Director of Design Management - Data Center

About the role

A privately held data center company with a growing colocation and hyperscale portfolio is hiring a Director of Design Management for its Pittsburgh region. This is a senior leadership position with direct reports and full accountability for design management performance across the region. You will own the design phase of major data center projects, from land enablement handoff through to GC mobilisation, working closely with the regional Director of Construction Management and leading a team of Design Managers.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day design management operations and long-term strategy across all projects in the region
• Manage a team of 2 to 5 Design Managers, including their performance, development and accountability
• Drive projects from inception through customer turnover, with a focus on preconstruction and design phases
• Serve as the primary design management point of contact for the region, working with the regional Director of Construction Management
• Coordinate onboarding of third-party design teams, manage design schedules and run review and comment cycles
• Hold design partners accountable to design progression, milestones, cost control and compliance
• Manage project risk registers from land enablement through completion and turnover
• Build relationships with design partners, AHJs, general contractors and trade partners
• Handle administrative duties such as budget support, funding requests and quarterly project updates
• Interface with customers through fit-out design, construction and integration, and collaborate with sales and solutions engineering
• Support cross-regional consistency, hiring, training and development of design management staff

Required profile

• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering or equivalent
• 12+ years of progressive experience managing commercial construction design programmes, with data center experience required
• At least 5 years of design team management experience
• Mechanical or electrical engineering background preferred
• Deep network within the data center design and construction community
• Ability to work with AHJs and local permitting and zoning authorities

Required skills

• Building design process, design deliverables management and project delivery methods (IPD, Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build)
• Familiarity with lump sum, CM at risk and open book GMP contract methods
• MS Project, Procore, Smartsheets, BIM 360 or similar; advanced Excel and CAD a plus

What we offer

• Up to $250,000 per year plus a 20% annual bonus target
• Medical, dental and vision insurance, HSA and FSA, 401(k) with company match
• Disability, life and legal coverage options, Wellhub gym membership and employee assistance programme
• Paid time off and holidays; up to 25% travel