Director - Design Operations

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 111,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Housing discounts

Job summary

Vivmark Residential in Arlington, VA, is seeking a Director of Design Operations to provide operational leadership for the Design organization, ensuring resources, systems, and processes support daily operations and growth.

The role partners with Design leadership to improve visibility, capacity planning, scheduling, and delivery, applying disciplined judgment and practical problem-solving to help multidisciplinary teams work effectively across functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Engineering, or Business.
• 8–12 years of experience in operations, project management, or team leadership in architecture or design.
• Demonstrated ability to improve processes and systems for multidisciplinary teams across locations.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with project management systems, project pipeline and schedule tracking, reporting tools, and business planning.
• Curiosity about emerging technologies and translating ideas into practical improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead Operations and Resource Planning: maintain visibility into the project pipeline, schedules, milestones, and delivery across Architecture and Interiors.
• Improve Processes and Systems: standardize workflows, templates, and tools; clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Lead Technology and Innovation: research emerging technologies and lead implementations for measurable improvements.
• Support Team Development and Systems Adoption: onboarding, training, and systems adoption across locations.
• Collaborate with Design leadership and stakeholders to translate priorities into plans and track progress.

Skills

Operations leadership

Project management

Team leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Interior Design/Construction Management/Engineering/Business

Tools

Project management systems

Job description

Director - Design Operations

Position Type

Full time

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

State

Virginia

City

Arlington

Zip Code

22203

Total Base Pay Range

$110,800.00 - $184,800.00

Overview

Vivmark Residential exists to set the mark for what home can be. Formed through the merger of AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential, Vivmark brings together two industry leaders with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering exceptional living experiences. Our vision is to be the most trusted and best-performing rental housing company in America - one that continues to get better as it grows. And we’re looking for people who want to help us do it.

As an owner, developer, and manager of more than 180,000 apartment homes in major markets across the US, we have the scale to offer something most companies can’t. At Vivmark, team members move up and across functions, markets, and disciplines, building lasting careers. We invest in team members’ growth, development, and capabilities that make them and us better, and we hold ourselves to the highest standard as an employer.

The best people want to work here. We hope you’re one of them.

The Role

The Director of Design Operations provides operational leadership and hands-on execution for Vivmark’s Design organization, ensuring that resources, systems, and processes support effective day-to-day operations and continued growth. Working with Design leadership and internal stakeholders, the role strengthens project visibility, resource planning, coordination, and delivery.

The successful candidate brings operational discipline, sound judgment, curiosity, and a practical approach to solving problems and helping multidisciplinary teams work effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Operations and Resource Planning

• Maintain visibility into the project pipeline, schedules, milestones, and delivery across Architecture and Interiors.
• Assess workload and capacity with Design leadership to inform staffing and project assignments.
• Identify risks and competing priorities, and coordinate with internal stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Work with Design leadership to define group-wide business priorities, translate them into plans, and track commitments and progress.

Improve Processes and Systems

• Manage and refine existing workflows, standards, templates, and tools.
• Work with internal stakeholders and external partners to standardize design processes and clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Track adoption of design standards and assess process effectiveness, using regular reporting to identify gaps and guide improvements.

Lead Technology and Innovation

• Research emerging technologies and industry trends, including AI-enabled tools and workflows relevant to architecture, interior design, and project delivery.
• Evaluate opportunities, recommend solutions, and lead implementation to deliver measurable improvements.

Support Team Development and Systems Adoption

• Coordinate the operational aspects of onboarding, training, and systems adoption.
• Work with team leaders to identify and address capability gaps, supporting collaboration and consistent practices across functions and locations.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field, with 8–12 years of experience in operations, project management, or team leadership, ideally within architecture, design, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated experience improving processes and systems for multidisciplinary teams across multiple functions or locations.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges, navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and follow through independently.
• Experience with project management systems, project pipeline and schedule tracking, reporting tools, and business planning.
• Curiosity about emerging technologies and the ability to evaluate new tools and translate promising ideas into practical improvements.
• Ability to build relationships and work effectively across teams in a collaborative, creative environment.

How Vivmark Supports You

We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we’re committed to showing our appreciation.

We offer

• A competitive benefits package that supports your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and company holidays, and exclusive team member housing discounts.

Additional Info

Vivmark Residential is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.

Vivmark Residential makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.

Vivmark Residential will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with requirements under the law.

Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis.

Vivmark Residential does not require or request that you provide any information that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. Please redact this information prior to the submission of your application and/or leave these fields incomplete on your application.

For California residents, if you elect to apply to Vivmark Residential you accept the Vivmark Residential California Personnel Privacy Notice https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/