Senior Design Manager - Design for Manufacturing

Role Summary

The Senior Design Manager is responsible for managing and leading a multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, architects, and drafters in the development and delivery of design solutions that support offsite manufacturing operations and project delivery objectives. This position provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure design deliverables meet quality, schedule, cost, and constructability requirements while aligning with client expectations and approved project budgets.

Key Role Responsibilities - Core

• Interprets proposals and develops internal work plans, collaborating with preconstruction, operations, and other key stakeholders.
• Understands potential client's business needs and helps create or coordinate conceptual plans, elevations, 3D models, for support of presentations and win strategies.
• Reviews and understands contact documents for project compliance with Codes and Criteria to meet the technical requirements and design deliverables.
• Supports early phase basic due diligence activities with clients and key stakeholders to ensure requirements are incorporated into design documents.
• Manages external design team partners/consultants, assuring they meet the technical, quality as well as schedule requirements for design deliverables.
• Manages the design review process with the design for manufacturing team to ensure schedules are met and identifies project risks and opportunities throughout the design phase.
• Leverages design experiences and knowledge to work with project teams identifying solutions to project specific challenges while monitoring expectations for design schedules, quality control, and content for design document delivery.
• Capable of developing sketches and plans to assist preconstruction with pricing of conceptual ideas. Coordinates with VDC team to develop and implement project(s) as needed.
• Captions the design document packaging strategies with the project team.
• Manages project documentation such as proposal, drawings, specifications, reports, calculations, and shop drawings using both 3D and 2D file management system.
• Reviews design and provides quality control review comments to ensure the program specifications are met.
• Understands project budget and steers project accordingly ensuring the design stays in line with contractual details.
• Generates cost saving strategies and value-added solutions throughout the design phase.
• Makes decisions within defined limits of authority and consults supervisor on other decisions.
• Leads the process to understand potential client's business needs and helps develop conceptual plans, elevations, and 3D models in support of presentations and win strategies.
• Directs the selection of design partners during the design planning process.
• Works with the estimating and business development team to set design budgets, schedules and fees, and influences ongoing decisions throughout the project lifecycle that impacts cost, schedule, and budget.
• Serves as escalation point for the design for manufacturing team.
• Functions as key liaison between the design for manufacturing team and project design team to ensure the team executes the project strategy, maintains design schedule and design deliverables.
• Maintains progress toward objectives and implements corrective actions as necessary.
• Manages change management with internal team and external design partners.
• Provides technical design guidance throughout entire design and construction process.
• Provides design engineering support for the entire life cycle of the project (proposal, site survey, engineering, equipment selection, permitting, training, and construction).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to perform work accurately and completely, and in a timely manner
• Communication skills, verbal and written – Intermediate
• Ability to conduct effective presentations
• Proficiency in MS Office – Intermediate
• Thorough knowledge of project processes and how each supports the successful completion of a project
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate within a team, internally and externally
• Ability to apply Lean process and philosophy – Intermediate
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit and/or Google SketchUp
• Experience with U.S. building design codes and material specific standards
• Conversant with linked design disciplines, e.g. Geotechnical/Civil, Architecture, Building Façade, Structural, MEP, Data/Communications, Vertical Transportation, Acoustics, and Fire and Life Safety, etc.
• Ability to think in a highly structured manner along all design disciplines while also having creativity to develop specialized solutions by anticipating potential challenges
• Ability to manage budgets, maximize profitability and generate future work through building relationships
• Technical market expert with knowledge of industry trends, innovations, etc.
• Ability to build relationships with team members that transcend a project

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or related field (Required)

Experience

8+ years of experience as Project Manager or managing people (preferred)

Working Environment

• Valid and unrestricted drivers license required
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds
• May require extensive periods of travel
• Must be willing to work non-traditional hours to meet project needs
• May be exposed to extreme conditions (hot or cold)
• Assignment location may include project sites and/or in the office
• Frequent activity: Sitting, Viewing Computer Screen
• Occasional activity: Standing, Walking, Bending, Climbing, Reaching above Shoulder, Pushing, Pulling

Benefits Information

The benefits package aligned to this position is Professional Non-Union. Please click the link below for more details.

Nearest Major Market

Kansas City