Direct answer

Hiring a preconstruction executive, a VP of Preconstruction, preconstruction director, or chief estimator, is one of the most consequential and most confidential searches in construction. This is the person who decides what you bid, at what margin, with which subs, and whether operations can actually build what estimating sold. Amundson Group runs retained, confidential preconstruction executive searches as a construction-only firm: heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, and industrial contractors, nationwide.

Why preconstruction leadership searches are different

• The pool is tiny. People who can own preconstruction strategy at scale are counted in dozens per region, not hundreds, and every one of them is employed.
• It is usually confidential. You may be replacing an incumbent, or building a seat ahead of a growth push you have not announced.
• Fit is technical AND political. The hire has to price work operations can build, hold the line against revenue-hungry optimism, and carry credibility with owners and subs.
• A posting cannot do this. The right candidates are not reading job ads, and confidential mandates cannot be posted anyway.

Roles AG places in preconstruction

• VP of Preconstruction / Preconstruction Director
• Chief Estimator / Director of Estimating
• Preconstruction Manager (senior, sector-specific)
• Director-level Business Development with preconstruction ownership

How the search runs

1. Confidential intake. Mandate, bid program, delivery methods (hard bid, design-build, CMGC), the team they inherit, and the cultural non-negotiables, under NDA where needed.
2. Mapped search. We identify the preconstruction leaders in your segment and approach them directly and discreetly.
3. Deep assessment. Bid history, hit rates, margin outcomes, and how their pricing performed in the field, not just titles.
4. Confidential shortlist. A small slate of qualified, genuinely interested leaders.
5. Offer and close. Senior comp structures, counteroffer defense, clean transition.
6. Guarantee. A written replacement guarantee.

Proof

• Preconstruction and estimating leadership is core AG work: recent placements include chief estimators, preconstruction directors, and a Director of Field Operations, alongside 10 estimator placements in Q2 2026 alone.
• 191 permanent placements across 86 client companies in the trailing 12 months; 1,200+ lifetime placements; 90,000+ candidate network.
• Construction-only and veteran-owned, with a confidential retained process built for exactly this seat.

What it costs

Preconstruction executive searches run retained, as a market norm 25 to 33 percent of first-year total compensation, billed in installments tied to milestones, with terms in writing before the search opens. Details on the fees and pricing page.

FAQ

What does a preconstruction executive do?

Owns what the company bids and at what margin: estimating strategy, bid/no-bid calls, sub relationships, pricing risk, and the handoff from pricing to operations.

Chief estimator vs VP of Preconstruction: which do I need?

A chief estimator owns the estimating function; a VP of Preconstruction owns strategy across estimating, BD input, and delivery alignment. Growing mid-size contractors often need the first and are ready for the second sooner than they think. AG will give you a straight read at intake.

Can the search stay confidential if we are replacing someone?

Yes. Confidential replacement searches are standard at this level, run so neither the incumbent nor the market is tipped off.

How long does a preconstruction executive search take?

Longer than a standard hire because the pool is small and approached discreetly. AG sets a realistic timeline at intake and reports progress against it.

Next step

Hiring preconstruction leadership? Book a confidential consultation with Amundson Group. Related: VP of Operations search and construction executive search firms compared.