Design Project Director

IPS-Integrated Project Services; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

IPS-Integrated Project Services in Emeryville, California, is seeking a Design Project Director to lead complex life sciences facilities projects. You will provide senior leadership on programs, manage profit, safety, and client relationships, and mentor a technical team.

The role requires directing programs and projects, coordinating budgets and schedules, and ensuring quality and regulatory compliance across design disciplines. This position supports business development and client engagement.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in design project leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• Licensed and stamped drawings where applicable.
• Strong communication, leadership, and team-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Directs programs and multiple projects; leads teams to meet corporate, safety, and project goals.
• Manages resources, scheduling, budgeting, and execution plans to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Reviews contracts and monitors scope, cost, and schedule performance; oversees change management and risk mitigation.
• Guides the development of key deliverables, design content, and ensures quality, compliance, and constructability.
• Mentors project managers and engineers to build strong leadership and technical capabilities.
• Facilitates positive client relationships and oversees communication between stakeholders.
• Coordinates subcontractor and vendor activities, including contract negotiations and invoice evaluations.
• Partners with finance to manage budgets, forecasts, and receivables; ensures accurate cost reporting.
• Upholds legal, regulatory, and quality standards across all design activities and disciplines.
• Supports business development through proposals, presentations, and marketing efforts.
• Maintains professional competency and industry relationships; assists in talent evaluation and development.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team building

Project management

Strategic planning

Risk management

Problem solving

Rapport building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Professional registration

Job description

At IPS, we are global leaders in developing innovative solutions for the consulting, architecture, engineering, project controls, procurement, construction management, and CQV of technically complex facilities, primarily in the life sciences industry. We are looking for a talented Design Project Director to join our dedicated team at our office in Emeryville, California.

In this role, you will provide senior leadership on assigned programs and projects, including profit, safety, and client management.

Additional Responsibilities

• Directs programs and multiple projects; leads teams to meet corporate, safety, and project goals.
• Manages resources, scheduling, budgeting, and execution plans to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Reviews contracts and monitors scope, cost, and schedule performance; oversees change management and risk mitigation.
• Guides the development of key deliverables, design content, and ensures quality, compliance, and constructability.
• Mentors project managers and engineers to build strong leadership and technical capabilities.
• Facilitates positive client relationships and oversees communication between stakeholders.
• Coordinates subcontractor and vendor activities, including contract negotiations and invoice evaluations.
• Partners with finance to manage budgets, forecasts, and receivables; ensures accurate cost reporting.
• Upholds legal, regulatory, and quality standards across all design activities and disciplines.
• Supports business development through proposals, presentations, and marketing efforts.
• Maintains professional competency and industry relationships; assists in talent evaluation and development.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 15+ years of experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Progressive ability, capacity, and aptitude in administration to plan, organize, supervise, and coordinate technical work and to obtain cooperation from others.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff of professionals.
• Analytical thinking, structured problem-solving skills, superior communication skills, team building, and a strong work ethic.
• Must be able to build a rapport with department staff.
• Must be licensed and stamped/signed drawings per applicable law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional registration.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to stand, sit, and walk for prolonged periods.
• Must possess the ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl as required.
• Must be able to lift and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to climb ladders as necessary.

Work Environment

• Must be able to work in both indoor and outdoor environments, which may include exposure to varying working conditions.
• Must be able to adhere to strict cleanroom gowning protocol.

Travel

• This position will require 5-20% travel or as required by the assigned project.
• You may be assigned to a client site for an extended period.
• Overnight travel or staying in the city of the Client’s location is possible, depending on the assignment.
• Please review the IPS Travel Policy.
• You will visit Client sites and must adhere to stated safety rules.
• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Must have the ability to travel and commute on a daily or routine basis.

Safety

• This position is a safety-sensitive position.
• The employee is designated for field work and attends activities at client sites where they work in construction, process, packaging, manufacturing, research, or other "non-administrative" areas.

All interviews are conducted either in person or virtually, with video required.

About Us

IPS, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a global leader in technical consulting, architecture, engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, qualification, and validation services for technically complex facilities. Integration is how we think and work. It requires the ability to unite existing and emerging technologies into a process that reliably delivers products and accelerates speed to market. That end-to-end mindset allows us to be agile and anticipate challenges as we move projects toward operational readiness. IPS applies design and delivery expertise, client-side experience, and supplier-side insight to every project. We infuse our curiosity, our passion, and our commitment to partnership in delivering solutions at any scale. We meet our clients where they are and get them to where they need to go. That’s only possible when we care as much as our clients do.

Specialties

Process Architecture, Process Design, Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Qualification, LEAN Project Delivery, Strategic Master Planning, Energy Conservation Management, Project Controls, Program/Project Management, Operations/Logistics Strategy and Planning, EPCMV, and Staffing Services.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at IPS without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran, marital, or citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. IPS is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

The salary offered for this role is between $235,000 and $360,000, but the actual salary offered is dependent on experience, skill set, and education.

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