Senior Design Manager (Owner's Representative / Architect)

mocasystems; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MOCA Systems, Inc. in Irvine, CA seeks a Senior Design Manager to lead envisioning and design management across large projects.

You will drive programming, master planning, procurement, and coordination among architects, engineers, and contractors, aligning with the owner's vision and quality expectations. The role requires NCARB accreditation and 8+ years of experience, California licensure preferred, with up to 25% travel.

Qualifications

• NCARB accredited Bachelor’s degree in architecture and a minimum of eight (8) years as a practicing architect including the management of a team involved in planning and design.
• Registered Architect in the State of California and active license preferred.
• Other industry accreditations or certifications such as LEED AP, DBIA, PMP or CCM desired.
• Design Management experience required.
• Significant experience in design phases of work required.
• Organizational and project management skills.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills
• Manage and develop high performing teams.
• Implement and execute vision and goals.
• Prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Develop a pipeline directly or indirectly by using multiple market resources.
• Set priorities and work in group or independent settings.
• Be client focused and detail oriented.
• Manage staff of different disciplines to produce results on time and within budget.
• Communicate to and brief leaders.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft products and design software.

Responsibilities

• Leads the execution in the delivery of services for complex projects: visioning, feasibility studies, programming, master planning, and procurement.
• Fosters a collaborative environment with architect and contractor teams; maintains client relationships.
• Maintains open dialogue with client and stakeholders on status, progress, and expectations.
• Guides the team to meet the client’s vision and outcomes.
• Mentors project personnel for assigned projects.
• Ensures performance within cost, schedule and quality standards; reports progress.
• Leads project meetings as the MOCA project team’s primary day-to-day representative.
• Supports leadership in business development: client meetings, proposals, networking, interviews.
• Contributes to proposals and content; ensures adherence to standards.
• Provides leadership and supervision of project staff and performance management.
• Collaborates on planning proposals, fees, and execution strategies.
• Facilitates client workshops and documents findings.
• Crafts Comprehensive Implementation Plans with leadership.
• Leads design and construction teams to stay aligned with initial vision.
• Provides design management oversight and ensures contract accountability.
• Attends field walks and reviews to verify quality and craftsmanship.
• Travel up to 25% to project sites and offices.

Skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Team leadership

Client communication

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Proposal writing

Microsoft Office

Design coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

Rhino

Enscape

Revit

Adobe Creative Suite

Bluebeam Revu

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint)

Job description

Position: Senior Design Manager (Owner’s Representative / Architect)

Location/Work Arrangement: Hybrid - Irvine, CA / Orange County Area

Hiring Range: $145,000 - $160,000

Position Summary:

The Senior Design Manager will lead the envisioning and design management of large, complex construction projects and through all phases of work including project definition, procurement, design, pre-construction, bid/award, and construction. They will envision, plan, evaluate, and maintain oversight over the planning, programming and design work to successfully deliver a project that meets the client’s goals and objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Leads the execution in the delivery of services for a variety of complex projects, including services such as visioning sessions, stakeholder workshops, test-fitting, feasibility studies, conceptual design, programming, master planning, architect and contractor procurement, and design management.
• Fosters a collaborative environment by taking an active role in leadership with the architect and the contractor teams. Maintain positive and trusted client, consultant, architect and contractor relationships.
• Maintain an open dialogue with the client and its stakeholders for continuous and effective communication and to obtain a common understanding of project status, progress, and expectations.
• Guide the team to meet the client’s vision and ensure positive outcomes for our clients and their construction projects.
• Mentors project personnel for assigned projects.
• Ensures optimal performance on projects assigned. Executes approved plans while maintaining proper controls. Manages and reports on progress relative to the established cost, schedule, and quality standards while adhering to project standards.
• Participates in and leads project meetings as the primary day-to-day representative of the MOCA project team.
• Supports leadership in business development activities including client meetings, proposal development, networking events, and project interviews and necessary preparations.
• Supports leadership in the development of proposals and responses for assigned projects. Assists in writing key sections of proposals and assembling content into cohesive proposal documents, ensuring all proposal materials adhere to company standards.
• Provide leadership and supervision of project staff ensuring adherence to company policy/procedures. Oversee staff development, performance management, and team motivation initiatives of direct reports.
• Collaborates with leadership in the performance of projects assigned. Actively participates in the planning of proposals, fees, and project execution plans, and developing strategies for executing and supporting the work.
• Collaborates with leadership in the facilitation of client workshop, developing relevant content, and documenting findings.
• Crafts Comprehensive Implementation Plans in collaboration with leadership, to serve as the vision and project guide for the future design and construction teams.
• As an agent of the owner, leads the design and construction teams to stay in “continuous alignment” with the original vision or implementation plan established at the beginning of the project. Keeps the owner apprised of project progress and works with various team members and stakeholders to bring project issues back into alignment with the original comprehensive implementation plan.
• Provide Design Management oversight including working with the project design team to finalize and manage the design process. Attend all design meetings and maintain meeting minutes to ensure contract accountability.
• Attend field walks and mock-up reviews to ensure the project is being constructed to the level of quality and craftsmanship required to meet the owner’s expectations.
• Periodic travel, upwards of 25%, to project sites, client offices, and MSI offices to meet with clients and team members.

Required Qualifications:

• NCARB accredited Bachelor’s degree in architecture and a minimum of eight (8) years as a practicing architect including the management of a team involved in planning and design.
• Registered Architect in the State of California and active license preferred.
• Other industry accreditations or certifications such as LEED AP, DBIA, PMP or CCM desired.
• Design Management experience required.
• Significant experience in design phases of work required.
• Candidate must possess the following abilities:
• Organizational and project management skills.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills
• Manage and develop high performing teams.
• Implement and execute vision and goals.
• Prioritize work and successfully meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Develop a pipeline directly or indirectly by using multiple market and customer resources.
• Set priorities and work in a group environment or independently.
• Be client focused and detail oriented.
• Manage staff of different disciplines to produce results on time and within budget.
• Communicate to and brief leaders.
• Have working knowledge of Microsoft products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Have working knowledge of design software including Rhino, Enscape, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite and Bluebeam Revu.
• Proposal development, support and writing skills.

About MOCA Systems, Inc.:

MOCA Systems, Inc. (MSI) is a leading services and software provider for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. MSI delivers innovative solutions to Owners, Engineers, Architects, and Contractors working on some of the world’s largest, most complex construction projects. A profitable firm with offices across the United States and partners around the globe, MSI’s services and technology offerings ensure that projects are delivered on time and on budget and fulfill all Owner expectations. To learn more, visit mocasystems.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

MOCA Systems, Inc. (“MSI”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of any kind: MSI is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.All employment decisions at MSI are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. MSI will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. MSI encourages applicants of all ages.