Director, Preconstruction
Nscale · Toronto · $170,000–$270,000 (stated in the posting)
About Nscale
Nscale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure for AI start-ups and large enterprise customers. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Our GPU cloud bolsters technical capabilities and directly supports strategic business outcomes, including cost management, rapid innovation, and environmental responsibility.
At Nscale, our growing North American Preconstruction team plays a critical role in shaping the capital investment decisions behind our hyperscale and mission-critical data center portfolio.
We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you'll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. If you join our team, you'll be contributing to building the technology that powers the future.
About the Role
Nscale is seeking a hands-on Director, Preconstruction — a pivotal role within our growing North American Preconstruction team, reporting directly to the Vice President, Preconstruction. As Director, you will lead a team of Preconstruction Managers and Analysts, owning integrated CapEx Total Development Cost Proformas, integrated development cash flow, commitment, and cancellation cost ledgers, and planning-level constructability analysis across a portfolio of hyperscale and mission-critical data center projects.
This is a player-coach role: you will set the standard for technical excellence, develop your team, and drive process consistency. You will be a critical contributor in shaping the Preconstruction team while providing professional cost, schedule, risk, and constructability analysis for prospective developments shaping capital expenditure decisions across North America.
What You'll be Doing
Leadership & Development
- Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of Preconstruction Managers and Analysts, including performance management, workload allocation, and career growth planning
- Build a high-performance team culture grounded in accountability, technical rigor, and continuous improvement
- Own complex scope, development cost, project-specific integrated delivery schedule coordination, and risk issues for active and prospective sites
- Support recruiting, onboarding, and succession planning within the Preconstruction group
Preconstruction Execution & Oversight
- Oversee delivery of site-specific CapEx proformas, conceptual estimates, GC RFP reviews, cost ledgers consisting of project-wide cash flow, commitment, and cancellation costs, and revenue-ready date forecasting across all active and prospective projects
- Review and approve team deliverables, including independent take-offs, cost estimates, and contractor pricing validations
- Lead or co-lead Prime Contractor Budget Reviews, directing budget review teams through cost and schedule analysis from conceptual phase through IGMP
- Ensure thorough review of Prime Contractor, Subcontractor, Colocation Provider, Power Entity, Building Design, and Consultant proposals for scope completeness, cost competitiveness, and schedule integrity
- Maintain and continuously improve the internal project cost database, incorporating lessons learned to keep estimating data accurate and market-competitive
Strategy & Business Planning
- Support the Vice President of Preconstruction and NA Data Center Infrastructure leadership in driving business plans for geographic and vertical market expansion across North America, ensuring capacity requirements align with hyperscale and wholesale customer needs
- Serve as an internal subject matter expert on total development cost, providing strategic guidance from conceptual phase through Construction Documents
- Partner with Commercial Management, Sales, Site Selection, Design/Engineering, Construction, Energy, Procurement, Project Controls, and Finance to ensure Preconstruction outputs support optimal capital deployment and revenue realization
- Contribute to project development strategy and early-stage decision-making on site characteristics, construction methodology, and cost optimization
Risk, Process & Standards
- Identify, escalate, and develop mitigation strategies for risks related to scope, schedule, procurement, labor availability, and market escalation across the team's portfolio
- Drive standardization of Preconstruction procedures, documentation, reporting, and estimating workflows across all projects and team members
- Lead adoption of digital tools, estimating technology, and process improvements within the team
- Contribute to departmental KPIs and operational standards set by the Vice President
Stakeholder Engagement
- Represent the Preconstruction team in executive presentations, client meetings, and strategic planning discussions
- Build and maintain relationships with General Contractors, major trade partners, consultants, and key vendors
- Support Prime Contractor commercial negotiations, site procurement strategy, and commercial positioning in partnership with Preconstruction team leadership
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 10+ years of related Preconstruction or construction management experience
- Experience managing Preconstruction Managers or Senior Estimators, with demonstrated ability to lead a team of experienced professionals
- Demonstrated expertise in CapEx proformas, conceptual estimating, cash flow modeling, GC RFP review, and Prime Contractor Budget Reviews
- Strong understanding of construction documents at all levels of design, including drawings, specifications, and contracts
- Proven ability to oversee multiple high-value concurrent projects while maintaining team cohesion and deliverable quality
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Word
- Excellent communicator across all levels, from trade partners to executive leadership and clients
- Willingness to travel up to 35% based on business needs
Nice to Have
- Data center or mission-critical facility experience strongly preferred
Why this role matters
As Nscale continues to scale its hyperscale and mission-critical data center footprint across North America, this role directly shapes the capital decisions and cost discipline behind that growth. You'll be a driving force in ensuring every project is estimated accurately, resourced responsibly, and delivered with the rigor our investors and customers expect.
What We Can Offer You
At Nscale, you'll find a collaborative, supportive, and innovative environment where your contributions spark real impact. We're building something extraordinary, and we want you at the core.
- Highly competitive package (base + equity) with reviews every 12 months. 🚀
- Join the fastest-growing tech startup, your chance to push boundaries, collaborate with brilliant minds, and make your mark on cutting-edge AI. ✨
- Expect a dynamic progression plan tailored to your ambitions. Grow by trying new things, leading, challenging the status quo, and owning your impact, always with our full support.
- Human-First Flexibility: We treat you as humans first. 🫶🏽 Our flexible workplace trusts Nscalers to deliver, giving you the autonomy to shape your day around life's moments.
Equal Opportunities Statement
At NScale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
If there's anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.
The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.