Design Manager

JOB TITLE: Design Manager

DEPARTMENT: Platform Delivery

REPORTS TO: Senior Design Manager or Director, Design Management

SUMMARY:

This individual will support all aspects of major technical programs that are targeting both colocation and hyperscale builds, including oversight of employees and third-party organizations engaged in the preconstruction, design and construction phases. Working under supervision, this role requires strong communication skills, and demonstrates advanced organizational and time management competencies. A successful Design Manager with Aligned will possess a hunger to drive efficiencies and innovation, the humility to understand we are all working together during the construction process, and a heart to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers and vendors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Drive projects from inception through customer or business turnover, with heavy focus and leadership in the preconstruction and design phases of projects. The Design Manager assumes project lead role at design hand-off meeting from the land enablement team and shifts overall project leadership to the Construction Manager (CM) at GC mobilization.

Direct accountabilities include:

Coordination/communication with the land enablement group to ensure success with offsite improvements, early permitting, easements and environmental studies.

Coordination/creation of project risk registers from land enablement phase through project completion/turnover to Aligned Operations

Project design management:

Lead/coordinate onboarding of third-party design team and creation of design schedule to support project needs.

Oversee management of external third-party design team through project completion/turnover to Aligned Operations.

Drive review and management of design deliverables; including stakeholder review and comment cycles.

Hold design team accountable to design progression and design gating.

Work with SMEs, Operations, and CMs to ensure design compliance with Aligned Design Efficiency Capture (DEC).

Identifies design variances, tracks them and manages acquisition of necessary approvals, as required.

Enforce design team’s accountability to Aligned’s Cost Control Log (CCL) and Complies, Deviates, Excludes (CDE) matrices.

Operates in lockstep with the CM on each project to ensure proper communications/escalations and regular reporting to all internal and external parties and leadership/management.

Creates, manages and updates project metrics in Smartsheets (project dashboards) for each project.

Owns or directs all administrative duties related to design management process.

Assists CM with building and maintaining budget/cost models/all phases’ budgets for each project, specifically around design costs and timelines. Works with CM to prepare and present all funding requests.

Coordinates with CM to prepare and present quarterly project updates for leadership.

Conduct technical review of construction plans with understanding of architectural design within data center environment. Communicate conceptual designs to multiple internal Aligned teams with required project documentation prior to and during construction. Cross reference to customer requirements as needed.

In conjunction with CM, supports day-to-day program activities and initiatives (engage with architects, consultants, equipment providers, GCs, etc. Coordinate all project activities with building Operations while promoting safety and compliance initiatives and requirements on site.

Performs as the primary support role to the CM from GC mobilization to turnover to Operations.

Integrates with the sales and solutions engineering teams during the revenue generation process to meet with customers and ensure technical deliverables are met.

Interfaces with customers through fit out design, construction and integration; accountable to successful delivery of customer contracts.

Manages the project with the business in mind and works to ensure the project is meeting directives of CRC/SLT/Board.

Operates with a constant mindset of continuous improvement, creativity, efficiency and innovation.

STRONGLY DESIRED WORKING EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF:

Design engineering experience

Building design process and design deliverables management

Management of design teams

Exposure to IPD, Design-Build, and/or construction management

Data center design/construction experience, specifically with MEP systems

Project Management Software (MS Projects, Prolog, Procore, BIM 360, or similar)

Knowledge and experience working with CAD is a plus

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or equivalent

5+ years progressive experience in successfully managing commercial construction project design programs, with data center experience strongly preferred

Mechanical/Electrical background preferred

Advanced experience in Excel, Smartsheets and/or AutoCAD

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to multi-task, with strong time and change management / organizational skills

Ability to always maintain discretion and confidentiality

Ability to understand and follow clear directions and meet specific deadlines with reporting, communication, and project schedules

Team player across the organization with strong communication skills

Ability to interpret construction drawings and specifications

Knowledge of construction cost estimating methods and development of scopes of work

Ability to understand construction project scopes

Able to monitor and interpret design and schedule changes and forecast their impact on overall project costs

May travel, at times, up to 25%

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Frequently required to stand/walk/sit

Frequently required to bend/climb

Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity

Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Aligned Data Centers is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity and is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs.