Location: Kent, UK
Sector: Mission Critical / Industrial Construction
Employment Type: Full-Time Permanent
Salary: £100,000 – £110,000 + Package
Overview:
An established main contractor delivering complex large-scale mission critical and industrial developments across Kent is seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Manager to lead bid, planning, and early-stage project delivery activities.
This role is responsible for managing the full pre-construction lifecycle on high-value projects including data centres, logistics hubs, advanced manufacturing facilities, and large industrial schemes. The successful candidate will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, engage with clients and consultants, and ensure projects are commercially, technically, and operationally prepared before site mobilisation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the pre-construction process from tender enquiry through to project handover to operations teams
- Manage and coordinate bid submissions, tender strategies, and pre-construction programmes
- Develop detailed project execution plans, logistics strategies, and phasing plans for complex live environments
- Chair and manage design development meetings with consultants, subcontractors, and clients
- Review technical documentation, specifications, drawings, and employer’s requirements
- Identify project risks, value engineering opportunities, and buildability solutions during early project stages
- Coordinate estimating, planning, procurement, commercial, and operational functions throughout bid and negotiation phases
- Support procurement strategy development and key subcontractor engagement
- Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, health & safety requirements, and client-specific standards
- Build strong relationships with developers, consultants, and key stakeholders across the South East market
- Prepare and present high-quality technical submissions and client presentations
- Support contract negotiations and contribute to successful project awards
- Maintain market awareness across mission critical and industrial sectors including supply chain trends and emerging technologies
Requirements:
- Proven experience as a Pre-Construction Manager, Bid Manager, or Senior Design/Project Manager within large-scale construction projects
- Strong background delivering mission critical, industrial, logistics, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, or hyperscale data centre projects
- Experience working for a principal contractor or major construction management business
- Excellent technical understanding of complex building systems and construction methodologies
- Strong commercial awareness with ability to assess project viability and risk
- Experience managing multidisciplinary bid and design teams
- Ability to work in fast-paced tender environments with multiple concurrent projects
- Strong stakeholder management and client-facing communication skills
- Proficient in construction planning, procurement, and project delivery processes
- Relevant qualification in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or related discipline
- SMSTS, CSCS, and relevant professional memberships desirable
Preferred Experience:
- Data centre or mission critical project exposure
- Experience on projects valued £50m+
- Knowledge of NEC and JCT contract forms
- Experience managing negotiated and two-stage tender processes
- Familiarity with BIM coordination and digital construction workflows
Package:
- £100,000 – £110,000 basic salary
- Car allowance or company vehicle
- Performance bonus
- Pension contribution
- Private healthcare
- Life assurance
- Hybrid working flexibility
- Clear progression pathway within a growing regional business