Preconstruction Manager - Mission Critical

Take your next step with Saulsbury Industries! Location: Odessa, TX or Houston, TX Type: Full time General Information/Job Summary Provides leadership and management for preconstruction activities on mission critical construction projects, including data centers and other high-reliability facilities. Leads early planning, estimating, budgeting, constructability, procurement strategy, design coordination, value analysis, risk mitigation, schedule development, and project handoff to ensure projects are positioned for safe, predictable, and cost-effective execution. Works closely with clients, design partners, operations teams, estimators, trade partners, suppliers, and internal leadership to develop clear scopes, reliable budgets, realistic schedules, and executable project plans. Responsibilities/Competencies Lead preconstruction efforts for mission critical projects from pursuit, concept, and design development through GMP, buyout, and transition to construction. Develop and manage preconstruction plans, schedules, estimate milestones, procurement strategies, deliverable requirements, decision logs, and project risk registers. Coordinate with clients, architects, engineers, consultants, general contractors, trade partners, vendors, utilities, authorities having jurisdiction, and internal project teams. Lead constructability reviews, design coordination, scope gap analysis, value engineering, logistics planning, phasing analysis, and construction readiness reviews. Oversee preparation of conceptual, schematic, design development, and GMP estimates; validate assumptions, quantities, escalation, contingencies, allowances, exclusions, and alternates. Manage bid package development, subcontractor and supplier prequalification, RFP preparation, bid solicitation, bid leveling, scope reviews, interviews, and award recommendations. Support procurement planning for long-lead mission critical equipment, including electrical gear, generators, UPS systems, mechanical equipment, controls, fire protection, and prefabricated assemblies. Develop and maintain preconstruction budgets, cost models, cash flow projections, cost trend logs, scope reconciliation documents, and pricing updates throughout design progression. Partner with scheduling and operations teams to develop baseline preconstruction and construction schedules, including permitting, utility coordination, procurement, commissioning, energization, and turnover milestones. Provide technical input related to mission critical systems, redundancy requirements, MEP coordination, commissioning readiness, site logistics, and phased delivery strategies. Prepare and present preconstruction updates, cost reports, risk summaries, procurement status, schedule impacts, and decision recommendations to clients and company leadership. Support business development and pursuit efforts, including proposal content, interview preparation, client presentations, market intelligence, and relationship development. Complete other responsibilities associated with the position as may be appropriate. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related field preferred; equivalent preconstruction, estimating, or construction management experience may be considered. 8+ years of progressive construction experience, including significant experience in preconstruction, estimating, procurement, project management, or related construction leadership roles. Demonstrated experience supporting mission critical, data center, industrial, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, or similarly complex technical construction projects; direct data center experience is strongly preferred. Strong understanding of conceptual estimating, detailed estimating, GMP development, bid leveling, scope reconciliation, constructability review, value analysis, and preconstruction deliverables. Working knowledge of delivery models such as design-build, CM-at-Risk, EPC, general contracting, owner’s representative, and/or program management. Familiarity with mission critical MEP systems, long-lead equipment procurement, utility coordination, redundancy concepts, commissioning, integrated systems testing, and operational turnover requirements. Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, contracts, estimates, schedules, bid packages, and technical documentation. Proficiency with estimating, scheduling, project controls, document management, and construction collaboration tools; experience with platforms such as Bluebeam, Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Primavera P6, MS Project, or similar is preferred. Strong leadership, communication, analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. Professional registration or certifications such as PE, PMP, CCM, DBIA, LEED, AACE, or similar are preferred but not required. Travel may be required to various offices, client locations, vendor facilities, or project sites. Physical Requirements Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Ability to stand for extended periods of time. Ability to walk the property and laydown yards. Ability to carry up to 50 pounds. Saulsbury Industries provides engineering, general construction, electrical & instrumentation, and fabrication services to heavy industrial markets. We manage turnkey, grassroots, engineering, construction, and procurement (EPC), electrical transmission & distribution services, and E&I projects for clients nationwide. Saulsbury has provided services to a diverse energy sector for more than 50 years. Our reputation has been built on honesty and integrity to our clients and employees through the continuous commitments to safety, quality, growth, and mutual profitability. We offer stable employment, career advancement and a commitment to the work/life balance of our employees. Most importantly, we bring our "safety first and foremost" value that has yielded one of the preeminent records for incident-free operations in the construction industry. Saulsbury is capable of handling projects in size from under $100,000 to more than $100 million. We have offices located in Odessa, Dallas, Port Arthur, Henderson, Abilene, and Bismarck ND. Visit our website at www.saulsbury.com Saulsbury is an Equal Opportunity Employer