Willmott Dixon
Director of Preconstruction
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Preconstruction Director
Willmott Dixon have an exciting opportunity for a Preconstruction Director to join our Construction South region. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that every project progresses from preconstruction with a clear and achievable route to profitability, supported by robust commercial strategy, effective resource planning, rigorous bid governance, and strong business challenge. The role provides independent oversight and leadership across all bidding and preconstruction activities, ensuring opportunities are commercially sound, adequately resourced, deliverable, and aligned with business objectives.
We’re looking for a leader who can bring clarity, focus and direction in a fast-moving environment. You will be able to cut through complexity, make sound commercial decisions and turn strategy into action. Comfortable operating at pace, you will communicate with clarity and consistency, maintain perspective under pressure, and address challenges early to ensure there are no surprises. You will set high standards for yourself and others, balancing short-term priorities with long-term business outcomes while driving the delivery of commercially robust, deliverable bids, protecting project margins, and ensuring effective management of pre-construction programmes and key milestones.
Just as importantly, you will be committed to building strong teams and helping people succeed. You will optimise capability and capacity across your function, create an environment where individuals feel supported, challenged and accountable, and provide honest feedback that encourages growth. With a natural curiosity and continuous improvement mindset, you will seek better ways of working, embrace innovation and encourage others to do the same. Above all, you will lead with integrity, provide constructive challenge and effective governance to improve decision-making, and make choices that support sustainable growth and long-term business performance across the wider business.
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Willmott Dixon's southern region is based out of offices located in Weybridge, Surrey but we also have satellite offices based in Dartford and Southampton. We support hybrid working but you will be expected to be in Weybridge regularly to attend meetings as well as travelling to meet with customers as required.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure every project leaves preconstruction with a clearly defined route to margin.
- Oversee the development of viable pricing strategies, risk allowances, programme assumptions, and commercial plans.
- Ensure all bids are aligned with business objectives and deliver sustainable profitability.
- Drive early identification and mitigation of commercial risks and delivery challenges.
- Monitor performance against agreed pre-construction milestones, ensuring projects progress to programme with no unnecessary slippage.
- Lead the planning and management of pre-construction resources to support current and future business requirements.
- Ensure the business maintains the appropriate level, structure, and capability of resource to meet bidding volumes.
- Identify future capability requirements and implement strategies to attract, develop, and retain talent.
- Ensure teams possess the skills, experience, and capacity required to deliver successful bid outcomes.
- Establish and maintain a robust governance framework for all bids and opportunities.
- Provide independent challenge and oversight throughout the bid lifecycle, from opportunity approval through to submission.
- Provide constructive challenge to senior leadership and Board members through formal reviews and governance meetings.
- Present clear, evidence-based recommendations to support effective decision-making.
- Use commercial insight, performance data, and industry experience to influence business strategy and improve outcomes.
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Essential Criteria
- Previous experience leading pre-construction, bidding, estimating, or commercial functions within the construction industry.
- A strong network of customers, consultants and industry contacts.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering sustained growth.
- Experience influencing stakeholders at Board level and beyond.
- A collaborative leadership style focused on collective success.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience across multiple sectors such as education, healthcare, defence, commercial, residential, or infrastructure.
- Experience within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 contractor environment.
- Strong understanding of modern methods of construction, sustainability, social value, and digital construction practices.
About Us
Willmott Dixon Construction is a £1.1bn privately owned contractor with more than 170 years of history. Guided by our purpose beyond profit, we deliver brilliant buildings that transform lives, strengthen communities and enhance the environment for future generations.
We operate across further and higher education, commercial, health, development-led, science and technology, blue-light, leisure and residential sectors. Our solutions-led approach combines competitive value with technical insight, helping us become a trusted partner to our customers.
This role is remunerated competitively with flexible benefits designed to suit different lifestyles and priorities. These include a pension scheme, private medical cover, life assurance, a bonus based upon profitability, company car scheme/ car allowance, gym membership and homeworking allowance.
We provide an inclusive and flexible working environment where people can thrive and support agile working wherever possible. We are a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme.
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