MEPJOBS UK
M&E Pre-Construction Manager / Director
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The Opportunity
Our client, an established M&E engineering specialist based in Warrington, is looking to appoint at either Pre-Construction Manager or Pre-Construction Director level. That is a deliberate decision rather than an unclear brief: they would rather find the right person and build the role around them than force a strong candidate into the wrong title.
This is a broad, senior appointment that leads the whole pre-construction function, not just estimating. It spans business development and winning new work, senior client and account management, mechanical and electrical estimating, oversight of design and BIM at bid stage, and commercial and risk management, through to the handover of secured work into delivery. At Director level it comes with a seat on the senior leadership team, reporting to the Operations Director, and a genuine hand in the strategic direction of the business. The salary band reflects that range, £70,000 to £90,000 depending on experience and the level appointed.
The work itself is what makes it interesting. Our client designs and builds highly serviced, controlled environments across demanding sectors: defence, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, food manufacturing, electronics and advanced technology facilities. Winning and pricing work of that kind means dealing with strict regulatory, hygiene and process requirements from the earliest stage of a bid, which is a long way from standard commercial building services.
About The Business
Our client is a well-established M&E engineering specialist with national reach and a strong North-West base. They design, build and maintain highly serviced, controlled and process-critical facilities, providing both specialist sub-contract packages and complete turnkey delivery, with mechanical, electrical, design and estimating capability all held in-house.
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Their client base spans defence, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, food manufacturing, electronics and advanced technology, including a number of nationally recognised organisations, much of the work carried out within live, regulated and operationally sensitive environments. It is a technically demanding end of the market that rewards businesses which can combine engineering capability with commercial and compliance rigour.
Accreditations include ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. The business has grown steadily on the strength of delivery, technical reputation and long-term client relationships, with a high proportion of repeat and framework-based work.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading and developing the pre-construction function across the business, aligning it with growth objectives and establishing best practice across estimating, bid management and client engagement
- Owning business development and work winning: identifying and pursuing new opportunities through industry networks, frameworks, referrals and client relationships
- Acting as the senior point of contact for key clients through the pre-construction phase, developing accounts and driving repeat business and framework appointments
- Leading the mechanical and electrical estimating functions, ensuring fully integrated, technically and commercially consistent M&E proposals
- Overseeing design, CAD and BIM input at tender and pre-construction stage, working alongside the design team to ensure compliant, buildable solutions
- Owning commercial and risk management across bids: cost plans, pricing, contractual terms, exclusions and risk, in conjunction with the commercial team
- Ensuring the smooth handover of awarded work into delivery, with objectives, assumptions, risks and client expectations clearly communicated
- Leading, mentoring and developing estimating, design and pre-construction personnel, and setting the function’s objectives and performance measures
- At Director level, contributing to strategic planning and market development as a member of the senior leadership team
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What We're Looking For
- A strong senior background in M&E pre-construction, estimating, commercial or bid leadership within building services or M&E contracting
- Experience at Manager or Director level; the client is open on both and will shape the appointment accordingly
- Significant experience delivering M&E within defence, pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, life sciences, high-tech or comparable regulated and industrial environments
- A work winning and business development capability, not just estimating oversight
- Strong technical understanding of mechanical and electrical building services
- Excellent commercial awareness and risk management capability
- Strong client-facing, negotiation and presentation skills, with experience managing multidisciplinary teams
- Degree or HNC in Mechanical, Electrical or Building Services Engineering, and chartered status, are advantageous, as is a strong understanding of BIM and turnkey delivery
- Full UK driving licence
What's on Offer
- £70,000 – £90,000 depending on experience and the level appointed
- Full company benefits package
- A role shaped around the right person, at either Manager or Director level, with a senior leadership seat at Director level
- Genuine breadth: business development, estimating, design oversight and commercial leadership in one role
- Technically demanding work across defence, pharmaceutical, food, electronics and advanced technology environments
- An established business with in-house design, mechanical and electrical capability and a strong base of repeat and framework work
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