Design Project Manager

About the role

This role leads the planning and execution of complex, multidisciplinary design projects for highly technical manufacturing and production facilities in sectors such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food and beverage, and advanced industrial. You will coordinate architectural and engineering teams, manage project schedules and budgets, and serve as a trusted advisor to clients from concept through completion. The position offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging facilities and infrastructure projects that support critical industries, while providing clear pathways for career growth into project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of multidisciplinary design projects from initial concept through completion.
• Coordinate architectural and engineering teams throughout all phases of project development.
• Establish, manage, and track project schedules, budgets, and resource plans to meet scope and quality objectives.
• Facilitate effective coordination across technical disciplines to ensure consistency and quality in all project deliverables.
• Maintain regular, proactive communication with clients and act as a trusted advisor throughout the design process.
• Monitor project performance, identify risks and issues early, and implement corrective actions to keep projects on track.
• Manage scope changes, project documentation, and contract requirements in alignment with client expectations and firm standards.
• Support proposal development, including project scoping, scheduling, and resource planning for new opportunities.
• Contribute to client relationship development and help identify and pursue future project opportunities.
• Lead multidisciplinary design teams working on facility expansions, renovations, process improvements, greenfield developments, and capital improvement initiatives.
• Oversee coordination of technical deliverables in highly regulated environments such as GMP facilities, clean rooms, and validated production areas.
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and regulatory expectations for sectors including pharmaceutical, biotech, food manufacturing, and advanced industrial.
• Collaborate closely with architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to resolve design and coordination challenges.
• Promote a collaborative, decision-driven project culture that empowers team members and supports project success.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related design discipline.
• Approximately 5+ years of project management experience within an architecture, engineering, consulting, or design-focused firm.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and coordinating technical deliverables.
• Strong understanding of project budgeting, scheduling, and resource management in a professional design environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain lasting relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Strong leadership capabilities with a track record of guiding teams and driving project outcomes.
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail in managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Hands-on project management experience in sectors such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food manufacturing, or advanced industrial facilities.
• Experience working with or within GMP environments, clean rooms, and validated production facilities.
• Ability to identify project risks and implement effective mitigation strategies to maintain schedule and budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
• Experience in design engineering for manufacturing, production, or processing facilities.
• Familiarity with validation practices and regulatory expectations in GMP and FDA-regulated environments.
• Proficiency with design and documentation tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and related software.
• Experience supporting proposal efforts and business development activities for design or consulting projects.
• Exposure to clean room design and operation within pharmaceutical, biotech, or biologics manufacturing.
• Experience collaborating with or designing for veterinary and biologics manufacturers.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment and adapt to evolving project requirements.
• Interest in long-term career growth into project leadership roles.

Work Environment

This position is based 100% in-office in a fast-paced, collaborative engineering and design environment. You will work closely with architects, engineers, clients, and project stakeholders while managing multiple concurrent projects. The culture emphasizes teamwork, open communication, and empowering team members to make decisions, build strong client relationships, and drive project success. The work focuses on technically complex facilities and infrastructure projects in regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food manufacturing, and advanced industrial production, often involving GMP environments, clean rooms, and validated processes. The setting is professional, with regular interaction across multidisciplinary teams and executive-level stakeholders, and offers a stable project backlog with strong long-term career potential.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Omaha, NE.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $95,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)