Position Overview
At Bensonwood, we strive to uphold the core values of quality, work ethic, teamwork, inclusivity, humility, and continuous improvement in everything we do. As a design-build company located in Walpole, NH, we are seeking an experienced, strategic Director of Preconstruction to lead our preconstruction management function and join our leadership team.
Bensonwood combines heritage craftsmanship with next generation technology, creating homes and commercial structures that are better for people and the planet. We specialize in customizable standards-based architecture and offer customizable and fully custom design/build services for projects requiring the highest levels of energy efficiency and minimal on-site building time.
Our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We prioritize the use of bio-based non-toxic and low embodied energy materials and take every opportunity to minimize waste - because we believe that the needs of today's generation should never come at the expense of tomorrow's.
Role Summary
The Director of Preconstruction is responsible for leading and managing the company's preconstruction function, ensuring projects successfully advance from initial sales handoff through execution of the Build Contract. Overseeing Preconstruction Leads, Estimators, and Preconstruction Engineers, this role provides strategic direction, resource management, process oversight, and team development.
Reporting to senior leadership, the Director serves as the primary champion for preconstruction excellence by establishing standards, metrics, and workflows that guide projects efficiently to Build Contract while ensuring seamless handoffs. The Director collaborates closely with Sales, Design, Engineering, Procurement, Production, and Project Management to maximize project conversion rates, maintain financial performance, and drive continuous improvement.
Primary Responsibilities
Departmental Leadership & Team Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Preconstruction Leads, Estimators, and Preconstruction Engineers. Establish clear performance expectations, roles, and metrics. Conduct regular coaching, quarterly reviews, and performance evaluations. Support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and succession planning.
Management & Executive Participation: Attend weekly leadership meetings, commit to company goals, enforce SOPs, and resolve operational issues. Communicate vision and leadership decisions clearly to the team, ensure effective delegation, and foster a collaborative, accountable culture.
Preconstruction Operations & Oversight: Oversee all active preconstruction projects to ensure progression toward Build Contracts. Monitor workload distribution, team capacity, and resource utilization. Standardize workflows, deliverables, estimating, budgeting, and scope development across all projects.
Strategic Risk & Project Management: Provide high-level oversight of project budgets, schedules, design development, and engineering coordination. Lead risk assessment efforts to mitigate technical/financial risks and ensure opportunities align with company capabilities and profitability targets.
Sales Collaboration & Client Engagement: Partner with Sales on project pursuit strategies, proposal development, contract negotiations, and preconstruction service offerings to increase conversion rates. Serve as an executive-level client contact during preconstruction phases.
Financial Management & Metrics Tracking: Manage departmental budgets, staffing forecasts, direct labor performance, and key performance indicators—including Build Contract conversion rates, conversion pace, budget accuracy, team utilization, and preconstruction revenue.
Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Alignment: Continuously evaluate and optimize preconstruction systems, SOPs, and technology tools. Develop reporting dashboards and collaborate with Sales, Design, Engineering, Procurement, Production, and Project Management to enhance handoffs and customer outcomes.
The Ideal Candidate Has
Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in construction, design-build, preconstruction, estimating, or project management.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing technical and client-facing teams.
Demonstrated expertise in estimating, budgeting, construction methods, project planning, and risk management.
Deep understanding of design-build project delivery systems.
Strong financial acumen, proficiency with estimating software, project management platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and construction technology tools.
Experience with AIA contracts and construction contracting practices preferred.
Knowledge of high-performance building systems and sustainable construction practices preferred.
The desire to learn & apply innovative green building techniques.
Essential Role Functions
Ability to work in an office setting while frequently engaging across active shop floor environments and construction jobsites.
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and operate computer/office equipment.
Ability to lift up to 25–50 lbs periodically as needed.
Travel required to jobsites, client meetings, vendor locations, or industry events.
Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
Additional Attributes for Success
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills across executive leadership, internal teams, and external clients.
High attention to detail with the ability to:
Complete assignments accurately and foresee potential pitfalls or information gaps.
Organize and prioritize departmental workload to meet strict project deadlines and conversion targets.
Work independently and collaboratively within a leadership setting.
Positively motivate teams to accomplish strategic goals.
Sound professional judgment, discretion, and a systems-oriented problem-solving philosophy.
Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a clean, organized work environment.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Salary commensurate with experience.
Benefits include: Medical insurance, paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), 401(k), voluntary dental, voluntary short-term disability, and voluntary life insurance.
More about Bensonwood and our values:
Our commitment to quality craftsmanship and next generation technology is reflected in our approach to creating homes and commercial structures that prioritize the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. We specialize in customizable standards-based architecture and offer fully custom design/build services for projects requiring the highest levels of energy efficiency and minimal on-site building time.
Teamwork and inclusivity are important aspects of our company culture. We believe that diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to achieving our goals, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage women and minorities to apply.
At Bensonwood we recognize that a good work ethic is important, there is always room for improvement, and we are constantly seeking ways to do better. We prioritize continuous improvement by staying up-to-date with the latest industry standards and trends, and by always looking for ways to innovate and improve our processes.
We believe that everyone on our team plays an important role in achieving our goals, and that nobody is above a job that needs to be done. We approach our work with humility, recognizing that we are part of a larger community and that our actions have an impact.
Our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and we take every opportunity to minimize waste and prioritize the use of bio-based non-toxic and low embodied energy materials. Whether it's a small task or a large project, we approach every job with the same level of dedication and attention to detail, because we know that each and every action we take has an impact on our community and our planet.