Pre-construction Manager in Stoke-on-Trent

This role is a design, costing, commercial co-ordination and GP management role. It is suited to a candidate who enjoys a busy yet rewarding position as a key part of a project sales and project delivery team. You will be responsible for supporting the sales team with costings, quotations, project layout drawings and commercial terms/direction for work in the industrial fit-out sector.

Our client specialises in understanding prospective clients’ business requirements and developing fully turnkey solutions that support their operational needs. Experience in commercial building fit-out, particularly knowledge of internal construction works such as partitioning, joinery, plumbing, electrical, data and fire alarms is preferred. An understanding of CDM regulations and Health & Safety management is also important.

You will be required to demonstrate the ability to manage competing priorities within a busy sales environment, supporting the team as required and ensuring that project designs and costings are delivered on time. A key measure of success in this role is enabling the sales team to focus their time on prospecting, lead generation and core sales activities.

• Liaise with key material suppliers to bring together costings for the areas outlined above.
• Liaise with subcontractor labour teams to arrange costings for installation works.
• Combine both supplier and labour inputs into a clearly structured costing matrix on a job-by-job basis and show suggested selling prices/margins based on market knowledge and insights from the sales team, supply chain and clients. Competent use of Excel will be required.
• EITHER liaise with the CAD design team or prepare project layouts using CAD yourself based on information supplied by the sales team following surveys.
• Draft full project proposals in Word for review by the Brand Director and sales representative.
• Suggest initial gross profit margins on a job-by-job basis and work with the Brand Director and sales representative to agree final pricing.
• From time to time, carry out site surveys for the sales team and provide draft layouts for discussion and design input.
• Provide clear commercial direction on project terms, including payment terms, contract terms and any associated legal considerations that protect our client from client payment default or legal claims.
• Provide commercial risk analysis for all new clients based on credit ratings, references and reviews with the Head of Finance.
• Manage supply chain relationships regularly to provide objective feedback and agree the details of ongoing commercial relationships.
• Once projects are secured, present a clear report on supply chain, costings, lead times, delivery considerations and layouts to the project management team to facilitate efficient and profitable project delivery.
• Work with Project Managers to support procurement where necessary.
• Meet face-to-face with customers and suppliers as required.
• Attend internal team meetings in Northampton or at Head Office (Leeds) to present information on project profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Take ownership of the coordination and quality of pre-construction design outputs, ensuring designs are practical, buildable and aligned with client requirements.
• Ensure all pre-construction activities comply with and allow sufficient costs in cost plans for the company to suitably discharge their CDM Regulations, incorporating health & safety considerations and identifying and mitigating design risks.
• Ensure all pre-construction activities comply with and allow sufficient costs in cost plans for the company to comply with all Principal Designer and Building Control legislation.

• Performance against targets for quotes submitted on time.
• Project costings delivered accurately and realistically.
• Commercial terms agreed that are favourable to the business.
• Sales team time protected from costing and design activities.
• Brand sales targets achieved quarterly and annually.

• Excellent PC skills – Word, Internet, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, database management, desktop publishing and CRM systems.
• Experience in the storage project sector would be highly beneficial.
• Ability to read and understand commercial documentation, highlighting key areas of risk and ensuring favourable contract terms.
• Experience producing and developing design layouts using CAD (or similar), ideally within a commercial fit-out or interior construction environment.
• Proficiency in CAD (or similar design software) is preferred.
• Experience and proof of competency in CDM & Principal Designer/BRPD legislation.