Hays
Pre-Construction Director
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Pre-Construction Director
Location: North West
Salary: £75,000 - £95,000 + Executive Package
Our client is a well-established M&E engineering and construction business delivering complex building services projects across highly regulated sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, food production, and high-tech facilities. Due to continued growth, they are seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Director to lead and develop their pre-construction function.
The Role
Reporting to the Operations Director and operating as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for overseeing all pre-construction activities from initial enquiry through to contract award and handover. This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for business development, client management, estimating, bid leadership, commercial oversight, and team development.
You will play a key role in identifying and securing new business opportunities, strengthening client relationships, and ensuring projects are commercially robust, technically compliant, and successfully transitioned into delivery teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the pre-construction function, aligning processes and strategies with wider business objectives
- Provide leadership across estimating, bid management, client engagement, and tender submissions
- Develop and maintain relationships with key clients, acting as a senior point of contact throughout the pre-construction phase
- Drive business development initiatives and identify new project opportunities across target sectors
- Lead client presentations, technical workshops, value engineering sessions, and tender interviews
- Oversee mechanical and electrical estimating activities, ensuring accurate and commercially competitive submissions
- Support design management activities, including BIM, design compliance, sustainability, and technical risk mitigation
- Review tender cost plans, commercial proposals, contractual risks, and project profitability
- Ensure the successful handover of secured projects to operational delivery teams
- Mentor and develop multidisciplinary teams across estimating, design, and pre-construction functions
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Requirements
- Proven experience in a senior pre-construction, estimating, commercial, or design leadership role within the M&E/building services sector
- Strong background delivering projects within sectors such as defence, pharmaceutical, industrial, food manufacturing, life sciences, or advanced technology environments
- Excellent understanding of mechanical and electrical building services systems
- Demonstrable track record in securing profitable contracts and driving business growth
- Strong commercial awareness, negotiation skills, and risk management capabilities
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing key client relationships
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Desirable
- Degree or HNC qualified in Mechanical, Electrical, Building Services Engineering, or a related discipline
- Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional accreditation
- Knowledge of BIM and digital construction processes
- Experience of design-and-build and turnkey project delivery
What's on Offer?
- Competitive salary of £75,000 - 95,000
- Car allowance of £6,000
- 5% pension
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Social events
- Onsite parking
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced senior leader to join a growing engineering business and play a pivotal role in shaping its future growth strategy, developing major client relationships, and securing high value projects across critical infrastructure and advanced manufacturing sectors.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call Shane now on 0161 236 4949.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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