Senior Design Manager

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR's Nashville office seeks a Senior Design Manager to lead planning, design, documentation, and construction administration for diverse building types. You’ll supervise teams of architects, planners, designers, and engineers, coordinating across markets such as water, data centers, and manufacturing to deliver high‑performance projects.

The role emphasizes client relations, budget and schedule stewardship, QA/QC, and mentoring of project staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture required.
• 10 years related experience.
• Minimum 5 years project management experience.
• Registered Architect.
• Ability to lead a project team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project).
• Knowledge of local and regional market.
• Commitment to employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, documentation, and construction administration of multiple projects.
• Coordinate multi-discipline teams across project lifecycle.
• Maintain client relations and participate in meetings.
• Manage staffing and workload to meet budgets and schedules.
• Implement QA/QC procedures.
• Mentor junior project managers.
• Support design excellence with a focus on sustainability.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Mentoring

MS Office

Local market knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Master’s degree in Architecture

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe architecture is more than designing buildings, it’s about providing solutions to societal challenges and creating stronger, more vibrant communities. As part of our Architecture practice at HDR, you’ll contribute to the design and delivery of spaces and experiences that advance community well-being around the world. From healing environments and learning spaces to research labs and civic landmarks and infrastructure, your work will directly influence how individuals experience the world around them. We bring together architects, planners, designers, and technical experts to solve complex design challenges with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. From championing design excellence with an emphasis on resilience and sustainability to pioneering innovative building technologies, your contributions will leave a lasting impact on the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive meaningful change and help define the future of our communities.

Our Nashville office is seeking a candidate with the desire to use and grow their technical expertise to successfully deliver projects across a variety of markets and building types, with potential to support architecture work across Water, Resource, Federal, and Building Engineering market sectors. In this role, you’ll partner with lead project managers to lead the planning, design, documentation, and construction administration of multiple building types, from high-performance data centers that power cloud computing and the digital infrastructure the world relies on, to water treatment facilities that provide clean drinking water for entire communities, to advanced manufacturing plants, office spaces, operations centers, and maintenance facilities, among other project types. You’ll lead teams of architects, planners, designers, engineers, technical experts, and project managers to solve complex design challenges with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. From championing design excellence with an emphasis on resilience and sustainability to pioneering innovative building technologies, your contributions will leave a lasting impact on the built environment.

In the role of Senior Design Manager, we'll count on you to:

• Direct and coordinate work of single or multidiscipline teams throughout the project’s lifecycle (from development & initiation to close-out)
• Take responsibility for all aspects of large multidiscipline projects or medium-sized projects with high degree of technical complexity, involving a large project staff
• Produce and coordinate several projects concurrently
• Establish and maintain client relations, and be involved with marketing, contractual, design and production meetings
• Conduct work sessions for deliverable development in conjunction with other staff and stakeholders
• Coordinate staffing and workload through entire project life cycle, and ensure completion of deliverables on schedule
• Track financial aspects of projects, and coordinate and adjust work effort with team to ensure that work is completed within parameters of agreed-to budget and schedule
• Work with the Accounting, Operational and Business leadership for periodic project reviews
• Implement QA/QC procedures
• Supervise large project staffs and act as mentor for less-experienced Project Managers
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Architecture
• PMP Certification
• Relevant prior experience in the areas of industrial architecture, such as data centers, water treatment facilities, public utility facilities, operations centers, aerospace, manufacturing, etc.
• LEED Accreditation with experience and/or interest in sustainable design
• Experience facilitating meetings with a range of stakeholders, such as engineers, client, contractors, subcontractors, AHJs, etc
• Due to client contract requirements, US Citizenship or permanent residency is required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture
• 10 years related experience
• A minimum 5 years project management experience
• Registered Architect
• Must be able to lead a team on projects
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project)
• Knowledge and experience within the local and regional market
• Good planning and mentoring skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Job Posting

Sep 17, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employe r. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.