Design Manager

Balfour Beatty plc; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is hiring a Design Manager in Santa Ana, California, to oversee design-build projects, coordinating between owners, designers, and trade contractors. This role requires at least 8 years of relevant experience and strong project management and communication skills.

The successful candidate will develop schedules, manage costs, and ensure quality while adapting to project needs. A Bachelor's degree in a related field is required, and a DBIA Certification is preferred.

The compensation for this position ranges from $130,000 to $160,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience working on design projects with design teams.
• Experience in construction administration and/or construction project management.
• DBIA Certification or desire to obtain within 1 year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and integrate with owners and trade partners on design-build projects.
• Develop deliverable schedules and manage them.
• Engage in contract negotiations with owners and trade contractors.

Skills

Design management

Communication skills

Cost estimation

Project management

Contract negotiation

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Project management software

Scheduling software

Job description

Balfour Beatty is seeking a Design Manager to join our team in Southern Calif supporting OC and LA offices. The DM coordinates and integrates with the owner, the builder and their trades, and the design team on design-build projects. Manage the design and permitting processes to ensure quality, on‑time delivery, constructability, and cost control, by working directly with the designers, owners, and operations teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist in, and potentially lead project pursuits, including management of the overall design RFQ and RFP response, development of the GMP, and management/coordination of team members, including design team, trade partners, internal operations teams, marketing, etc.
• Coordinate and monitor the level of completeness of the design against RFP requirements (or other project requirements) and contractual obligations during pursuits and design phases of a project. Develop deliverable schedules and manage to them. Oversee D‑B Program verification/reconciliation during the proposal phase in association with project trade partners and the design team.
• Consistently monitor the design progression for changes and cost impacts, including the identification and preparation of owner‑directed enhancements, and management of cost trends. Communicate/document noted changes and cost impacts with all relevant parties and actively work with the team to reconcile cost issues, as needed.
• Understand conceptual estimating and its relationship to conceptual design. Identify when design direction is moving away from the project budget and work directly with the estimating and design teams to mitigate any budget challenges. Review and coordinate trade partner estimates to ensure scope and budget alignment during the proposal and design phase.
• Participate in interviews for new project pursuits.
• Engage in contract negotiations with owners, designers, and trade contractors. Understand scope and other contractual obligations to adequately manage/communicate project expectations and requirements as the project progresses.
• Work with the design and construction teams to develop a design and permit schedule that integrates directly with the needs of the owner, agencies, and construction schedule. Manage design and design team progress to be able to regularly update the schedule and resolve impacts quickly.
• Actively review the design development and contract documents for quality and constructability. Facilitate coordination with operations and other field staff to solicit input on construction sequencing, methodology, and buildability. Work to identify solutions that satisfy the needs of the owner, design team, and build team. Review contract documents and identify potential design deficiencies associated with stipulated program/Owner criteria, establish a strategy with design team and build team to satisfy Owner needs.
• Organize and/or lead meetings with owners, regulators, and project team members. Document decisions, actions, and other meeting outcomes, as needed, and ensure any actions are progressing. Coordinate on‑time completion of additional design deliverables resulting from meetings with Owner and AHJ.
• Role may not be limited to design management of design‑build projects and requires adaptability. Depending upon project needs, the design manager may be asked to perform other management assignments, such as preconstruction management and/or project management on projects with different delivery methods.
• Have sound, independent judgment, maintain a level temperament, and understand, communicate, and implement detailed project goals. Report out on the project status and goals to corporate leadership.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field. Equivalent combination of training and/or related experience may be acceptable.
• Minimum 8-years of experience working on design projects with design teams, including the use of project management and scheduling software.
• Experience working directly with owner’s and/or owner’s representatives.
• Experience working on project and design‑build pursuits, including the development of pursuit submissions/responses and GMP’s.
• Experience in developing and analyzing cost estimates and contract documents. Bidding experience is a plus.
• Experience in construction administration and/or construction project management.
• Experience working on large‑scale design‑build projects. Fast‑tracked project experience is a plus.
• DBIA Certification or desire to obtain DBIA Certification within 1‑year of employment.
• Professional licensure as either an Architect or Engineer is a plus.
• Excellent verbal/written communication, interpersonal and supervisory skills, including public speaking ability.
• Capable of collaborating and communicating with various individuals – designers, owners, field staff, marketing, etc.

The base compensation range for the role of Design Managerin S Ca posted above is $130,000 to $160,000 annually.

*This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs. No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, incentive, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law and any applicable plan documents.

Balfour Beatty is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of a diverse workforce. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by federal, state or local law.