Chief Estimator/Director of Preconstruction

This role plays a critical part in driving OHLA Building’s growth, profitability, and risk-aware project planning by managing estimating teams, coordinating with clients, and developing winning strategies for both negotiated and hard-bid pursuits. The Chief Estimator/Director of Preconstruction will oversee and lead all estimating and preconstruction functions, ensuring accurate cost projections, competitive bids, and successful project acquisition.

Overview:

Who is OHLA USA?

 

We are a global construction and infrastructure company dedicated to building a better, safer, and more sustainable world for generations to come. With projects spanning across Europe, Latin America, and North America, we bring international expertise and innovative solutions to the communities we serve. We are committed to making a difference within our communities, who depend on the safety and reliability of the structures we build—and this is only possible with our greatest asset: our people!

 

OHLA USA brings together the construction industry's most diverse talent who thrive in a collaborative work environment and embrace challenges and opportunities.

 

OHLA Building, a division of OHLA USA, is a leading general contractor specializing in vertical construction, delivering high-quality commercial, institutional, and mixed-use projects. With a focus on operational excellence, safety, and client satisfaction, we bring decades of experience to complex building environments—ranging from high-rises and schools to government and infrastructure-related vertical structures.

 

The Chief Estimator/Director of Preconstruction will oversee and lead all estimating and preconstruction functions, ensuring accurate cost projections, competitive bids, and successful project acquisition. This role plays a critical part in driving OHLA Building’s growth, profitability, and risk-aware project planning by managing estimating teams, coordinating with clients, and developing winning strategies for both negotiated and hard-bid pursuits.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and manage the estimating and preconstruction team across multiple projects and pursuits to ensure cost-effective and risk-conscious execution.
• Mentor, train, and develop Estimators and Preconstruction Managers to strengthen both technical capabilities and commercial acumen.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align team performance with company financial goals and risk management standards.

Estimating & Preconstruction Management

• Oversee preparation of conceptual, schematic, and detailed cost estimates for commercial, institutional, and mixed-use building projects with a focus on margin optimization and risk mitigation.
• Manage preconstruction deliverables including cost-effective budgets, schedule integrity, value engineering, constructability reviews, and comprehensive risk assessments.
• Ensure accuracy, transparency, and profitability of all estimates, proposals, and bid submissions.
• Lead bid reviews, subcontractor scope analysis, and final pricing strategy to ensure competitiveness while maintaining healthy project margins.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients during the preconstruction phase, proactively managing expectations around cost, schedule, and risk.
• Build strong client relationships by delivering strategic, value-driven solutions that balance quality, cost, and risk exposure.
• Participate in client presentations, interviews, and negotiations to help secure profitable new business opportunities.

Market Strategy & Subcontractor Relationships

• Develop and maintain relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, and industry partners to ensure competitive pricing, quality performance, and early identification of financial and execution risks.
• Monitor market conditions, labor trends, and material costs to drive informed and profitable pricing strategies.
• Support business development teams by providing data-driven estimating input to assess the financial viability of target projects and pursuits.

Risk Management, Profitability & Compliance

• Proactivelyidentify, assess, and mitigate risks in project scope, pricing, logistics, and scheduling to avoid exposure and cost overruns.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, contract requirements, and evolving industry standards.
• Deliver regular reporting and insights to executive leadership on preconstruction activity, profitability forecasts, risk profiles, and overall project pipeline health.
• Champion a culture of cost discipline, risk awareness, and commercial accountability across the preconstruction function.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive estimating and preconstruction experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success managing estimates for large-scale vertical building projects (commercial, institutional, mixed-use), with a focus on profitability and strategic risk reduction.
• Strong knowledge of estimating techniques, cost control systems, scheduling, and industry best practices.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and estimating software (e.g., Autodesk Build, Primavera P6, Bluebeam, or equivalent).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate value, risk, and return on investment to both clients and executive leadership.

 

Additional Benefits offered by OHLA USA:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability & Life Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
• Tuition Reimbursement after 1 year of employment
• Personal Time Off Program (PTO)
• Engaging work environment
• And much more!!

To learn more about OHLA USA, visit our website www.ohla-usa.com/

 

OHLA ADA Message: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will require the ability to freely access all points of a construction site in wide-ranging climates and environments. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; Employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud noise.

OHLA EEO Message: OHLA USA and its affiliates are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. VEVRAA Federal Contractor

 

OHLA USA and its subsidiaries (“OHLA”) shall not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to OHLA or an employee of OHLA, by mail, electronically, or otherwise will be considered OHLA property. OHLA will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. OHLA will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred to by the Agency free of any charges or fees. OHLA Human Resources is the only authorized representative of OHLA to execute any agreements with search firms or staffing agencies. As a condition for payment, a Vendor shall have OHLA USA Inc.’s Personnel Agreement and a Job Order signed by an authorized OHLA HR representative. Verbal or written communications from any employee of OHLA and its subsidiaries shall not be considered binding obligations. All resumes, whether unsolicited or solicited, shall be the property of OHLA.