Senior Design Manager, Industrial Manufacturing Construction

JE Dunn Construction; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

JE Dunn Construction is seeking a Senior Design Manager in Dallas to lead design teams and manage complex design packages across industrial and manufacturing projects. You will guide the design-build process from concept through startup, coordinating with architectural, structural, MEP, and process disciplines to ensure on-time delivery.

The role emphasizes proactive leadership, cost control, and alignment with JE Dunn’s strategy and values, with a focus on challenging, high-impact facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years design/construction management experience.
• Experience with industrial, manufacturing, or high-tech facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead design teams and trade partners through design-build delivery.
• Manage scope, schedule, and budget of design packages.
• Coordinate with multiple disciplines to meet project goals.
• Ensure compliance with codes and project requirements.

Skills

Communication

Presentations

MS Office

Lean Construction

Budget management

Team collaboration

Structured thinking

Relationship building

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

SketchUp

Job description

Best People + Right Culture. These are the driving forces behind JE Dunn’s success.

By hiring inspired people, giving them interesting and challenging work, enabling them with innovative tools, and letting them share in the company’s rewards, we’ve found a sustainable way to grow in our industry for the last 100+ years.

Our diverse teams around the country strive to enrich lives through inspired people and places everyday, and we need inspired people like you to join us in building authentic partnerships.

Role Summary

The Senior Design Manager is responsible for successful delivery of projects by leading the design participants, process and technology. Participants include the design team(s) and trade partners when projects utilize design-build, design assist or other alternate delivery methods. This position requires proactive leadership of the design process from initial business development phase through project completion. Plays an integral role with project team ensuring project goals are achieved. All activities will be performed in support of the strategy, vision and values of JE Dunn.

Industrial/Manufacturing

This Design Management role will provide engineering and design project management for a portfolio of projects from initial concept through startup. The projects this person will be engaged on will range in size, scope, and complexity. Partnering with our seasoned project teams and partners, this person will identify, understand, and manage the scope of work, schedule, and budget of various design packages. This could include Front End Loading, Process planning. Design development, permitting, equipment procurement, and installation. This person will also coordinate with various design partners and internal disciplines (architectural, electrical, mechanical, process/chemical, structural, etc.) and will be an integral part of problem-solving complex design challenges.

Key Role Responsibilities - Core

DESIGN MANAGEMENT FAMILY – CORE

• Interprets formal design build RFPs and develops work plans, collaborating with preconstruction, operations, and other key stakeholders.
• Understands potential client’s business needs and helps create conceptual plans, elevations, 3D models, for support of presentations and win strategies.
• Reviews and understands bridging documents for project compliance with RFP including comprehension of Codes and Criteria to meet the technical requirements and design deliverables.
• Supports early phase basic due diligence activities with clients and key stakeholders to ensure professional studies, jurisdictional & permitting requirements are incorporated into design documents.
• Manages outside design consultants, assuring they meet the technical requirements as well as schedule requirements for design deliverables.
• Manages the design review process with design team and clients to ensure schedules are met and identifies project risks and opportunities throughout the design phase.
• Leverages design experiences and knowledge to work with project teams identifying solutions to project specific challenges while monitoring expectations for design schedules, quality control, and content for design document delivery.
• Generates cost savings and value-added solutions during design phase.
• Monitors and controls our design partner’s and consultant’s cost through the design development, both cost of project and cost of the design services for added scope.
• Reviews design and provides quality control review comments to ensure the program specifications and life-safety requirements are met.
• Coordinates the design document packaging strategies with the project team.
• Manages project documentation such as proposal, drawings, specifications, reports, calculations, and shop drawings using both 3D and 2D file management system.
• Capable of developing sketches and plans to assist preconstruction with pricing of conceptual ideas. Coordinates with VDC team to develop and implement project(s) as needed.
• Provides technical design guidance throughout entire construction process.
• Provides design engineering support for the entire life cycle of the project (proposal, site survey, engineering, equipment selection, permitting, training, and construction).
• Understands project budget and steers project accordingly ensuring the design stays in line with contractual details.

