Senior Preconstruction and Estimating Manager

About the role

The Gowanus Group is a New York-based design-build firm specializing in healthcare renovations and hospitality projects. With a team of more than 30 professionals and an extensive network of subcontractors, we bring together design, construction expertise, and hands-on execution to deliver complex projects.

Our work spans hospitality development and healthcare environments, where thoughtful planning, disciplined budgeting, and strong collaboration are essential to successful project delivery.

The Role

We are looking for a Senior Preconstruction & Estimating Manager to lead the preconstruction process across our growing portfolio of hospitality and healthcare projects.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will own projects from early concept and design development through final pricing, procurement, and handoff to construction operations. You will work closely with owners, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to develop accurate budgets, identify risks, and ensure projects are positioned for successful execution.

Your first major assignment will be a ground-up hotel development, making direct experience estimating new construction and hospitality projects essential.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines deep technical estimating expertise with strong commercial judgment. We are looking for someone who can independently own complex estimates, challenge assumptions, and bring structure and accountability to the preconstruction process.

What You'll Do

• Own preconstruction end to end. Lead projects from initial concept and schematic design through construction documents, GMP development, procurement, and operational handoff.
• Lead estimating and budgeting. Develop conceptual, schematic, design development, and final GMP or lump-sum estimates, including general conditions, contingencies, and allowances.
• Drive design-to-budget execution. Partner with owners, architects, engineers, and designers to evaluate scope, conduct constructability reviews, identify value engineering opportunities, and align project design with budget expectations.
• Bring hospitality expertise. Develop accurate hotel construction budgets, incorporating FF&E, OS&E, brand standards, and project-specific requirements.
• Identify and mitigate project risks. Evaluate cost exposure, schedule constraints, procurement challenges, and long-lead materials before they affect project delivery.
• Lead subcontractor procurement. Develop bid packages, manage subcontractor pricing, level bids, recommend awards, and support contract buyout.
• Build strong project partnerships. Work directly with clients, design teams, subcontractors, and internal operations to establish clear expectations around project costs, schedules, and deliverables.
• Support planning and execution. Collaborate with operations teams to develop master schedules, phasing strategies, and construction logistics plans.
• Strengthen estimating capabilities. Build and maintain cost benchmarks, improve estimating standards, expand subcontractor relationships, and mentor preconstruction team members.
• Ensure seamless project handoffs. Deliver complete, reliable budgets, schedules, scope documentation, and procurement records to construction operations.

About You

• 8+ years of experience in preconstruction or estimating with a general contractor, construction manager, or design-build firm.
• Proven ground-up construction experience, including independently leading estimates from early concept through GMP or final pricing.
• Direct hospitality estimating experience, ideally involving ground-up hotel construction, with lifestyle or luxury hotel projects particularly relevant.
• Strong technical understanding of structural, building envelope, MEP, and interior construction systems.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and defend detailed construction budgets, assess scope gaps, and manage cost exposure.
• Strong proficiency in construction takeoff, estimating tools, scheduling, and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience coordinating subcontractor bids, scope reviews, pricing comparisons, and procurement recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work confidently with owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and senior leadership.
• A proactive, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving, with the judgment to identify issues early and drive practical solutions.
• Comfortable operating in a hands-on environment where you are accountable for both the quality of the estimates and the outcomes they support.

Nice to Have

• Healthcare construction or occupied-renovation experience.
• Experience coordinating hotel brand standards, FF&E, OS&E, and pre-opening requirements.
• Background in design-build, design-assist, or developer-led construction.
• Experience working on projects in South Florida, including familiarity with local subcontractors, pricing, and building requirements.
• Experience with BIM-based coordination.
• A degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.

Location

This role is based in the New York metropolitan area and requires travel to out-of-state project locations as needed.

Pay Transparency

Annual base salary: $180,000 - $220,000