Zehr Construction
Pre-Construction Project Manager
Description
The Preconstruction Project Manager is responsible for coordinating and managing the preconstruction activities of assigned projects from early design through construction readiness. Working closely with the estimating, design, development, and construction teams, as well as clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and municipal authorities, the role helps ensure projects are properly planned, budgeted, coordinated, and ready for successful execution. The position focuses on design coordination, constructability reviews, cost planning, scheduling, site logistics, risk management, procurement planning, and stakeholder communication. The successful candidate will identify potential issues early, recommend practical solutions, and help align project scope, budget, schedule, quality, and design objectives before construction begins.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Design Coordination & Constructability
- Review architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and other relevant drawings and specifications throughout the design process.
- Conduct constructability reviews at appropriate design stages to identify coordination issues, scope gaps, design conflicts, schedule impacts, and potential cost risks.
- Coordinate with consultants and internal teams to resolve outstanding design issues, clarify scope, and maintain alignment with project requirements.
- Monitor design deliverables against the preconstruction schedule and communicate delays, outstanding decisions, and required actions to the appropriate stakeholders.
- Review proposed design changes and assess their potential impacts on cost, schedule, construction methodology, and overall project delivery.
- Coordinate the preparation, distribution, and tracking of current project drawings, specifications, and other relevant documentation.
Estimating, Budgeting & Value Engineering
- Work with the estimating team to ensure budgets are complete.
- Assist with scope guidance and cost comparisons and evaluate alternative materials, building systems, and construction methods to identify value engineering opportunities without compromising required quality, performance, safety, or code compliance.
- Assist with tender reviews, bid levelling, scope reconciliation, and subcontractor award recommendations.
- Support the identification and management of allowances, exclusions, contingencies, and potential cost exposures.
- Monitor budget development against the project scope and design progression, communicating anticipated variances and recommending corrective actions.
Scheduling, Site Logistics & Construction Readiness
- Develop, maintain, and update preconstruction schedules identifying key milestones, design deliverables, approvals, permitting requirements, procurement activities, and construction-start dependencies.
- Coordinate with consultants, authorities, utilities, subcontractors, and internal teams to maintain progress against established schedules.
- Develop project-specific site logistics plans addressing site access, material deliveries, equipment requirements, laydown areas, temporary facilities, traffic management, temporary utilities, and site constraints.
- Identify long-lead materials, early procurement requirements, and opportunities for phased or early works packages.
- Coordinate the planning and procurement of early site requirements, including temporary power, fencing, site trailers, washrooms, and security provisions.
- Identify schedule risks and recommend practical mitigation or recovery strategies in coordination with the project team.
Risk Management, Procurement & Project Coordination
- Develop and maintain project risk and action registers, identifying design, budget, schedule, procurement, permitting, and constructability risks.
- Coordinate with relevant stakeholders to establish mitigation measures, assign responsibilities, and track outstanding actions to resolution.
- Assist with subcontractor procurement, scope reviews, bid evaluations, award recommendations, letters of intent, and subcontract preparation as required.
- Support the transition from preconstruction to construction by organizing project documentation, outstanding items, procurement status, budget information, schedule assumptions, and identified risks.
- Participate in project handover meetings to ensure the construction team has a clear understanding of the project scope, budget, schedule, logistics, and outstanding commitments.
Communication, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Chair or participate in preconstruction meetings with clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal project teams.
- Prepare meeting minutes, progress updates, action lists, and other project reports as required.
- Build and maintain professional working relationships with trade partners, suppliers, consultants, clients, and municipal representatives.
- Identify opportunities to improve preconstruction processes, coordination, cost control, scheduling, and project delivery.
- Support estimating and project management teams with tender closings, budget reviews, procurement activities, and other related duties as required.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- A diploma or degree in Construction Management, Construction Engineering Technology, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
- Five or more years of relevant experience in preconstruction, estimating, construction project management, design coordination, or a related construction role.
- Experience with industrial, commercial, institutional, residential, or other ICI construction projects.
- Demonstrated understanding of construction drawings, specifications, building systems, construction methods, and project delivery processes.
- Working knowledge of the Ontario Building Code, applicable permitting processes, and relevant construction regulations.
Technical & Professional Skills
- Strong understanding of the general process for coordination and alignment between estimating and preconstruction, with general estimating, cost planning, and tendering as well as subcontractor procurement, scheduling, and constructability.
- Ability to coordinate architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical design disciplines and identify potential scope gaps or interface issues.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Microsoft Project or comparable scheduling software.
- Experience with construction management platforms such as Procore and drawing review tools such as Bluebeam Revu is an asset.
- OACETT membership, Gold Seal certification, PMP designation, or other relevant professional credentials are considered assets.
- Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, written communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and collaborate effectively across multiple project teams.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- IN OFFICE/ON SITE
- Typically work in an office environment, though will be required to be onsite for long portions of the day depending on project stage.
- Fast-paced environment
- Frequent sitting, keyboarding, filing, and data entry
- Site walkthroughs will require you to be on your feet for long portions of time.
- Frequent communication with internal and external clients
- Attention to detail
Compensation
$100,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year