Key Role Responsibilities - Additional Core

SENIOR DESIGN MANAGER

In Addition, This Position Will Be Responsible For

• Identifies, understands, and manages the scope of work, schedule, and budget of various design packages, such as HVAC system upgrades, process equipment installations, and structural modifications.
• Reviews, negotiates, and manages owner and design partner contracts.
• Collaborates with Design Partner Leads and Management to define project scope, develop design concepts, allocate tasks, and align staff capabilities with project requirements. Ensures effective communication channels are established to meet project objectives.
• Leads and coordinates meetings and establishes all design document flow and document control with client, construction management, trade partners, regulatory agencies, and others involved.
• Develops comprehensive project budgets and work schedules as key monitoring tools for tracking progress. Proactively adjusts plans to align with budgetary and scheduling goals.
• Prepares the project execution plan, establishes control procedures, monitors progress, and takes corrective action as may be required.
• Follows established change management procedures to document and receive authorization for project change orders in a timely manner.
• Leads and facilitates client contact and business development activities.
• Leads the process to understand potential client’s business needs and helps create conceptual plans, elevations, and 3D models in support of presentations and win strategies.
• Directs the selection of design professionals during the pre-qualification process to enable Design Build projects by evaluating design partners through RFP and selection process.
• Plays a lead role with the Project Executive to set design budgets, schedules and fees, and influences ongoing decisions throughout the project lifecycle that impacts cost, schedule, and budget.
• Functions as key liaison between JE Dunn and design team to ensure architect and design partners are accountable for delivering on project strategy.
• Provides thought leadership and direction to the design process from schematic design through completion.
• Responsible for managing the external design team ensuring they hit their deadlines and deliverables.
• Engages in business, industry and community activities to build and strengthen external relationships.
• Manages change management with internal team and external design partners throughout the duration of the project.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to perform work accurately and completely, and in a timely manner
• Communication skills, verbal and written – Intermediate
• Ability to conduct effective presentations
• Proficiency in MS Office – Intermediate
• Thorough knowledge of project processes and how each supports the successful completion of a project
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate within a team, internally and externally
• Ability to apply Lean process and philosophy – Intermediate
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit and/or Google SketchUp
• Experience with U.S. building design codes and material specific standards
• Conversant with linked design disciplines, e.g. Geotechnical/Civil, Architecture, Building Façade, Structural, MEP, Data/Communications, Vertical Transportation, Acoustics, and Fire and Life Safety, etc.
• Ability to think in a highly structured manner along all design disciplines while also having creativity to develop specialized solutions by anticipating potential challenges
• Ability to manage budgets, maximize profitability and generate future work through building relationships
• Technical market expert with knowledge of industry trends, innovations, etc.
• Ability to build relationships with team members that transcend a project

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or related field (Required)

Experience

• 10+ years design and/or construction management experience (Preferred)
• Cross-functional knowledge of the key engineering disciplines (Architectural, Structural, MEP, etc.) and relevant trades
• Experience taking conceptual design through construction, working with internal and external partners

Preferred Experience

• Experience with industrial, advanced technology or high-tech manufacturing facility design
• Experience with Front End Loading or Planning
• Experience with Lean Construction and/or design principles

Working Environment

• Valid and unrestricted drivers license required
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds
• May require extensive periods of travel
• Must be willing to work non-traditional hours to meet project needs
• May be exposed to extreme conditions (hot or cold)
• Assignment location may include project sites and/or in the office
• Frequent activity: Sitting, Viewing Computer Screen
• Occasional activity: Standing, Walking, Bending, Climbing, Reaching above Shoulder, Pushing, Pulling

Benefits Information

The benefits package aligned to this position is Professional Non-Union.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected category. JE Dunn Construction is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

JE Dunn provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a job, please submit your request to [e-mail]

JE Dunn Construction Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of JE Dunn Construction without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of JE Dunn Construction Company. Please, no phone calls or emails.

• For this opportunity, JE Dunn Construction will not sponsor an applicant for work visa status or employment authorization, nor will we offer any immigration-related support for this position (including but not limited to H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN-1 or TN-2, E-3, O-1, or future sponsorship for U.S. lawful permanent residence status.)***