Design Manager (Owner's Representative) - Data Center Construction

KALCON; Abilene (TX); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional license reimbursement

Job summary

A major construction firm in Abilene, TX, seeks a Design Manager to oversee design in hyperscale data center projects. This role demands strong knowledge of construction methods and effective communication skills for reports to executive management. Candidates must hold a degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, along with a minimum of 5 years in commercial construction. Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k) match, and generous paid time off.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in commercial construction, particularly in mission-critical or data center projects.
• Experience in leading design management, coordination, and construction administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead design management for a hyperscale data center as Owner’s Representative.
• Review and manage design schedules and change management workflows.
• Serve as liaison between Project Management and A/E teams.

Skills

Strong understanding of construction delivery methods

Excellent communication and presentation skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

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

Job description

Design Manager (Owner's Representative) – Data Center Construction

Base pay range: $160,000 – $220,000 per year.

Seeking a Design Manager to lead design management of a large hyperscale data center campus in Abilene, TX as an Owner's Representative. We will consider local candidates, relocation, or a hybrid travel arrangement with per diem.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in commercial construction, with a focus on mission‑critical or data center projects.
• Strong understanding of construction delivery methods including Lump Sum, CM@Risk, and Design‑Build.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially for executive‑level reporting.
• Per diem or travel arrangement offered for non‑local candidates.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Platforms & Information Management: Review and help set up Autodesk Construction Cloud or Procore configuration and daily governance; establish/maintain clean, logical file structures and metadata conventions; ensure compliance and ongoing maintenance by architect/engineer partners; standardize naming, versioning, and distribution workflows; develop a centralized meeting/action tracker covering A/E partners, GC, and subs to capture decisions, RFIs, submittal status, and assignments.
• Design Coordination & Alignment: After initial design, lead and manage cross‑discipline design coordination; ensure alignment across multiple EORs and subcontractors; drive design clarity and closure of submittals and shop drawings; lead weekly coordination meetings and publish minutes/actions; track design packages, narratives, and scope splits (Base‑Build vs. Tenant Fit‑Out), capturing lessons learned and sharing information across buildings; coordinate customer/tenant fit‑out design package integration (non‑base‑build) to maintain alignment with the core design.
• Schedule Management: Review and manage the design schedule; ensure weekly updates and accuracy, including phase gate readiness and milestone adherence; align design phase turnover with construction phasing and tenant fit‑out to protect critical path.
• Construction Administration (CA): Manage CA processes: run weekly A/E partner meetings; elevate and resolve submittals/RFIs that are held up by the A&E or GC; coordinate site visits with A/E and QA/QC teams; oversee mock‑ups/FOK (first‑of‑kind) reviews and acceptance criteria to de‑risk fabrication/installation; provide CA reporting and documentation per project requirements and Owner standards.
• Change Management & Cost Control: Lead change management workflows (PCOs, bulletins, RFIs with cost impact); train GC teams on contract expectations and entitlement standards; partner with Cost Management for pricing reviews; validate design‑related cost changes and process VE options, documenting rationale and approvals; ensure QA/QC design issuance and narratives clearly categorize changes at the drawing sheet level for traceability.
• Permitting & Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ): Manage and communicate the overall permit strategy, submissions, and responses; coordinate AHJ inspections and certificate‑of‑occupancy milestones with the project team.
• Quality, Documentation & Risk: Log and document major decisions/events; maintain action registers, RFIs, submittal metrics, and issue logs through design and CA; support QA/QC activities tied to design intent and acceptance criteria; assist field teams with design clarifications and punch‑list readiness; maintain a design risk register (interfaces, late vendor data, long‑lead items) and drive mitigations with stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership: Serve as the liaison for Project/Construction Management to the A/E team; lead meetings and communicate design decisions, constraints, and impacts; provide weekly project reporting on schedule, deliverables, open issues, and approvals; perform additional duties as assigned by Management.

Benefits Offered

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with 4% KALCON match when an employee contributes at least 5%
• 15 days of paid time off
• 8 paid National Holidays
• Reimbursement for professional licenses and certifications

Submission Requirements

• Professional resume that includes:
  • Educational background
  • Professional licenses or certifications
  • Awards and recognitions
  • Detailed employment history including:
    • Company/Agency name and contact information
    • Dates of employment (Month/Year)
    • Positions held
    • Projects managed (including value, location, responsibilities, and contributions)

EEO Statement

At KALCON we are committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace where every individual is respected and valued. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment as we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes to the success of our company and the innovation behind the exceptional projects we deliver. We encourage and support applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to join our team and thrive. Our hiring and employment practices are guided by principles of fairness, equality, and opportunity for all.

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Project Management, Design, and Consulting

Industries

Construction, Building Construction, and Business Consulting and Services