Senior Design Manager

Cumming Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 133,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

Cumming Group is seeking a Senior Design Manager to oversee design, engineering, and construction phases for high-profile academic and institutional projects. Based in Rochester, NY, you will lead design management with a hands-on approach and coordinate with clients and consultants to deliver design excellence.

The role requires 8–12 years in elite firms, strong cost/schedule management, and proficiency in MS Office, CAD, and PMIS tools. Travel to NYC may be required as projects demand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or closely related field preferred.
• 8–12 years’ experience in elite architecture or engineering firms on medium to large institutional projects.
• Strong knowledge of cost and schedule management and construction documentation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Project; CAD and 3D software beneficial; Bluebeam and Procore experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and Preconstruction Project Management across design, engineering, and construction phases.
• Lead development from Program to CA with coordination and documentation.
• Collaborate with clients and consultants to ensure design excellence.
• Maintain on-site presence for active construction projects and manage communications.
• Develop analyses and reviews of evolving design and engineering documents.
• Support cost and schedule management for the project.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Client management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or closely related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Project

CAD

3D software

Bluebeam

Adobe Creative Suite

Procore

Job description

Position Title

Senior Design Manager

Location

Rochester, NY

Req Id

JR103856

Time Type

Full time

Description

At Cumming Group, you will work on some of the world's most exciting projects in a dynamic environment where your success is measured by the impact you make. We are one of the fastest-growing project and cost management consultancies in the United States, as reflected in our top 15 rankings in ENR. With over 70 offices globally, an extremely diverse project portfolio, and double-digit year-over-year revenue growth, the opportunities to make your mark are limitless!

We are currently seeking Design Managers to focus on overseeing the Design, Engineering and Construction phases of high-profile academic and institutional projects. Experienced Project Managers, Project Architects or Engineers from leading large Architecture or Engineering firms with strong client and management skills are good candidates. This position will be based in Rochester, NY and is a great opportunity to join our team.

Responsibilities

• Design and Preconstruction Project Management in a fast-paced demanding environment, collaborating closely with prestigious clients and consultants to deliver design excellence.
• Lead development through Program, Concept, SD, DD, CD, and CA phases employing meetings, workshops, reviews, and site work ensuring complete coordinated documentation and execution.
• Demonstrate comprehensive experience in the design, engineering, and building process.
• Take ownership of responsibility with a hands‑on approach, attentive to strategy and detail.
• Leverage strong interpersonal and communication skills to provide attentive client service and effectively address complex issues and situations.
• Demonstrate strong personal initiative, critical thinking, and creative problem‑solving.
• Create management deliverables including presentations, reporting, tables, minutes, logs.
• Manage consultant onboarding, RFQ’s, RFP’s, interviews, leveling, agreements, and award.
• Use knowledge and understanding of construction methods, materials, and sequences.
• Consistent on‑site presence for active construction projects as required.
• Develop rigorous analyses and reviews of developing design and engineering documents.
• Collaborate in the successful cost and schedule management of the project.
• Some travel to the New York City office may be required as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or closely related field preferred.
• 8-12 years’ experience in elite architecture or engineering firms on medium to large scale institutional, academic, university buildings. Interior fit‑out experience beneficial.
• Detailed understanding and experience in the design and development process of core and shell buildings as well as construction methods, materials, and sequences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and spoken and written communication abilities are essential.
• Experience with cost and schedule management.
• Extensive understanding of architectural, engineering, and construction documentation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Project, etc.; CAD and 3D software is beneficial.
• Proficient in Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, Procore, or similar PMIS systems.

Cumming Group is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity in its personnel policies and practices. It is Cumming Group’s policy to recruit, hire, train and promote Team Members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, marital status, registered domestic partner status, genetic information, sexual preference, sexual orientation, gender (including gender expression and gender identity), pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions, including breastfeeding), military service, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, veteran status or any other protected classification under federal, state, or local law. All such decisions are based on (1) individual merit, qualifications, and competence as they relate to the particular position, and (2) promotion of the principle of equal employment opportunity.

All other terms and conditions of employment, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoff, return from layoff, training, education, and social and recreational programs, are administered without regard to the characteristics described above. To this end, Cumming Group complies with all provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, all of the rules, regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor, and all similar state and local laws.

Salary

The salary range for this full-time role is $132,800.00-$185,933.36 per year. Ranges are determined based on the position, geography, client and industry experience and level, and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range reflects base salary only, and not the total compensation package. Cumming Group reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on a candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications, including client requirements.

Benefits

In addition to base salary, Cumming Group offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) Matching
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Short and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program

About Us

At Cumming Group, we are passionate about helping our clients execute large-scale, complex projects on-time and within budget. Our project and cost-management services are specifically tailored to each client’s needs and add meaningful value at every step of a project’s development.

Drawing on deep expertise in the communities and sectors we serve, we anticipate and solve problems, deliver solutions, and drive results. Since opening our doors in 1996, Cumming Group has grown to 50+ offices globally, and is now home to more than 3,000+ team members – including many of the brightest minds in the industry.

Learn more about what a great organization we are here.

Cumming Group is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity in its personnel policies and practices. It is Cumming Group’s policy to recruit, hire, train and promote Team Members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, marital status, registered domestic partner status, genetic information, sexual preference, sexual orientation, gender (including gender expression and gender identity), pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions, including breastfeeding), military service, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, veteran status or any other protected classification under federal, state, or local law. All such decisions are based on (1) individual merit, qualifications, and competence as they relate to the particular position, and (2) promotion of the principle of equal employment opportunity.

All other terms and conditions of employment, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoff, return from layoff, training, education, and social and recreational programs, are administered without regard to the characteristics described above. To this end, Cumming Group complies with all provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, all of the rules, regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor, and all similar state and local laws.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.