Design Manager

Our client is a design-build contractor that specializes in federal healthcare projects at military installations across the United States. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, they deliver projects nationwide with a culture where people are valued and empowered to deliver amazing results.

The Design Manager is a managerial leadership role responsible for overseeing and integrating the design process across multiple federal design-build (D-B) projects . This role combines elements of project management, preconstruction leadership, and technical design expertise , serving as the central point of coordination between design teams, construction operations, procurement, and clients.

The Design Manager will lead the selection and management of design teams, establish and implement design processes, manage schedules and scope, and ensure design decisions align with cost, constructability, and project objectives . The ideal candidate is organized, process-oriented, and capable of managing multiple concurrent D-B projects in a fast-paced federal environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process for multiple federal design-build projects from pursuit through construction.
  

• Select, onboard, and manage architectural and engineering design teams.
  

• Serve as the primary point of contact for designers and design consultants.
  

• Establish, implement, and maintain design management processes to support consistency, quality, and accountability.
  

• Manage and track design schedules , ensuring alignment with overall project schedules.
  

• Oversee and coordinate design efforts across 5-6 concurrent design-build projects .
  

• Work closely with Preconstruction, Project Management, Procurement, and Operations teams to align design with execution strategy.
  

• Understand and manage cost implications of design decisions to prevent scope creep and protect project budgets.
  

• Support estimating and preconstruction efforts, including constructability reviews and design development input.
  

• Identify and resolve design coordination issues across disciplines.
  

• Ensure design solutions are practical, compliant, and aligned with project scope and contractual requirements.
  

• Promote clear communication, organization, and accountability across design and project teams.
  

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture , Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Mechanical Engineering ( Master’s degree is a plus)
  

• 5–10 years of industry experience in a construction, architecture, or engineering firm (10+ years strongly preferred)
  

• Demonstrated ability to select, lead, and manage design teams .
  

• Strong organizational skills with a methodical, process-oriented approach .
  

• Proven experience managing project schedules and coordinating deliverables.
  

• Ability to manage multiple design-build projects simultaneously .
  

• Solid understanding of how design decisions impact cost, scope, and constructability .
  

• Prior experience in Project Management and/or Estimating (strongly preferred).
  

• Experience working closely with Procurement and Operations teams .
  

• Strong communication and relationship-management skills.
  

Preferred Experience

• Federal design-build project experience.
  

• Familiarity with design-build delivery methods and integrated project teams.
  

• Experience supporting preconstruction and pursuit activities.
  

• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
  

Benefits

• A very generous healthcare insurance program (75% of employee and their dependents)
  

• Federal holidays off
  

• Matching 401(K)
  

• Paid personal time off