Senior Manager, Estimating & Preconstruction

BLOX is revolutionizing the construction industry by integrating advanced manufacturing principles with innovative technology to deliver high-quality, modular building solutions. We are driven by a mission to rethink how buildings are designed, fabricated, and delivered, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and sustainability.

Description

BLOX is seeking a Senior Manager, Estimating & Preconstruction to lead the end-to-end estimating and preconstruction function across one or more BLOX modular programs. This role owns the accuracy, integrity, and margin impact of BLOX's pricing; develops and maintains C-suite-level client and commercial partner relationships during pursuit and negotiation; and contributes meaningfully to BLOX's strategic pipeline decisions. The Senior Manager is accountable not just for delivering individual estimates, but for building the team, systems, and historical data infrastructure required to price accurately at scale.

Program Management is the central nervous system of BLOX, and estimating is the organ that translates design intent into accurate price and schedule commitment. Every pursuit BLOX commits to is shaped by the precision and credibility of its estimates — and every margin protected or lost at execution traces back to the basis of estimate produced in preconstruction. The Senior Manager, Estimating & Preconstruction owns that fountainhead: the historical cost database, the estimating processes, the client-facing pricing conversations, and the handoff of estimating intelligence to the Project Managers and program Managers who execute the work. This role sets the standards, invests in the systems, and steps directly into pursuits when senior intervention is required — whether that's pricing a new building type, resolving a client pricing dispute, or taking direct control of an estimate in serious jeopardy.

Reports To: Director, Program or equivalent executive

Job Responsibilities

Estimating & Preconstruction Leadership

• Own the accuracy, integrity, and margin impact of BLOX's preconstruction estimates across assigned programs — accountable for pricing outcomes, not oversight only.
• Design, build, and restructure the Estimating & Preconstruction team as needed to meet pursuit demand; evaluate team structure, right-sizing, and capability gaps across Estimators and Assistant Preconstruction staff.
• Lead and supervise direct reports: Assistant Preconstruction, Estimators, and Program / Project Management staff supporting preconstruction exercises.
• Refine and improve operational procedures across preconstruction workflows; establish standards for conceptual, schematic, design development, and GMP estimates.
• Develop and maintain BLOX's estimating systems and infrastructure: the preconstruction relational database (historical cost, schedule, bill of materials), pricing templates, Basis of Estimate standards, and communication/coordination tools. Direct investment in Technology and Finance support to keep the database accurate and current.
• Lead preconstruction pricing exercises end-to-end: subcontractor outreach (including Building Connected setup and coordination), RFP compilation, pricing documents, price leveling, and award recommendations.
• Develop program and project risk analyses; escalate risks clearly and proactively to BLOX Leadership.
• Lead both internal and Client-directed Value Engineering efforts.
• Develop initial DMC project schedules and construction schedules during the preconstruction phase; establish schedule assumptions that Program Management inherits at handoff.
• Track design scope through preconstruction; immediately escalate changes that affect budget or schedule, with clear impact, timeline, and recommended action.
• Lead the transfer of key estimating information to internal customers — Program and Project Management, Design, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Construction, and Finance — so that estimates live as operational truth after handoff.
• Take direct control of estimates or pursuits in serious jeopardy — pricing disputes, rapidly changing scope, significant client-side escalations — and return them to a defensible, margin-safe state.
• Present and defend pursuit and pricing reviews to Executive Leadership.
• Lead, in collaboration with the Head of Construction Engineering and Director of Field Operations, the development of scalable field self-perform estimating tools; facilitate field-ops estimating (quantity takeoffs, labor estimates, work plans) and constructability reviews with field trade experts.
• Lead or support the buyout of subcontractor and supplier agreements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Estimating & Preconstruction team; accountable for their performance, retention, and professional development.
• Champion safety and quality culture throughout the preconstruction process.

