Mechanical Preconstruction Lead

Role purpose

Acts as the mechanical construction and project-delivery lead during bids. Converts tender information into a buildable mechanical solution, coordinates technical returnables and manages mechanical engineering support.

Key working relationships

Internal: Estimation, Bid Coordination, Business Development, Marketing, Engineering, BIM, Procurement, Commissioning, Quality, EHS, Commercial and Operations.

External: clients, consultants, designers, suppliers, subcontractors and specialist partners.

Principal responsibilities

• Develop the mechanical construction strategy, sequence and package approach.
• Review mechanical design maturity, constructability, maintainability and commissioning requirements.
• Lead mechanical VE, DfMA and redesign exercises with cost and programme inputs.
• Coordinate equipment selections, technical submittals, plant space, access and logistics requirements.
• Review pipe and duct sizing, plant duties, controls interfaces and builder’s-work requirements.
• Engage mechanical suppliers and subcontractors to test lead times, methodology and capacity.
• Develop mechanical procurement, design and commissioning requirements with the planner.
• Manage and review the work of mechanical engineers assigned to bids. • Present mechanical strategy at client meetings and technical reviews.
• Support client-facing bid meetings, workshops and presentations. • Work collaboratively with Estimation, Bid Coordination, Engineering, BIM, Procurement, Commissioning, Quality, EHS and Operations.
• Identify and record design, delivery, programme, procurement and interface risks.
• Support a controlled handover of the tender basis, commitments and residual risks to Operations.
• Travel internationally where required and work flexibly around tender deadlines, subject to company policy.

Key deliverables

• Complete, accurate and professionally presented technical tender returnables.
• Clear assumptions, risks, opportunities, interfaces and actions captured in controlled registers.
• Practical delivery proposals aligned with the price, programme and procurement strategy.
• Timely contribution to client reviews, bid adjudication and formal handover.

Authority and boundaries

The postholder may coordinate technical development, engage stakeholders and recommend solutions within the agreed bid strategy. Material commitments affecting price, scope, programme, contract terms or resources require approval through the applicable delegated authority. Design work must be completed within competence and, where required, reviewed or approved by the appropriately qualified design authority.

Review and success measures

• Bid deliverables issued on time and to the agreed quality standard.
• Risks and commitments identified early, assigned and transferred at handover.
• Positive feedback from clients and internal bid and delivery stakeholders.
• Evidence of practical VE, DfMA, programme, procurement or constructability improvement.
• Consistent use of agreed templates, registers, stage gates and lessons learned.

Requirements

Experience and Capability

• Mechanical construction management, project management or senior engineering experience.

• Strong knowledge of mechanical services installation, plant, commissioning and supply chain.
• Ability to challenge design, sequence work and lead technical client discussions.

Behavioural profile

• Construction-minded and willing to work hands-on with technical content.
• Clear, credible and forward-facing in meetings and presentations.
• Organised, comfortable with deadlines and able to prioritise across multiple bids.
• Collaborative but prepared to challenge incomplete information and unsupported assumptions.
• Committed to safety, quality, ethical conduct, document control and continuous improvement.