Pre-construction Manager – Design, Build Food and Beverage Manufacturing Facilities
Project Scope, Pricing, Design Guidance, Client Management – Ground-Up Construction
Industries: Food & Beverage Manufacturing | Light Industrial | Food Processing Facilities
Location: Hybrid Remote – up to 25% travel. Ideal candidate based in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, or Michigan
Our client is a privately held design-build EPC firm delivering complex food processing, industrial agriculture, and food manufacturing facility construction projects across North America. They can offer the technical challenge and scale of large projects without the bureaucracy, politics, or burnout common in national corporate construction firms. Their Teams operate with ownership, trust, and direct access to decision makers. As they grow, they are building long-term leaders, not just filling seats/positions
They are actively seeking a skilled Preconstruction Manager to lead the planning, design development, and pricing of ground-up food processing, food & beverage, manufacturing, and light industrial facilities. Join a design-build GC leader known for multiplying value for end users of industrial facilities by blending design innovation with constructability and life cycle cost optimization.
This is a client-facing role ideal for a collaborative, curious, and experienced Food Manufacturing Pro with the insight of an industrial architect, structural engineer, or preconstruction manager. We are looking for someone who brings full project scope construction experience, knows how to guide and shape design decisions, and proactively anticipates critical operational issues in the manufacturing environment. You’ll collaborate directly with facility owners to ensure their vision translates into a high-functioning, cost-effective construction project from the ground up.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead Entire Facility Development: Manage the full scope of preconstruction activities to bring a production facility to life.
- Client-Centered Problem Solving: Apply critical thinking and market-specific knowledge to ask the right questions, clarify scope, and align owner goals with real-world construction practices and sequencing.
- Design + Construction Integration: Serve as the bridge between the Owner, design team and construction operations, shaping constructible, cost-conscious solutions that reflect the needs of the end user.
- Collaborative Design Iteration: Participate in early and ongoing project definition phases, refining the scope across multiple design iterations in collaboration with owner-operators, engineering, estimating and operations.
- Career Growth: Step into a high-visibility leadership role within a fast-growing, privately held company committed to innovation, integrity, and excellence.
REQUIRMENTS
- Must have 8+ years of experience in industrial architecture, engineering or construction - preferably in Food or Agricultural Processing markets
- Must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in construction, manufacturing, architecture, engineering, or related field
- Must have 3+ years in design, preconstruction and/or estimating roles, including conceptual design, budgeting, value engineering, and cost modeling.
- The ideal candidate will have experience with ground-up construction projects in the $10M - $50M+ range
- Must have broad project knowledge across all construction trades with specific knowledge of food and beverage production systems and equipment.
- Must have strong communication skills to engage directly with clients, interpret operational needs, and lead discussions that influence design and construction outcomes
- A mindset shaped by both technical expertise and business acumen, capable of identifying scope gaps, anticipating challenges, and delivering client-focused solutions
- Prior experience in design-build or EPC project delivery models is ideal, but architect, engineering, and production facility experience is equally valued.
- Remote-based role possible—Midwest presence is preferred due to project locations
- Up to 25% travel required for site visits and client meetings
In return, they can offer a competitive base salary into the mid 100’s plus performance bonus plus vehicle, full benefits and ample opportunity for career advancement. Send resume to: jobs@foodemployment.com
