Mechanical Construction Preconstruction Manager
Gootee Construction, Inc. | Metairie, LA
Full-time | In-person
Gootee Construction is looking for a Preconstruction Manager to lead our estimating and preconstruction function as we continue growing as a 100% employee-owned mechanical contractor.
This is a strong opportunity for an experienced preconstruction leader, senior estimator, or mechanical construction professional who wants to step into a meaningful leadership role, help shape the front end of the business, and grow with a company where relationships, culture, and ownership still matter.
About Gootee Construction
Gootee Construction is a Metairie-based commercial mechanical contractor serving Greater New Orleans and surrounding regional markets. We specialize in complex HVAC, plumbing, piping, medical gas, VRF, mechanical equipment, central plant, renovation, and new construction work across healthcare, education, institutional, industrial, hospitality, and commercial markets.
We are a 100% employee-owned company through our ESOP, which means our people have a direct stake in the long-term success of the business. Gootee has strong family-company roots, a growing regional presence, and a culture built around ownership, teamwork, practical problem-solving, and doing the work the right way.
The Opportunity
The Preconstruction Manager will report to the Vice President and will lead Gootee’s estimating and preconstruction team. This role is being created to bring clear leadership, structure, and accountability to the preconstruction function while allowing senior leadership to focus more broadly on operations, business development, and company growth.
This person will be responsible for the bid calendar, estimating team leadership, bid strategy, proposal coordination, negotiated work, conceptual budgeting, design-assist support, value engineering, RFP responses, and interview preparation.
The estimators will continue to perform much of the detailed quantity takeoff. The Preconstruction Manager will lead the process, guide the strategy, challenge assumptions, manage priorities, and make sure Gootee submits complete, accurate, responsive, and competitive bids.
This is a relationship-driven role. The right person must be credible, likable, responsive, and trusted by GCs, owners, vendors, subcontractors, engineers, and internal teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Gootee’s estimating and preconstruction function.
- Manage the bid calendar and coordinate estimating team workload.
- Assign estimating resources based on project size, complexity, deadlines, and strategic importance.
- Lead bid strategy meetings, bid reviews, and final review preparation.
- Oversee accurate, complete, timely, and responsive bid submissions.
- Lead preconstruction efforts for projects of all sizes, from smaller quick-turn opportunities to major complex mechanical pursuits.
- Support hard bids, negotiated work, design-assist projects, conceptual budgets, GMP pricing, value engineering, and interview-based selections.
- Work with estimators on scope review, pricing strategy, vendor/subcontractor coverage, alternates, clarifications, and exclusions.
- Review drawings, specifications, addenda, and RFP documents for risk, opportunity, and scope gaps.
- Help prepare and respond to RFPs, proposals, qualification packages, and interview materials.
- Prepare for and lead project interviews with GCs, owners, and selection committees.
- Support go/no-go recommendations based on margin, risk, manpower, schedule, relationship value, and strategic fit.
- Negotiate with GCs, owners, vendors, and subcontractors as needed.
- Lead value engineering efforts and help clients find practical, cost-effective solutions.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with GCs, owners, engineers, vendors, and subcontractors.
- Coordinate with operations, project management, BIM/VDC, purchasing, accounting, service/TAB, warehouse, and fabrication.
- Improve estimating standards, bid templates, processes, and handoff procedures.
- Help prepare clean turnover packages from preconstruction to operations.
- Coach, develop, and hold estimators accountable.
- Help recruit and develop future estimating and preconstruction talent.
- Support business development efforts through client meetings, pursuit strategy, interviews, relationship building, and industry involvement.
What Success Looks Like
In the first 6 to 12 months, the right person will:
- Become fully acquainted with Gootee’s estimating software, tech stack, bid process, project history, and internal standards.
- Take clear ownership of the bid calendar.
- Lead the estimating team with organization, urgency, and accountability.
- Submit accurate, complete, and responsive bids without heavy senior leadership oversight.
- Build trust with the Vice President, estimating team, operations, field leadership, vendors, GCs, owners, and clients.
- Improve bid discipline, bid coverage, and final review preparation.
- Strengthen conceptual budgeting, negotiated work, VE support, and design-assist leadership.
- Lead interviews and pursuit preparation with confidence.
- Help Gootee pursue the right work at the right margin.
What We’re Looking For
Must-Haves
- Strong mechanical construction estimating or preconstruction background.
- Ability to lead people, not just estimates.
- Strong understanding of HVAC, plumbing, piping, medical gas, mechanical equipment, hydronic systems, VRF, central plants, renovations, and new construction.
- Experience with hard bids, negotiated work, conceptual budgeting, design-assist, VE, GMP support, and proposal preparation.
- Ability to lead bid strategy, challenge assumptions, review risk, and protect margin.
- Strong communication skills with owners, GCs, engineers, vendors, subcontractors, estimators, and operations teams.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Ability to build relationships and be well-liked and trusted in the market.
- Strategic, organized, responsive, and calm under deadline pressure.
- Comfortable leading interviews and presenting Gootee’s approach to clients and selection teams.
- Ability to challenge people without creating unnecessary friction.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Preferred Qualifications
- 10+ years of mechanical construction estimating or preconstruction experience preferred.
- Experience leading estimators or preconstruction team members.
- Experience with large commercial mechanical projects and major pursuits.
- Experience supporting a growing backlog and multiple simultaneous bid opportunities.
- Degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- A strong mechanical trade, estimating, or preconstruction background will also be considered.
Technology and Systems
Experience with the following is helpful:
- QuoteSoft
- Bluebeam
- Excel
- Outlook
- Teams
- Microsoft Office products
The Preconstruction Manager will also help improve how the estimating team uses these tools to manage bids, track opportunities, prepare estimates, and support clean handoffs to operations.
Work Location and Schedule
This is a full-time, in-person role based out of our main office in Metairie, Louisiana.
The role will primarily work from the office, with travel to client meetings, GC meetings, interviews, pre-bid walks, project sites, and industry events as needed.
Standard office hours apply, with occasional early morning, after-hours, or deadline-driven needs depending on bid schedules and pursuit activity.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. The posted range is intended as a general guideline, and final compensation will be based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, leadership ability, and overall fit for the role.
This is a leadership-level role with a compensation package aligned with the experience, responsibility, and impact expected.
Benefits include:
- Monthly cell phone allowance
- Discretionary annual bonus
- 401(k) eligibility after 90 days
- Company 401(k) match: 100% match on the first 3% contributed, plus 50% match on the next 2%; company match is not subject to a vesting period
- ESOP participation upon meeting eligibility requirements; this retirement benefit is 100% company-funded and provides shares of company stock over time
- Health insurance eligibility on the 1st of the month following 60 days of employment, with GCI contributing toward the team member’s premium
- Short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance eligibility after 60 days, with GCI paying 20% of the premium
- Dental and vision insurance offered after 60 days, with employee-paid premiums
- PTO and holidays
Safety-Sensitive Position
This is a safety-sensitive position. While this role is primarily office-based, the Preconstruction Manager may attend pre-bid walks, visit active jobsites, access mechanical rooms, rooftops, and other project areas, and may need to climb ladders or navigate typical construction-site conditions.
Candidates must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen, physical, and motor vehicle record check.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Gootee Construction, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We hire based on experience, character, ability, and alignment with the role. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Pay: $105,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- How many years of mechanical construction estimating experience do you have?
- Which estimating/takeoff tools have you used?
Ability to Commute:
- Metairie, LA 70001 (Required)
Work Location: In person
