Aptitude Senior Design Manager

Best People + Right Culture. These are the driving forces behind JE Dunn's success.

By hiring inspired people, giving them interesting and challenging work, enabling them with innovative tools, and letting them share in the company's rewards, we've found a sustainable way to grow in our industry for the last 100+ years.

Aptitude, JE Dunn's strategic partner for technology integration services, was born out of the growing need to meet the increasingly complex demands of modern building projects. 

Our diverse teams around the country strive to enrich lives through inspired people and places every day, and we need inspired people like you to join us in our pursuit of building perfection.

Role Summary

The Senior Design Manager is responsible for successful delivery of projects by leading the design participants, process and technology. Participants include the design team(s) and trade partners when projects utilize design-build, design assist or other alternate delivery methods. This position requires proactive leadership of the design process from initial business development phase through project completion. Plays an integral role with project team ensuring project goals are achieved. All activities will be performed in support of the strategy, vision and values of JE Dunn.

• Autonomy & Decision Making: Makes decisions within defined limits of authority and consults supervisor on other decisions
• Career Path: Various

Key Role Responsibilities - Core

DESIGN MANAGEMENT FAMILY – CORE

• Develops turnkey design pricing proposals in response to client RFP's
• Collaborate with estimating preconstruction and Interprets formal design build RFPs and business development teams to develop competitive bid strategies,
• Ensure designs meet functional, aesthetic, and sustainability goals. 
• Integrates structural, mechanical, and eletrical considerations into technology plans.
• Manage the creation to completion design packages that include detailed floor plans, elevations, and one-lines. 
• Reviews and understands bridging documents for project compliance with RFP including comprehension of 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 professional studies, jurisdictional & permitting requirements are incorporated into design documents.
• Manages design, assuring they meet the technical requirements as well as schedule requirements for design deliverables.
• Manages the design review process with design team and clients 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.
• Generates cost savings and value-added solutions during design phase.
• Monitors and controls our design partner's and consultant's cost through the design development, both cost of project and cost of the design services for added scope.
• Reviews design and provides quality control review comments to ensure the program specifications and life-safety requirements are met. 
• Coordinates 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.
• Capable of developing sketches and plans to assist preconstruction with pricing of conceptual ideas. Coordinates with project team to develop and implement project(s) as needed.
• Provides technical design guidance throughout entire construction process.
• Provides design engineering support for the entire life cycle of the project (proposal, site survey, engineering, equipment selection, permitting, training, and construction).
• Understands project budget and steers project accordingly ensuring the design stays in line with contractual details.

Key Role Responsibilities - Additional Core

SENIOR DESIGN MANAGER

In addition, this position will be responsible for:

• Leads the process to understand potential client's business needs and helps create conceptual plans, elevations, and 3D models.
• Plays a lead role with the Project Executive to set design budgets, schedules and fees, and influences ongoing decisions throughout the project lifecycle that impacts cost, schedule, and budget.
• Functions as key liaison between JE Dunn and design team to ensure accountabilty for delivering on project strategy.
• Provides thought leadership and direction to the design process from schematic design through completion.
• Responsible for managing the external design team ensuring they hit their deadlines and deliverables.
• Engages in business, industry and community activities to build and strengthen external relationships.
• Manages change management with internal team and external design partners throughout the duration of the project.

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 – Advanced
• 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

• 10+ years design and/or construction management experience (Required)
• 8+ years experience as a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager (Preferred)
• Cross-functional knowledge of the key engineering disciplines (Architectural, Structural, MEP, etc.) and relevant trades
• Experience taking conceptual design through construction, working with internal and external partners

Certifications & Professional Affliations

• Successful completion of company training and role-specific professional development coursework (Required)
  
• Professional Registration (Preferred)
  
• Successful completion and maintenance of First Aid Certification, CPR (Required)
  
• Successful completion of OSHA 10 training, within required timeframe (Required)
  
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design AP (Accredited Professional) (Preferred)
  
• Current valid driver's license (Required)
  

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.

Click here for benefits details.

This role is expected to accept applications for at least three business days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

JE Dunn Construction is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected category. JE Dunn Construction is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

JE Dunn provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a job, please submit your request to 

JE Dunn Construction Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of JE Dunn Construction without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of JE Dunn Construction Company.  Please, no phone calls or emails.

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