Client & Commercial Leadership

• Develop and maintain C-suite-level relationships with Client preconstruction and estimating leaders, representing BLOX at the highest levels of client organizations during pursuit.
• Lead all Client presentations related to pricing, preconstruction, and Value Engineering; accountable for all materials presented to Clients or potential Clients.
• Manage the coordination interface with the Client's preconstruction and estimating teams: progress communication, technical options, problems and opportunities, and GMP preparation inputs.
• Contribute to BLOX's strategic pipeline decisions — provide input on which programs, clients, and pursuits BLOX commits to, based on margin viability, capacity, and strategic fit.
• Support BLOX's Commercial / Business Development team in the review and analysis of technical proposal requirements, preparation of proposals and pricing, and participation in meetings with potential Clients.
• Build and maintain positive relationships across BLOX's DMC ecosystem — subcontractors, general contractors, design consultants, vendors, Architects, Engineers, and Owner's representatives.
• Support the CEO, CCO, and VP of Programs in the negotiation of Client contracts.

Job Skills & Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Data Analytics, or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in the construction industry, including 4+ years in Preconstruction and Estimating.
• Demonstrated accountability for the estimating and preconstruction function across one or more programs totaling more than $100M in annual pursuit value.
• Demonstrated C-suite-level client and commercial partner relationships during pursuit and negotiation — not just estimator-to-estimator contacts.
• Proven ability to build, restructure, and right-size an estimating and preconstruction team.
• Demonstrated ability to take direct control of a pursuit or estimate in serious jeopardy (scope, client-relationship, or pricing crisis) and return it to a defensible state.
• Proven track record presenting and defending pursuit and pricing reviews with Executive Leadership.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to synthesize complex pricing information for Executive Leadership and C-suite client audiences.
• Strong financial acumen; ability to make sound pricing decisions with explicit margin accountability.
• Advanced proficiency in estimating technology and preconstruction platforms (Building Connected, Sage Estimating, Timberline, WinEst, or comparable).
• Advanced proficiency in scheduling; ability to direct scheduling work across multiple platforms (MS Project, Primavera P6, and Smartsheet) and set estimating-phase scheduling standards.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for program-level pricing and risk analysis.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and Bluebeam.
• Expert negotiator with a fair and ethical mindset; ability to lead pricing strategy, subcontract negotiations, and client contract support.
• Strategic and operational leadership capacity.
• Ability to travel up to 25% depending on pursuit activity and client engagement needs.
• Must be based in Birmingham, AL area
• Must have excellent communication and technology skills 
• Experience with complex projects within Healthcare, EPC or Mission Critical (Data Center) is a plus

Preferred

• Master's degree in a relevant field (MBA, Construction Management, Data Analytics, or similar).
• Relevant professional license, certification, or registration (PE, AIA, PMP, CPE, LEED AP, ASHE CHC, or similar).
• Demonstrated capacity to set analytical and data requirements for the estimating team; ability to evaluate whether the right pricing analysis is being performed, not only whether the number is correct.
• Demonstrated ability to set organizational standards for cost modeling, estimating, and financial analysis; fluency reviewing complex pricing models at an executive level.
• Ability to interpret CAD, Revit, or SolidWorks models sufficient to contribute to constructability and design strategy discussions during pursuit.
• Working understanding of Python, SQL, and data modeling tools sufficient to evaluate and sponsor their application within the estimating database and pricing workflows.
• Working knowledge of AI/ML, statistical modeling, and data engineering concepts sufficient to set organizational adoption strategy for estimating intelligence and direct team investment.
• Demonstrated ability to champion adoption of AI tools such as Claude.ai, Claude Code, Lovable, or Replit across estimating and preconstruction teams; proven track record establishing adoption standards and performance benchmarks.
• Ability to establish KPI frameworks and dashboard standards for estimating accuracy, hit rate, margin variance, and pursuit outcomes (Power BI, Tableau, Smartsheet dashboards).
• Experience directing ERP reporting and data strategy (Microsoft Dynamics Business Central or comparable) for preconstruction and estimating cost actuals and historical reconciliation.
• Demonstrated senior-level leadership experience in estimating, cost analysis, or data analytics within construction, manufacturing, or related industries.
• Experience operating within modular construction or design-build environments.

Benefits

BLOX offers the full spectrum of comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance. We also offer flexible spending accounts, paid time off, short term disability, long term disability, life insurance and a 401k plan.

BLOX believes in the growth of our people. We provide support for employees pursuing licenses/certifications, creating clear pathways for skill development and career advancement.

BLOX LLC is committed to making employment decisions based on an individual's qualifications, performance, and ability to contribute to our team. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.

We are equally committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace. Harassment or discrimination of any kind based on a protected status is strictly prohibited.