Design Manager - Data Center

Gilbane Building Company; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 123,600 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilbane Building Company in Arlington, VA seeks a Design Manager – Data Center to lead integration of design and construction teams, delivering coordinated, constructible designs on schedule and within budget.

The role supports advanced delivery models (Design‑Build, IPD, P3, EPC), oversees risk management, QA/QC, and drives design development from preconstruction through construction integration with a focus on safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years’ experience in design/project management for large-scale construction.
• Proven experience with advanced delivery models (Design‑Build, IPD, P3, EPC).
• Strong understanding of design-to-budget, constructability, and risk management.
• Experience establishing and executing departmental processes and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary liaison between design and construction teams during proposals.
• Lead strategy for design services breakdown and integration of specialty consultants or design‑build trades.
• Define technical scope, manage RFIs, and ensure comprehensive bridging documents.
• Develop and maintain design deliverable schedules aligned with procurement and build phases.
• Oversee design progression to ensure alignment with budget, schedule, and constructability.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Team-building

Stakeholder management

Design management software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Design management software/tools

Job description

Design Manager – Data Center

The Design Manager will lead integration of design and construction teams to deliver coordinated, constructible, cost‑effective designs on schedule and within budget. The role supports advanced delivery models (Design‑Build, IPD, P3, EPC), ensuring design intent, risk management, and project readiness for execution.

Responsibilities

Preconstruction & Proposal Phase

• Serve as primary liaison between design and construction teams during proposals.
• Lead strategy for design services breakdown and integration of specialty consultants or design‑build trades.
• Define technical scope, manage RFIs, and ensure comprehensive bridging documents.
• Develop and maintain design deliverable schedules aligned with procurement and build phases.
• Validate A/E scope and fee structure; support Teaming Agreements.
• Collaborate with estimating to break down RFPs and support subcontractor/vendor pricing.
• Assemble and maintain the Endorsed Project Baseline (proposal, estimate, contract, schedule).
• Identify and communicate requirements to clarify RFPs for design and construction.

Design Development & Delivery

• Oversee design progression to ensure alignment with budget, schedule, and constructability; lead target value design.
• Facilitate design charrettes, team chartering, and owner approval processes.
• Coordinate permitting process and maintain related schedules.
• Monitor and document design changes, minimizing scope creep.
• Lead design risk management, including cost‑benefit analyses for RFIs and changes.
• Ensure Health & Safety integration: complete Safety Risk Assessments, introduce Hierarchy of Controls, and incorporate logistics planning into design.
• Ensure effective coordination between the VDC (Virtual Design & Construction) team and the design team to align digital modeling, clash detection, and constructability reviews with project goals.
• Maintain tools for tracking design issues and changes.
• Promote a design‑build mindset and collaboration between disciplines.
• Oversee and validate design team invoices.

Construction Integration

• Communicate design scope and intent to construction teams.
• Support development of construction budgets from design estimates.
• Assist in trade contractor/supplier scope definition and procurement.
• Provide feedback for future bids and risk assessments.
• Resolve scope conflicts and develop recovery plans as needed.
• Ensure design team responsiveness to field issues and facilitate risk‑mitigating solutions.

Quality, Compliance & Documentation

• Oversee design QA/QC for regulatory and standards compliance.
• Improve documentation of design basis and assumptions.
• Emphasize the importance of delivering the proposed design and managing scope changes.

Qualifications

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years’ experience in design/project management for large‑scale construction.
• Proven experience with advanced delivery models (Design‑Build, IPD, P3, EPC).
• Strong understanding of design‑to‑budget, constructability, and risk management.
• Experience establishing and executing departmental processes and procedures.
• Experience with Assumptions Management, Change Management, requirement tracking, and Corrective Action Programs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication, leadership, and team‑building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive consensus.
• Proficiency in design and construction management software/tools.

Salary to be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience of the applicant, as well as the internal equity and alignment with the team. The pay ranges from $123,600–$225,000 plus benefits and retirement program.

Note: Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit‑sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees’ education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre‑employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Note to recruiters, placement agencies, and similar organizations: Gilbane does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our jobs alias, website, or to any Gilbane employee. Gilbane will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Gilbane and will be processed accordingly.