Preconstruction Manager

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Job Description

Costain have won extensive work across the water sector this year to support the AMP 8 investment cycle. We have been appointed by Northumbrian Water to the Living Water Enterprise to help shape and deliver its strategic infrastructure upgrade programme with contracts valued up to c.£670m to Costain over 15 years.

The Preconstruction Manager will support the planning, development, and execution of water infrastructure projects during the preconstruction phase. This role works closely with project managers, estimators, engineers, and external stakeholders to ensure all technical, financial, and logistical elements are thoroughly prepared before construction begins. You will play a key role in gathering project data, managing documentation, coordinating design deliverables, and supporting accurate cost development for water and wastewater facilities, pipelines, pump stations, and related civil infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Preconstruction Planning & Coordination

• Assist in developing preconstruction schedules, workflows, and milestone trackers
• Coordinate with internal teams (engineering, estimating, environmental, operations) to ensure alignment on project requirements
• Facilitate design review meetings, maintain action item logs, and ensure timely delivery of design packages

Document & Data Management

• Manage and maintain project documentation, including specifications, drawings, permits, geotechnical reports, and design revisions
• Organize bid documents, subcontractor information, and project correspondence in collaboration with project managers
• Maintain up-to-date project databases, material logs, and preconstruction tracking tools

Estimating & Procurement Support

• Support the estimating team in obtaining vendor quotes, analysing subcontractor proposals, and preparing quantity take-offs
• Assist in prequalification of subcontractors and suppliers specializing in water and wastewater construction
• Help prepare bid packages, RFQs, and RFPs for materials, equipment, and specialty services

Technical & Regulatory Support

• Review technical requirements, design criteria, and regulatory compliance documents for alignment with water sector standards (e.g., AWWA, EPA, local utilities)
• Coordinate environmental, permitting, and utility agency submissions
• Track risks, constraints, and dependencies related to water infrastructure design

Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as a liaison between design consultants, utility owners, permitting agencies, and the internal project team
• Participate in client meetings, document discussions, and distribute updated project information.

Qualifications

• Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field; or relevant experience in the water/wastewater construction industry
• Previous experience in preconstruction, project coordination, engineering support, or construction administration preferred
• Strong understanding of water and wastewater infrastructure components (pipelines, treatment processes, pumping systems, civil/site work)
• Proficiency in construction management software (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam, Primavera, MS Project).
• Excellent communication, organization, and technical writing skills
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and cost estimates
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

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About Us

Costain helps to improve people's lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK's energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK's leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future-shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.

Costain appreciate the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at application phase.

We do share individual feedback following an interview.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.

It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.

For more details please go to the Disability Confident website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign