Pre Construction Project Director

• Step into a director-level role at the forefront of Ireland's most significant and complex infrastructure programmes
• Lead the full pre-construction and delivery lifecycle on landmark public and utilities infrastructure projects, from tender strategy through to construction mobilisation
• Highly competitive executive remuneration package with a clear pathway to senior leadership within a growing, ambitious Tier 2 contractor

Our client is an established and ambitious Tier 3 main contractor with a strong and growing presence in the Irish infrastructure market. Operating across civil engineering, utilities and public realm sectors, they have built a reputation for technical competence, commercial rigour and a genuine commitment to delivering complex projects on programme and to the highest quality standards.

With a well-regarded leadership team and an increasingly strong pipeline, the business has positioned itself as a credible delivery partner for both public bodies and private infrastructure clients across Ireland. Their project portfolio spans a broad range of challenging programme types — from nationally significant transport infrastructure and grid-enabling works through to large-scale utilities delivery — reflecting both the depth of their technical capability and the strength of their client relationships.

The company is at an exciting stage of growth. A strengthening order book, an expanding pre-construction function and a deliberate strategy to pursue more complex, higher-value tenders has created the need for experienced senior leadership that can shape how projects are won and delivered. This is a business investing seriously in its people, its systems and its future.

For a senior professional who wants to work at the heart of Ireland's infrastructure delivery story — and have a genuine impact on how major programmes are planned and executed — this represents a rare opportunity to join at a pivotal moment.

You will be joining at a time when demand for experienced infrastructure leadership in Ireland significantly outstrips supply. The country is navigating a complex and extended pipeline of major transport, utilities and enabling infrastructure programmes — large-scale urban transit developments, water and wastewater network expansions, and electricity grid upgrades that underpin the country's housing and economic ambitions. These projects are technically demanding, politically sensitive and require exceptional programme governance and stakeholder management capability.

The Pre-Construction Director will play a central role in bridging the gap between bid strategy and project delivery. You will be embedded in the business at a senior level, working across both the commercial and operational functions to ensure that the projects the business wins are ones it can deliver — and that delivery is set up for success from day one. This is not a siloed bid role; it is a cross-functional leadership position that carries real influence over the direction of the business.

The working environment is collaborative and performance-driven. Senior leadership is accessible, decisions are made quickly and there is a genuine openness to experienced people shaping how the business operates. You will work closely with directors, commercial leads, design managers and external stakeholders, including public sector clients and procurement teams, to develop and execute winning tender strategies on complex, high-value infrastructure tenders.

The projects you will be associated with are nationally significant. Whether it is enabling infrastructure that unlocks thousands of new homes, transport programmes that will reshape how Ireland's urban centres function, or utilities upgrades that form the backbone of the country's grid — these are roles that matter, delivered by people who understand that the stakes are high and the standards required are exceptional.

• Lead the pre-construction function across live and pipeline tender opportunities, taking ownership of bid strategy, programme development and risk identification from early engagement through to contract award
• Direct and coordinate multidisciplinary pre-construction teams including estimating, design management, commercial and planning, ensuring a cohesive and competitive submission on major infrastructure tenders
• Own the transition from tender award to construction mobilisation, ensuring that lessons from the bid phase are captured and that delivery teams are set up with the information, resource and programme they need to execute effectively
• Develop and maintain senior client relationships across public bodies, utilities agencies and framework clients, acting as the primary point of contact during pre-construction phases and building long‑term strategic partnerships
• Provide strategic input into the company's bid/no‑bid decisions and project pursuit strategy, identifying the opportunities best suited to the business's capability and growth objectives
• Oversee programme governance and planning strategies for major bids, ensuring realistic and deliverable programmes are developed that satisfy client requirements and reflect ground‑level constraints
• Manage stakeholder interfaces at a senior level, including engagement with political, regulatory and community stakeholders on complex and high‑profile infrastructure programmes
• Support and develop the pre‑construction and delivery teams, mentoring senior managers and fostering a culture of excellence, accountability and continuous improvement

• Proven track record at Director or Senior Project Director level within a main contractor or major infrastructure delivery environment
• Deep experience of complex infrastructure programmes — including transport, utilities or enabling infrastructure — with demonstrable expertise in the full pre‑construction lifecycle from tender to mobilisation
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience leading or overseeing major tender submissions on NEC, FIDIC or public sector contract frameworks
• Outstanding stakeholder management capability, including experience engaging with public sector clients, regulatory bodies and senior political stakeholders on nationally significant programmes
• Ability to provide strategic programme leadership across multidisciplinary delivery teams, instilling rigour and accountability from the earliest stages of project planning
• Degree‑qualified in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline; Chartered status (Engineers Ireland, CIOB or equivalent) preferred
• A collaborative, solutions‑focused leader with the presence and credibility to represent the business at the highest level

This role offers an executive‑level remuneration package commensurate with the seniority and complexity of the position, including a competitive base salary, performance incentives and a comprehensive benefits package. Beyond the package, you will be stepping into one of the most consequential infrastructure roles available in the Irish market — with the autonomy, seniority and pipeline to build a genuinely legacy‑defining body of work. The business offers a clear and supported path into executive leadership for the right individual.

To apply for this position, please submit an updated CV via the Apply Now button or contact us directly for a confidential conversation. xcfaprz All enquiries are treated with the strictest confidence and the identity of our client will not be disclosed without your prior consent.