Design Manager - Mission Critical / Industrial

Gensler; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k

Bonus program

Paid time off

Job summary

Gensler seeks a Design Manager in Phoenix to lead high-performance facilities projects from concept to close-out. You will guide design teams, manage client communications, and ensure on-time delivery within budget while coordinating with contractors and stakeholders.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years in architecture and a strong background in mission-critical environments such as data centers and other industrial facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in architecture with project management.
• Experience designing and managing multiple building typologies, including data centers and mission-critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide project leadership to client and team by communicating objectives, scope, terms, and schedule.
• Provide design support for organization, production, and execution of projects.
• Manage scheduling, budgets, staffing, and project set-up with clients, sub-contractors, vendors and contractors.
• Prepare proposals and negotiate contracts and fees; bid projects to multiple general contractors.
• Track and manage financial performance of projects including change orders and billings.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Client liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

MS Project

Job description

Gensler is seeking a Design Manager to join our Phoenix office. As part of our growing studio, you’ll bring your architectural expertise, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills to lead the delivery of high-performance critical facilities projects—on time and within budget. In this role, you’ll oversee project workflows, allocate resources effectively, and serve as the primary liaison between the client and the project team.

Our design practice is uniquely equipped to deliver high-performance data centers by drawing on expertise from across Gensler’s diverse practice areas. We bring together specialized teams to meet the complex needs of today’s technology-driven organizations—at the intersection of architecture, infrastructure, and innovation.

Beyond data centers, our team contributes highly transferable knowledge from a range of complementary typologies, including mission-critical environments like research and supercomputing facilities, command and control centers, and SCIFs, as well as industrial sectors such as semiconductor, aerospace, manufacturing, warehouses, and distribution. The complexity and impact of this work create strong opportunities for continuous learning, career growth, and long-term advancement.

What You Will Do

• Provide project leadership to client and team by communicating projectobjectives, contract scope, terms, and schedule
• Provide strategically minded design support for organization, production and execution of projects.
• Manage scheduling, budgets, staffing, and project set-up with clients, sub-contractors, vendors and contractors
• Prepare project proposals and negotiate contracts and fees; bid projects to multiple general contractors
• Track and manage financial performance of project for success (e.g., work plan, schedule, fees, change orders, billings and collections)
• Manage project lifecycle; estimating, bidding, project kick-off, weekly coordination, punch list, turnover, opening, and project close-out
• Guide and mentor junior designers, assisting in leading multiple projects at a high level, working in a collaborative manner with other design and technical staff
• Work closely with your team and across the office and firm, to promote and model an inter-disciplinary design approach that enhances Gensler’s culture of design quality and excellence.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field
• 15+ yearsof relevant experience: a mix of architecture and project management preferred with a strong background designing and managing multiple building typologies of varying scale, including critical facilities (data centers, mission critical environments such as SCIFs, command centers, supercomputing) and/or industrial project types (semiconductor, aerospace, manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers, or heavy industrial facilities).
• Professional license or certification preferred
• LEED accreditation preferred
• Experience negotiating project scope, fees, managing project financial performance, and ensuring fiscal responsibility for projects
• Experience with the full project lifecycle, through post-occupancy
• Knowledge of building codes, standards and building structures
• Experience with industrial or highly technical project types is a plus
• Experience with project management software, such as MS Project, a plus

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From hiking and camping excursions to internal design competitions to "Well-being Week", our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities.Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

• Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off.
• We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affidline Action employer of choice. All aspects of employment decisions will be based on merit, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state and local law.

Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state and local law.

Gensler endeavors to make gensler.com/careers accessible to all applicants. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us .

Regarding Gensler’s approach to recruiting new talent, we will never ask an applicant for sensitive or personal financial information during the recruitment process. We advise all applicants seeking employment with Gensler to review available information on recruitment fraud . Anyone who suspects that they have been contacted by someone falsely representing Gensler should email [e-mail] .

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