Design Director

About This Role

Directing design activities throughout the project lifecycle is the core of this role, providing leadership and oversight for planning, coordination, and execution. This position serves as the primary liaison between owners, architects, consultants, and construction teams, ensuring design solutions align with project objectives, budget, schedule, quality standards, and constructability requirements. The Design Director leads multidisciplinary collaboration, manages design consultants, drives design quality and technical excellence, and supports project delivery from concept through construction.

Responsibilities

• Lead coordination with the Owner's Architect and design consultants to ensure the timely development, integration, and delivery of high-quality design documentation throughout the project lifecycle
• Manage the project's design process and technical execution, ensuring alignment with contractual requirements, project objectives, budget, schedule, and quality standards
• Oversee design activities through all project phases, including Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration, driving timely decision-making and issue resolution
• Partner with the Project Executive, Project Director, and Design Manager to provide leadership for design documentation efforts, identify project risks and opportunities, and support project goals
• Facilitate collaboration among design teams, construction teams, consultants, and client representatives to ensure effective communication, coordination, and project alignment
• Advocate for the Owner's design intent while balancing project budget, schedule, constructability, and operational objectives
• Support client relationship management efforts and contribute to business development activities by fostering positive relationships with owners, architects, consultants, and industry partners
• Develop and manage project permitting plans and schedules to support overall project milestones and requirements
• Coordinate with BIM, VDC, and project technology teams to ensure effective integration of digital design and project delivery tools throughout the design process
• Provide design and technical input during preconstruction, bidding, procurement, and buyout activities to support project execution and value-driven decision-making
• Collaborate with Preconstruction and Estimating teams to support Target Value Design (TVD) initiatives, evaluate design impacts on cost, and maintain alignment with budget objectives
• Develop Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for design services and support the selection and procurement of architects, engineers, and specialty consultants
• Review consultant proposals, scopes of work, and design deliverables to ensure completeness, quality, coordination, and alignment with project requirements
• Develop and implement project-specific Design Quality Control Plans and conduct reviews to ensure design deliverables meet established standards