Head Of Pre-Construction

We are looking for a Head of Pre-Construction to lead our pre-construction function across a diverse portfolio of design-and-build projects. This is a senior leadership role focused on construction-led design management, buildability, technical coordination, risk management, and early project strategy.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to bridge design intent and delivery execution, ensuring projects are commercially viable, technically robust, and efficiently delivered. A strong understanding of how design decisions impact programme, procurement, sequencing, risk, and site execution is essential.

If you have a proven track record of leading pre-construction teams and driving successful project outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-construction function from bid stage through to handover to project delivery teams.
• Drive pre-construction strategy for design-and-build projects, ensuring alignment between client requirements, consultant design, commercial objectives, and construction methodology.
• Manage and oversee design coordination during tender and pre-award stages, with a strong focus on buildability, technical compliance, and delivery risk.
• Provide leadership on contractor-led design development, ensuring that design solutions are practical, cost-effective, and aligned with programme and procurement constraints.
• Review drawings, specifications, and technical submissions to identify gaps, inconsistencies, coordination issues, and potential delivery risks.
• Lead value engineering and design optimization workshops to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and strengthen constructability without compromising quality or performance.
• Work closely with estimating, commercial, procurement, planning, and operations teams to develop integrated pre-construction solutions.
• Support tendering and bid management activities, including methodology development, technical submissions, design narratives, risk reviews, and interview preparation.
• Oversee external consultants, design managers, and specialist subcontractors involved in the pre-construction and design development process.
• Establish strong working relationships with clients, consultants, and internal project stakeholders to ensure clear communication and effective decision-making.
• Ensure robust governance of design deliverables, approvals, authority requirements, and pre-construction milestones.
• Lead the transition of projects from pre-construction into live delivery, ensuring continuity of design intent, technical understanding, and risk management.
• Mentor and develop the pre-construction and design management team, building capability across technical, commercial, and leadership disciplines.
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management, or a related discipline, MCIOB.
• 10-15 years experience in pre-construction, design management, or technical management within a main contractor environment.
• Strong track record in design-and-build project delivery, ideally across complex and geographically challenging building projects.
• Demonstrable experience managing design development from a contractor’s perspective, with a clear understanding of construction methodology and buildability.
• Strong technical knowledge across architectural, structural, and MEP coordination.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance quality, programme, and cost considerations during design development.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing external consultants and specialist subcontractors.
• Strong understanding of international standards, codes of practice processes, technical approvals, and construction regulations.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on in technical and design-related matters.