At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead pre-construction processes for major infrastructure projects and shape winning bid strategies.
- Company: Dynamic infrastructure company with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong career pathway, and exposure to significant projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national infrastructure while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in pre-construction, strong commercial acumen, and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Join a growing division with varied and complex project opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Manager to lead the end-to-end operational and technical pre-construction process across major infrastructure schemes. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for shaping winning bid strategies, aligning technical delivery with commercial objectives, and ensuring high-quality, compliant and competitive submissions across complex civils projects.
The successful candidate will operate at a senior level, influencing directors, engaging directly with clients and frameworks, and leading multidisciplinary teams to secure work across highways, rail, water, energy and enabling works sectors.
Reporting to the Commercial Director and Head of Pre-Construction, you will take ownership of allocated infrastructure bids from early client engagement through to tender settlement and post-submission follow-up. You will be responsible for:
- Leading bid/no-bid decisions and strategic bid planning sessions
- Managing all operational tender inputs including programme, methodology, BIM, resources and sequencing
- Producing and managing detailed tender methodologies
- Developing and coordinating tender programmes (including producing programmes where required)
- Aligning methodology and programme with pricing, labour outputs and commercial assumptions
- Reviewing preliminaries, commercial models and risk allowances
- Ensuring full compliance with client specifications, scoring matrices and submission protocols
- Supporting value engineering, innovation and alternative technical proposals
- Leading internal governance, approvals and risk reviews
- Presenting operational and technical tender settlements to Directors
- Representing the business at client briefings, forums and industry events
- Maintaining ownership of submitted tenders and monitoring progress
You will act as the operational face of the business from pre- to post-tender stage.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead pre-construction across allocated infrastructure bids
- Shape winning strategies aligned to client drivers and evaluation criteria
- Support pipeline development through early engagement with clients and framework managers
- Coordinate planning, design management and construction methodology
- Ensure clear alignment between programme, price and delivery strategy
- Manage multidisciplinary input from estimating, planning, operations and supply chain
- Review commercial models, preliminaries and risk allowances
- Challenge assumptions to strengthen bid competitiveness
- Maintain governance and assurance throughout the tender lifecycle
- Engage with clients, consultants and stakeholders pre- and during tender
- Maintain awareness of competitor positioning and market trends
- Contribute to business development and strategic growth
About You
You will bring:
- A minimum of 8 years’ experience within pre-construction and/or senior operational or commercial roles in civils or infrastructure
- A proven track record of leading and winning major infrastructure bids
- Strong knowledge of estimating, planning, design coordination and bid writing
- Excellent understanding of infrastructure construction methodologies
- Solid commercial acumen and risk management capability
- Experience working under NEC3/NEC4 (JCT and bespoke forms advantageous)
- Strong presentation, communication and influencing skills
- Confidence managing senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
- Experience across major infrastructure frameworks (e.g. rail, highways, water, public sector programmes) is highly desirable.
Qualifications
Essential:
- Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline
- Significant infrastructure pre-construction experience
Desirable:
- Chartered status (MCIOB, MICE, RICS)
- NEC3/NEC4 contract training
- Experience with public sector frameworks
Why Apply?
- Exposure to nationally significant infrastructure schemes
- Leadership-level influence within a growing division
- Varied and complex project portfolio
- Strong package and long-term career pathway
Pre-Construction Manager in Leighton Buzzard employer: Humres
Contact Detail:
Humres Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Pre-Construction Manager in Leighton Buzzard
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals at events or online. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your knowledge about their work in infrastructure and how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to be able to clearly articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of Pre-Construction Manager. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar.
We think you need these skills to ace Pre-Construction Manager in Leighton Buzzard
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 experience in leading infrastructure bids and your understanding of construction methodologies. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of successful bids you've led or innovative strategies you've implemented. This helps us see the impact you've made in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the important stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Humres
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the projects and bids you've worked on. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you implemented and how they aligned with client objectives. This will show your depth of experience and ability to lead in pre-construction.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Pre-Construction Manager, you'll be leading multidisciplinary teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure situations. Highlight your communication and influencing skills, as these are crucial for engaging with clients and stakeholders.
✨Understand the Market Trends
Stay updated on current trends in the infrastructure sector, especially regarding highways, rail, and water projects. Being able to discuss recent developments or competitor strategies during your interview will demonstrate your proactive approach and industry knowledge.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions about estimating, planning, and risk management. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to explain how you ensure compliance with client specifications and scoring matrices. This will showcase your expertise and readiness for the role.