Preconstruction & Project Controls Lead

Preconstruction & Project Controls Lead

Full-Time | Remote | Philippines

US Residential Remodeling & Construction

Compensation: 15–$22 USD/hour, depending on experience; exceptional candidates up to $25/hour

Bonus and profit-sharing opportunities available for extraordinary candidates

READ FIRST — NON-NEGOTIABLE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

This position requires substantial hands-on experience estimating and controlling costs for US-based residential remodeling, additions, and custom homes.

Do not apply if you do not have significant direct experience with US residential projects. Experience primarily in commercial construction, government projects, infrastructure, non-US residential construction, drafting, virtual assistance, or quantity takeoffs does not satisfy this requirement. Applicants who do not clearly demonstrate substantial US residential experience in their application will not be considered.

Role Overview

We are a growing US residential construction company seeking an exceptional Preconstruction & Project Controls Lead to take ownership of the financial and planning side of our projects from preconstruction through execution.

This is a hands-on senior position with significant long-term growth potential. Initially, you will personally perform the estimating, subcontractor and supplier solicitation, bid analysis, budgeting, scheduling, forecasting, and project-controls work. As the company expands, you will help develop the systems and processes required to scale the function, assist in building the team, and have the opportunity to develop into the leader of the estimating and project controls department.

We are looking for someone who can do the work today, build better systems for tomorrow, and eventually lead others doing it.

This is NOT primarily a quantity takeoff position. Takeoffs are part of the estimating process, but they represent only a small portion of this role. The primary responsibility is understanding complete project scope, developing and validating costs, obtaining real-world subcontractor and supplier pricing, establishing project budgets and schedules, and controlling those same costs and commitments throughout project execution.

Core Responsibilities

• Review plans, specifications, selections, and project information to understand and define complete project scope.

• Develop detailed preliminary and construction estimates covering labor, materials, subcontractors, suppliers, equipment, and other project costs.

• Develop clear scopes of work and identify missing scope, assumptions, allowances, inconsistencies, and cost risks.

• Perform quantity takeoffs as necessary to support estimating.

• Prepare and issue RFPs/RFQs to US subcontractors and suppliers.

• Communicate directly with subcontractors and vendors to solicit pricing, obtain clarifications and revisions, and follow up on outstanding proposals.

• Review and level subcontractor and supplier bids, including exclusions, qualifications, allowances, and scope discrepancies.

• Validate estimates against current market pricing and historical project costs.

• Convert approved estimates into structured project-control budgets.

• Track estimated, bid, committed, actual, and forecast costs throughout construction.

• Monitor budget variances, commitments, cost-to-complete, and forecast final project costs.

• Track procurement, subcontract agreements, allowances, change orders, and major material purchases.

• Develop and maintain project schedules and identify procurement, sequencing, and schedule risks.

• Coordinate with project managers and field personnel to maintain accurate budgets, forecasts, and schedules.

• Identify cost and schedule problems early and communicate them clearly to management.

• Maintain organized estimating, procurement, cost-control, scheduling, and project reporting records.

Systems Development & Company Growth

We are building a company that can operate at substantially greater scale, and this person will have a meaningful role in developing the systems that support that growth.

Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and continuously improve company-wide estimating and project-control standards.

• Build scalable estimating templates, cost databases, subcontractor bidding processes, budgeting systems, forecasting tools, and management reporting.

• Standardize the transition from preconstruction estimating through procurement, construction, and closeout.

• Create documented procedures that can be taught and delegated as the department grows.

• Identify opportunities for automation and effective use of AI throughout estimating and project controls.

• Help recruit, train, and supervise future estimating and project-controls personnel.

• Ultimately have the opportunity to lead the estimating and project controls department as the company expands.

Required Experience

Substantial experience working on US-based construction projects is a firm requirement. Candidates without meaningful US construction estimating/project-controls experience will not be considered.

We are looking for:

• Minimum 9 years of relevant construction experience required. Preference will be given to candidates with 10–15+ years of experience and a demonstrated progression into senior estimating, project controls, systems development, and team leadership.

• Significant direct experience estimating and/or controlling costs for US-based construction projects.

• Strong experience with US residential construction, remodeling, additions, custom homes, or closely comparable building construction.

• Demonstrated ability to develop complete project estimates, not simply produce quantity takeoffs.

• Strong understanding of US construction methods, subcontractor scopes, labor and material pricing, terminology, procurement practices, and cost structures.

• Experience preparing and issuing RFPs/RFQs to subcontractors and suppliers.

• Experience reviewing, comparing, and leveling subcontractor proposals.

• Experience establishing and tracking project budgets, commitments, actual costs, cost-to-complete, and forecast final costs.

• Experience with construction scheduling and the relationship between schedule, procurement, and cost.

• Advanced Excel skills.

• Experience with construction software such as MS Project, or comparable platforms.

• Excellent written and spoken English and the ability to communicate professionally and confidently with US subcontractors, suppliers, project managers, and company leadership.

• Ability to work independently, exercise judgment, identify problems, and take ownership without constant supervision.

Who This Role Is — and Is Not — For

This role is suited to an experienced construction professional who can receive a set of plans and project information and independently determine:

What needs to be included What is missing What will it actually cost Who needs to provide pricing What questions need to be answered What needs to happen when And once construction starts, are we actually performing against the plan

If your primary experience is producing quantity takeoffs from plans for someone else to estimate, this is not the right position.

We are seeking someone capable of owning the broader preconstruction and project-controls process and who wants to take progressively greater responsibility as the company grows.

Compensation & Growth

Base compensation is expected to be $15–$22 USD/hour depending on experience and demonstrated capability.

For an extraordinary candidate with exceptional US construction experience, judgment, systems-development ability, communication skills, and leadership potential, compensation may reach approximately $25 USD/hour.

Exceptional performers may also have access to performance bonuses and profit-sharing opportunities as their contribution and responsibilities increase.

This is intended to be a long-term position for someone who wants to grow with the company and ultimately has the capability to help build and lead a major business function. Must be able to work US-based central time zone hours.

PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

This is a senior-level construction estimating and project controls position. It is not a virtual assistant, administrative support, takeoff-only, or trainee role.

You must have substantial prior experience personally leading estimating and/or project controls for US-based construction projects. If you do not have this experience, please do not apply. We are not hiring someone to train into this function.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume together with a brief cover letter answering the questions below.

1. Approximately how many US-based construction and remodeling projects have you personally served as the lead estimator and/or primary project-controls professional on

Please state the approximate number, typical project values, project types, and the years during which you performed this work.

2. Describe one specific US-based residential construction or remodeling project for which you personally developed the estimate. What was the approximate construction value, what was your exact role, and what portions of the estimating process did you personally perform

3. Describe one specific project where you personally solicited subcontractor or supplier proposals.

What trade or material was being bid, approximately how many proposals did you obtain, and identify one scope difference, exclusion, or pricing discrepancy you found while comparing the proposals.

4. Describe one project where you continued working on cost control after the original estimate was completed. Give one specific example of a cost variance you identified during construction, including the original budget or estimate, what changed, and how you identified the issue.

5. Describe one estimating or project-controls system, spreadsheet, database, template, or workflow that you personally created or substantially improved. What problem was it intended to solve, what did you personally build or change, and how was it used afterward