Design Manager, Data Centre Development

QTS Realty Trust; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

QTS Realty Trust seeks a Design Manager, Data Centre Development to lead design execution for campus and project workstreams. You will coordinate with internal teams, consultants, and vendors to ensure budgets, schedules and quality meet expectations on time.

You will drive design input for entitlement and permitting, maintain schedules, review change orders, and support procurement and cost estimates. Occasional travel is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, construction management, architecture, project management, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Five or more years of professional experience in commercial construction, design management, development, engineering, or project delivery.
• Experience coordinating design or construction activities from conceptual development through procurement and project closeout.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint for project updates and Excel for budgets, tracking, and schedule support.
• Experience with design/project technology tools such as Bluebeam, Revit, BIM 360, ACC, or similar platforms.
• Ability to travel up to 25% based on project and business needs.

Responsibilities

• Support design management for assigned campus, site, or project workstreams, including budgets, schedules, action logs, and status updates.
• Prepare clear project design updates and escalation summaries for leadership decision-making.
• Coordinate with stakeholders, design teams, construction teams, and operations to deliver campus and project design solutions.
• Coordinate design input for entitlement, permitting, and site development needs for assigned projects.
• Maintain design schedules and coordinate external design partners for on-time deliverables.
• Review change order requests and provide analysis or recommendations for senior review.
• Support procurement and cost-estimate activities for design, construction, and commissioning services.
• Collaborate with Sales Engineering and Product teams on custom deal solutions within project constraints.
• Participate in OAC and stakeholder meetings as the design/project representative.

Skills

Design coordination

Project management

Schedule management

Budget tracking

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor coordination

Communication

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in science/engineering/related field

Tools

Bluebeam

Revit

BIM 360

ACC

Job description

Who we are:As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be.The Design Manager, Data Centre Development supports development design execution for assigned campus or project workstreams. This role partners with internal stakeholders, external design consultants, contractors, engineers, commissioning agents, vendors, and operations teams to coordinate design activities, maintain project controls, and support predictable delivery against schedule, budget, and quality expectations.The role operates with independence on assigned work but escalates complex decisions, regional program risks, and executive-level matters to the Senior Development Design Manager or Director.What You Will Do: (Job Responsibilities)Support design management for assigned campus, site, or project workstreams, including maintaining budgets, schedules, action logs, and status updates.Prepare clear project design updates and escalation summaries to support leadership decision-making.Partner with QTS stakeholders, design teams, construction teams, and operations teams to support complete campus and project design solutions.Coordinate design input for entitlement, permitting, and site development needs for assigned projects.Support multi-phased development design plans to help achieve time, budget, quality, and predictability expectations.Draft and review scopes of work for design, construction, commissioning, and related professional services.Support procurement and cost-estimate activities, including proposal review and pricing-leveling for design, construction, and commissioning services.Coordinate with strategic procurement on equipment procurement, delivery tracking, and stakeholder communications.Ensure design submittals, design decisions, and stakeholder reviews are coordinated and documented appropriately.Maintain project design schedules and coordinate external design partners to support on-time deliverables.Review change order requests and prepare analysis or recommendations for senior review.Support product deployment planning and communicate project impacts to internal QTS teams.Collaborate with Sales Engineering and Product teams to support custom deal solutioning within assigned project schedule and budget parameters.Participate in OAC and stakeholder meetings as the design/project representative for assigned workstreams.Support due diligence efforts for potential new sites and contribute to improvements in development design processes and protocols.Other duties as assigned.What You Will Need to Be Successful: (Required Qualifications, Education, Experience, Certifications)Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, construction management, architecture, project management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.Five or more years of professional experience in commercial construction, design management, development, engineering, or project delivery.Experience coordinating design or construction activities from conceptual development through procurement and project closeout.Working knowledge of common project delivery methods such as Lump Sum, Construction Management at Risk, and Design Build.Experience coordinating with external consultants, contractors, designers, engineers, commissioning agents, vendors, and internal operations stakeholders.Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint for project updates and Excel for budgets, tracking, and schedule support.Experience with design/project technology tools such as Bluebeam, Revit, BIM 360, ACC, or similar platforms.Ability to travel up to 25% based on project and business needs.Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to organize information, document decisions, and escalate risks clearly.Nice to Have: (Preferred Qualifications, Education, Experience, Certifications)Experience supporting mission critical, data center, industrial, or other complex technical facility projects.Exposure to MEP trade coordination and design review processes.MBA, master’s degree in engineering, construction management, architecture, management, or related field.Experience supporting entitlement, permitting, campus master planning, cost estimating, or schedule controls.Experience creating or maintaining project dashboards, executive-ready status summaries, or decision support materials.Other Key Skills: (KSAs)Design coordination and project managementSchedule, budget, and risk trackingStakeholder management and cross-functional collaborationVendor, consultant, and contractor coordinationProcurement, scope of work, and proposal review supportChange order review and project controls disciplineAnalytical thinking, issue escalation, and decision supportClear written, verbal, and presentation communicationAttention to detail, follow-through, and documentation qualityAdaptability in fast-paced, multi-project development environmentsTotal Rewards:25 days annual leave and public holidays32 paid volunteering hours per yearSalary sacrifice pension schemeEmployer paid private medical and dental cover for employees and dependentsLife assuranceIllness financial protection including critical illness cover and income protectionEmployee referral bonus equivalent to exchange rates of $2,500 at time of award, subject to eligibilityThis role is bonus and equity eligible.The duties and responsibilities described here are not exhaustive and additional assignments, duties, or responsibilities may be required of this position. Assignments, duties, and responsibilities may be changed at any time, with or without notice, by QTS in its sole discretion. We provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable law. Please contact us to request an accommodation on [e-mail]