At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead pre-construction projects, ensuring successful delivery and collaboration with clients and teams.
- Company: Join GRAHAM, a leading construction company committed to delivering certainty and quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy a car allowance, pension, private medical cover, and life assurance.
- Other info: We value diversity and are committed to equal opportunities for all applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the construction industry while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in pre-construction and project management is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About The Role
At GRAHAM, we deliver more than buildings - we deliver certainty. As part of our continued growth in England, we are seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Manager to lead projects through the critical early stages and set them up for successful delivery on site. Based from our London or Hillsborough office, you will take ownership of projects through PCSA and pre-construction (RIBA 14), working closely with clients, consultants and internal teams to ensure robust, buildable and commercially sound solutions.
The Pre-Construction Manager is responsible for leading, coordinating and managing all pre-construction activities from early engagement through to contract award and mobilisation. The role ensures that bids and development opportunities are well planned, technically robust, commercially viable and aligned with delivery capability. Acting as the central integrator across estimating, design, planning and commercial inputs, the role supports successful work-winning and a smooth transition into delivery.
Job Description
- Pre-Construction Leadership & Coordination
- Lead pre-construction activity across PCSAs, frameworks and early contractor involvement (ECI) opportunities
- Act as the central coordinator for estimating, design, planning, commercial and supply-chain inputs
- Help develop and manage pre-construction programmes, deliverables and milestones
- Ensure alignment and collaboration across all disciplines
- Design Management (Pre-Construction Phase)
- Coordinate early-stage design development and consultant engagement
- Ensure designs are compliant, buildable, cost-effective and aligned with programme
- Support design risk management and design-to-cost optimisation
- Facilitate design reviews, workshops and approvals
- Estimating & Cost Integration
- Work closely with estimating teams to ensure cost plans reflect methodology, risk and programme
- Challenge assumptions and ensure estimates are robust and deliverable
- Ensure clear alignment between design, scope and pricing
- Support cost planning through concept, feasibility and tender stages
- Programme & Methodology Development
- Develop construction methodology, sequencing and logistics strategies
- Work with planners to produce realistic, achievable programmes
- Identify constraints, interfaces and key risks
- Ensure programme assumptions align with commercial and technical outputs
- Supply Chain & Procurement Strategy
- Lead early supply-chain engagement to inform buildability, cost and programme
- Support procurement strategies, packaging and subcontractor selection
- Ensure supply-chain inputs are integrated into estimates and methodologies
- Assess capability, capacity and risk
- Risk, Opportunity & Value Engineering
- Lead identification and management of pre-construction risks and opportunities
- Facilitate value-engineering and optioneering workshops
- Ensure risks are appropriately mitigated and clearly documented
- Support development of contingency and risk allowances
- Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a key interface with clients, consultants and stakeholders during pre-construction
- Lead meetings, workshops and presentations
- Build strong relationships and maintain client confidence
- Ensure client requirements are clearly understood and delivered
- Governance, Reporting & Assurance
- Ensure compliance with internal pre-construction governance and approvals
- Maintain audit trails for decisions, assumptions and changes
- Provide clear reporting on progress, risks and opportunities
- Support tender reviews, adjudications and approvals
- Handover to Delivery
- Lead structured handover from pre-construction to project delivery teams
- Ensure clarity of scope, programme, risks and commitments
- Support mobilisation planning and readiness
- Provide continuity and support during early delivery stages
- Continuous Improvement
- Capture lessons learned from bids and pre-construction processes
- Drive improvements in methodology, coordination and efficiency
- Promote best practice and standardisation
This job description is intended to give the post holder an appreciation of the role envisaged and the range of duties to be undertaken. It does not attempt to detail every activity. Specific tasks and objectives will be agreed with the post holder at regular intervals.
Personal Specification
- Technical & Commercial Competence
- Essential: Significant experience in pre-construction, project management roles
- Strong understanding of construction methodology, cost planning and programme development
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in a tender or pre-construction environment
- Ability to balance technical, commercial and delivery considerations
- Desirable
- Experience across multiple sectors (e.g. building, infrastructure, frameworks)
- Professional qualification in construction, engineering or project management
- Experience in design-and-build or ECI procurement routes
- Health & Safety
- Essential: Strong commitment to safe-by-design and safe-by-delivery principles
- Understands how early decisions influence construction risk
- Works collaboratively with SHE teams to ensure realistic, safe solutions
- Behavioural Competencies
- Organised, structured and delivery-focused
- Commercially aware and analytical
- Strong communicator and stakeholder manager
- Calm under pressure and deadline-driven
- Collaborative across disciplines
- Values-led and accountable
Our Commitment: At GRAHAM, we are proud to say that we are a committed Equal Opportunities Employer and we aim to be the first choice for people from all backgrounds. We seek to promote respect for the individual and equality of opportunities. We believe that everyone should be treated solely on the basis of personal merit and contribution throughout their GRAHAM career journey and not on the value of artificial barriers, prejudices, or preferences.
If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to making our policies and guidance accessible to all applicants and employees.
If you need this document in an alternative format, such as large print, audio, or braille, please contact us at:
Email: Phone: 07384 916355
As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please contact Louise Hunter, Resourcing Manager, at:
Email: Phone: 07384 916355
We are only able to consider applications from individuals who are eligible to live and work in the UK, as per Home Office regulations. Please check your eligibility with the regulations before applying. Individuals with a current time restricted right to work in the UK, should contact the Human Resources team in the first instance. A basic disclosure may be requested if security clearance is required by 3rd party clients and a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position.
Pre-Construction Manager - Building - London employer: GRAHAM
At GRAHAM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our London and Hillsborough offices provide a supportive environment with ample opportunities for professional growth, competitive benefits including a car allowance and subsidised private medical cover, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Join us to be part of a team that not only builds structures but also nurtures careers and values every individual's contribution.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Pre-Construction Manager - Building - London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at local events. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they even hit the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their projects, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Practising common interview questions can really help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! Bring a portfolio or examples of your past work to interviews. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your expertise and how you can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After an interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Pre-Construction Manager - Building - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Pre-Construction Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in pre-construction, project management, and your understanding of construction methodologies. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Pre-Construction Manager, you'll be leading teams and coordinating activities. Use your application to demonstrate your leadership experience and how you've successfully managed multi-disciplinary teams in the past. We love seeing examples of collaboration and effective communication!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. We appreciate straightforwardness and clarity, so make it easy for us to see why you're the right fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows us that you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at GRAHAM!
How to prepare for a job interview at GRAHAM
✨Know Your Pre-Construction Inside Out
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of pre-construction management. Familiarise yourself with RIBA stages, especially RIBA 14, and be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully led projects through these phases in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams. Be ready to discuss how you've coordinated between estimating, design, and planning teams to ensure successful project outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Understand the commercial aspects of pre-construction. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve developed cost-effective solutions and managed risks while ensuring alignment with client requirements and delivery capabilities.
✨Engage with Stakeholders Effectively
Think about how you’ve built strong relationships with clients and stakeholders in previous roles. Prepare to share specific instances where your communication skills helped clarify project scopes or resolve conflicts.
