it. We share its best practices at summits, in books, and through programs like the Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures, CEOs, and Chief People and Culture Officer Awards. And most important of all, we see its impact in our clients’ cultures and results every day.
