At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the preconstruction bid process and manage multi-disciplinary teams for impactful projects.
- Company: Join Willmott Dixon, a top-rated employer with a focus on sustainability and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape innovative solutions and make a real difference in construction and community development.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a company recognised for its commitment to gender equality and sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Project Manager (Preconstruction) to join our Southern regional team, based in either our Weybridge, Farnborough or Dartford offices. We support hybrid working with three days in the office and two days at home each week, depending on team needs.
Reporting to a Preconstruction Manager, you’ll lead the entire preconstruction bid process, managing internal and external partners to develop high-quality, well-coordinated bids that meet our customer expectations and support profitable project delivery. Working across sectors including Education, Leisure, Health, Blue Light, Defence, Transport and Science and Technology, you’ll shape solutions, manage the design and pricing process, and guide projects from successful tender stage to signed construction contract. This is a highly influential role where your leadership will help bring major projects into the business, while ensuring our customers feel supported, informed and confident throughout early project development.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the Preconstruction Process
- Manage the full two-stage and negotiated tender process from successful tender phase through to construction contract.
- Coordinate the core preconstruction team (Planner, Estimator, Design Manager, MEP Manager) to ensure bids are robust, well-coordinated and aligned to customer priorities.
- Present schemes to the board, ensuring proposals meet profitability expectations and quality standards.
Drive Quality & Commercial Outcomes:
- Oversee design development during preconstruction, ensuring compliance with design process requirements.
- Shape solutions and challenge assumptions to ensure bids are competitive, deliverable and aligned with programme and budget expectations.
- Bring a commercial mindset to all stages, supporting informed decision-making throughout.
- Work collaboratively with customers, consultants and partners to develop clear briefs and realistic expectations.
- Navigate challenging conversations around cost, programme or design constraints when required.
- Maintain strong communication with PCM colleagues, senior operational leaders and commercial managers.
Proven experience leading preconstruction, bid management or two-stage tender processes. Strong background in commercial management, design management, project management or a related discipline. Proven ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams. Confident communicator with experience handling challenging client conversations. Accreditation with RICS or a Project Management body is advantageous.
About Us:
With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.
Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 "Big" Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025. Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.
Project Manager (Preconstruction) in England employer: Willmott Dixon
Contact Detail:
Willmott Dixon Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager (Preconstruction) in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the construction industry, especially those who work at Willmott Dixon or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about the role and even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching recent projects by Willmott Dixon. Show us you’re genuinely interested in our work and how your skills can contribute to our mission of delivering brilliant buildings.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Project Manager, you’ll need to handle challenging conversations with clients and stakeholders. Role-play with a friend to build confidence and refine your approach.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Willmott Dixon.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager (Preconstruction) in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Manager role. Highlight your experience in preconstruction and bid management, and don’t forget to showcase your leadership skills and commercial understanding. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role at Willmott Dixon. Share specific examples of your past successes in managing multi-disciplinary teams and navigating challenging conversations.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When filling out your application, be sure to highlight any relevant experience in sectors like Education, Health, or Transport. We’re looking for someone who understands the nuances of these industries and can drive quality outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get your journey started!
How to prepare for a job interview at Willmott Dixon
✨Know Your Preconstruction Process
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of the preconstruction bid process. Brush up on how to manage both internal and external partners effectively, as this will be crucial in your role. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experiences where you successfully led a bid process.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leadership, so come prepared with stories that highlight your ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams. Think about times when you navigated challenging conversations or made tough decisions that positively impacted project outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Willmott Dixon values a commercial mindset, so be ready to discuss how you've shaped solutions that align with budget expectations. Prepare to talk about how you’ve balanced quality and profitability in previous projects, and how you can bring that same approach to their team.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
As a confident communicator, you’ll need to handle challenging client conversations with ease. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially around complex topics like design constraints or cost management. This will show them you can maintain strong communication with all stakeholders.