Director of Preconstruction

About Horizon Contracting Group

Lead. Strategize. Build. Grow

At Horizon, winning the right work starts well before a project reaches the field.

We’re looking for a Director of Preconstruction to lead our pursuit efforts, from identifying the right opportunities and optimizing our estimating team and processes to securing work, strengthening client relationships and building a healthy pipeline for future growth. This is a key leadership role for someone who understands how strong client relationships, thoughtful pursuit decisions, accurate estimating and operational insight come together to create successful projects.

You’ll lead a team of Estimators, strengthen how we evaluate and pursue opportunities, and work closely with our Business Development, Regional and Operations leaders across Horizon.

If you can see the big picture while still understanding the details that make an estimate accurate and executable, this could be your next opportunity.

Director of Preconstruction

Full Time | Permanent | $140,000–$160,000 | Hybrid | Langley, BC

Build Your Career From the Ground Up

At Horizon Contracting Group, growth isn't just about winning more work. It's about pursuing the right opportunities, building strong relationships, and setting our teams up for success from day one.

We're looking for a Director of Preconstruction to lead Horizon's estimating and pursuits function as we continue to grow. Reporting to the Senior Vice President you'll help determine where we focus our efforts, which opportunities we pursue, and how we position Horizon to win profitable work.

You'll connect market opportunities, client relationships, estimating, and operational execution while building the people, processes, and systems needed to support our growth.

We're looking for someone who can think strategically, make sound commercial decisions, and build strong relationships, but who also has the technical knowledge to get into the details, support the team, and help solve challenges along the way.

What You'll Be Doing

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop Horizon's Preconstruction, estimating, and pursuits function in alignment with our growth strategy
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, priorities, and performance expectations across the team
• Coach team members through regular feedback, mentorship, and career development
• Manage workload, capacity, and pursuit assignments across regions and service lines
• Partner with the People team to recruit and onboard new team members
• Build practical processes and standards that improve consistency, accountability, and collaboration
• Report on pipeline health, estimating capacity, priority pursuits, risks, win rates, and departmental performance

Market Strategy & Opportunity Planning

• Work closely with Regional Directors, Business Development, Operations, and clients to identify and prioritize the right opportunities
• Lead market mapping and develop target client and relationship plans alongside Regional Leaders
• Maintain a clear, current view of Horizon's opportunity pipeline, including ownership, next steps, and follow-up
• Lead go/no-go decisions with input from Regional and Operational Leaders
• Coordinate pre-qualification submissions and ensure Horizon is positioned for priority opportunities
• Monitor market conditions, competitor activity, and client needs to inform pursuit strategy
• Align business development activity with estimating capacity, operational capabilities, and company growth objectives

Estimating & Commercial Excellence

• Lead bid strategy and proposal development for priority and complex pursuits
• Ensure estimates are accurate, competitive, commercially sound, and aligned with client needs
• Oversee estimate reviews, bid leveling, risk assessment, and quality control
• Lead client negotiations and commercial discussions to achieve strong outcomes while maintaining positive relationships
• Guide design-assist proposals, constructability reviews, and value engineering opportunities in collaboration with internal subject matter experts
• Establish and continuously improve estimating standards, templates, tools, and review processes
• Use historical costs, production rates, market benchmarks, and project feedback to improve estimating accuracy
• Build scalable estimating systems and identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology, data, and automation
• Develop strong supplier and subcontractor relationships in collaboration with Regional Leaders

Business Development & Performance

• Build strong connections between Business Development, Estimating, Operations, Finance, and Regional Leadership
• Ensure market and client intelligence is shared across the organization
• Build meaningful relationships with clients and industry partners through networking, industry events, and regional travel
• Ensure timely client communication throughout the pursuit process, from initial opportunity through proposal submission, follow-up, award, and project handover
• Track win rates, estimating output, and bid performance to identify trends and improve results
• Lead win/loss reviews and turn feedback into practical improvements in pursuit selection, proposal quality, and client relationships
• Ensure successful projects begin with a clear understanding of scope, assumptions, commercial risks, and commitments made during estimating

What You Bring

We're looking for a leader who combines strong commercial judgment with practical construction knowledge and the ability to bring people together around a common goal.

Ideally, you bring:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in construction, estimating, commercial management, or business development
• Experience leading people, developing processes, and coordinating work across multiple teams or regions
• A strong understanding of estimating, project costs, commercial risk, and construction operations
• The ability to assess opportunities, make informed go/no-go decisions, and balance growth with profitability
• Experience managing pipelines, pursuit priorities, resource planning, and bid performance
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills
• The ability to move between strategic planning and detailed execution without losing sight of priorities
• A practical approach to process improvement, with an eye for building systems that support people rather than create unnecessary complexity
• Confidence leading through growth, change, and competing priorities
• A collaborative, accountable leadership style that helps people do their best work

Post-secondary education in Construction Management, Business, Estimating, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent industry experience and leadership capability will also be considered.

Experience in landscape construction, concrete, civil construction, or a related contracting environment is an asset.

What Success Looks Like

As Director of Preconstruction, you'll help Horizon make better decisions about where we compete, how we pursue opportunities, and how we deliver on the commitments we make to our clients.

Success in this role will include:

• A healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities aligned with Horizon's growth goals
• Strong pursuit selection and improved win rates while maintaining target margins
• Accurate estimates that support successful project delivery and protect profitability
• Clear visibility into pipeline activity, estimating capacity, and pursuit performance
• Strong collaboration between Preconstruction, Business Development, Operations, Finance, and Regional Leadership
• A capable, engaged estimating team with the tools, processes, and support to succeed

Your Future Team

You'll report into Horizon's senior leadership structure and work closely with Executive Leadership, Regional Directors, Business Development, Operations, Finance, and the Preconstruction team.

This role has a meaningful influence on Horizon's future. You'll help shape how we approach new markets, develop client relationships, allocate resources, and turn opportunities into successful projects.

We're looking for someone who can set direction, bring people along, and build a function that can grow with the business.

Why Horizon?

At Horizon Contracting Group, we're building more than landscapes and infrastructure. We're building strong teams, lasting relationships, and opportunities for people to make a meaningful impact.

What you can expect:

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary of $140,000–$160,000, based on experience and qualifications
• 20 days of paid time off, including 15 vacation days and 5 sick days
• Extended Health, Dental & Vision coverage
• RRSP enrollment after one year
• Annual company bonus eligibility
• Company laptop and cell phone
• Mileage reimbursement
• Hybrid flexibility, with a minimum of three days in the office each week after probationary period

Our Values

• Embrace the Challenge
• Lead with Care
• Own Our Actions
• Strongest Together

Ready to Build What's Next?

If you're a commercially minded construction leader who enjoys building teams, strengthening client relationships, and turning business strategy into results, we'd like to meet you.

Join Horizon and help shape the opportunities, partnerships, and projects that will drive our next stage of growth.

Build with us, From the Ground Up.