Manager, Design Practice

CDM Smith; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Design Practice Manager in Burnaby, Canada, to lead digital transformation initiatives and manage the design practice team. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in AEC design technologies, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively. Responsibilities include developing workflows, managing team performance, and ensuring integration of digital tools across projects. This role offers a competitive salary and a promising career path within the organization.

Qualifications

• 10 years of related experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory role.
• Expertise in AEC design technologies and processes required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Design Practice group and drive the digital transformation.
• Manage and oversee a team of design practice specialists.
• Develop documentation, standards, and workflows for design tools.

Skills

AEC design technologies

Team leadership

Effective communication

Critical thinking

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Autodesk applications

Bentley applications

Job description

Why CDM Smith?

Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! Join Us! CDM Smith – where amazing career journeys unfold. Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co‑workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it’s a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family. Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world‑class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.

Job Description

CDM Smith is seeking a Design Practice Manager to join our Digital Engineering Solutions team. This individual will lead the Design Practice group, helping to drive the firm’s digital transformation through the strategic implementation of digital design tools, technologies and processes. This group plays a key role in advancing digital enablement programs and technology execution plans that enhance design workflows across our architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) disciplines. This role also involves collaborating with cross‑functional teams to ensure seamless integration of various technologies and communicating effectively with stakeholders to drive project success. This position is ideal for someone who has demonstrated excellence in digital design technologies and processes, has applied them across a variety of AEC practices, and thrives on identifying, developing, and establishing standards, workflows, and training programs. The Design Practice Manager will lead rollout efforts and champion adoption across the organization. As a member of the Digital Engineering Solutions team, the Design Practice group will also collaborate closely the business units project delivery teams and discipline experts to identify, prioritize and advance design practice initiatives. This includes translating strategic objectives and operational challenges into actionable insights that align with broader digital strategies.

The ideal candidate will have a proven record in the field of design practice, with a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity leading to tangible results.

• Working on the cutting edge of digital tools and technologies, developing standards, processes and workflows for applications by Autodesk and Bentley, and other design applications and plug‑ins that can benefit the AEC practices at CDM Smith.
• Maintaining consistent and documented standards, processes, workflows, and best practices for CDM Smith’s AEC digital tools and technologies in alignment with the broader digital enablement strategy. Ability to communicate thoughts and technical ideas in an accessible and easy‑to‑understand manner.
• Eagerness to learn and work as part of a multidisciplinary team across a global practice.
• Display excellent interpersonal skills to build quality relationships with the team and across the organization.
• Assist on initiatives and efforts, as part of a collaborative team, with your digital tools and technologies expertise.
• Assist with the development of documentation, standards, best practices, and workflows for design practice hardware/software and digital tools and technologies in use across the business.
• Manage and oversee a team of design practice specialists, aligning the group to the Digital Engineering Solutions team’s goals and objectives along with the Digital Practice Leader. This further includes providing guidance, instruction, training, and leadership skills to inspire the group to perform at their optimum, working efficiently together and maximizing the team’s potential.
• Motivate and inspire a team of design practice specialists by creating an environment that promotes positive communication, encourages bonding of group members (both within the area of design technology and across the broader team as a whole), and demonstrates flexibility.
• Manages staff, evaluates performance, mentors, approves paid time off (PTO) and training, ensures human resources (HR) policies are followed and makes recommendations regarding staffing decisions.
• Present to both internal and external audiences as needed.
• Assist the business with marketing, communications, and business development descriptions and activities from a technology perspective as needed.
• Assist with internal and external website descriptions as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills and Abilities

• Experience leading and managing a team of staff. Team‑oriented, positive, collaborative and reliable. Proven leadership capabilities with the ability to organize, plan, prioritize, and to manage time and changing priorities.
• Expert knowledge and proven ability in the area of AEC design technologies and processes. Inquisitive, with a desire to ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of business issues. Passionate about helping AEC business lines drive their success in using design technology and processes.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate well with people from both technical and non‑technical backgrounds. Ability to listen, build rapport, and credibility as a strategic and diplomatic partner with our business units.
• Innovative and able to apply critical thinking skills to generate new solutions/ideas that create value and improve processes.
• Detail oriented with the ability to assist with executing highly complex or specialized projects.

#LI-LP1 #LI-REMOTE

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 10 years of related experience with at least 2 of those years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a college degree.

Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.

Amount of Travel Required

0%

Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as "CDM Smith") reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Recruitment Center Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Recruiting Center Team (RCT) will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.

Pay Range Minimum

$120,000

Pay Range Maximum

$210,000

Business Unit

COR

Group

COR

Assignment Category

Fulltime-Regular

Employment Type

Local

Visa Sponsorship Available

No - Please note that all applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada, for the Company, at the time of hire. Furthermore, this is not a position for which the Company is offering immigration application sponsorship or support.

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