What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Design Management position at Aligned Data Centers, LLC?
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JOB TITLE: Director, Design Management
DEPARTMENT: Platform Delivery
REPORTS TO: Regional Director, Platform Execution
SUMMARY: Working closely with the Regional Director, Platform Execution and other regional Directors, Design Management peers, this Director will develop best-in-class design management policies, procedures, tools and best practices. Taking on a leadership role within the organization, this individual will also be a key player in developing and implementing consistently across regions, a robust training and accountability program that ensures the performance of the Design Management team members. This Director will also possess an industry-leading reputation and history of providing leadership and direction in partner relationships, accountability, training and employee development, AHJ and supplier relationships, project and business predictability and profitability.
This individual will oversee and support a team that leads all aspects of major technical programs that are targeting both colocation and hyperscale builds, including oversight of employee and third-party organizations engaged in the preconstruction, design, construction and commissioning phases. This role requires strong team management and communication skills and demonstrates advanced organizational and time management competencies. A successful Director, Design Management with Aligned will possess a hunger to drive efficiencies and innovation, the humility to understand we are all working together during the design and construction process, and a heart to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers and vendors.
This role will have and be responsible for the performance of all Design Managers reporting into it per geographic region.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Dual responsibility to direct day-to-day operations of design management programs and lead a team of 2-5 direct reports in a geographic region to:
Drive projects from inception through customer or business turnover, with heavy focus and leadership in the preconstruction and design phases of projects. The Design Managers assume project lead role at design hand-off meeting from land enablement team and shifts overall project leadership to the Construction Manager (CM) at GC mobilization.
Direct accountabilities include:
Main point of contact for design management team in particular campus or geographic region.
Works hand-in-hand with the regional Director, Construction Management to ensure performance certainty across all projects.
Direct the day-to-day design management operations and long-term strategic direction of projects.
Provide guidance and leadership throughout the entire lifecycle of projects, ensuring they are meeting or exceeding company expectations.
Develop and maintain deep-rooted industry relationships with leaders in the contracting community including design partners, AHJ’s, general contractors and trade partners.
Create effective tools to empower and incentivize design and contracting partners to innovate approaches and solutions for project delivery and specific challenges.
Coordination/communication with the land enablement group to ensure success with offsite improvements, early permitting, easements and environmental studies for all sites in the geographical region.
Collaborates with Director, Design Management peers in other regions to maintain consistency across all regions/projects.
Assists regional Director, Construction Management in collaborating/coordinating with other construction directors across all regions/projects.
Assist to interview, hire, and assure effective training and development of new and existing staff.
Reports status, successes, challenges, and plans of action to management team and company on a timely basis.
Develop, manage and be accountable for achievement of key departmental metrics.
Leads, evaluates, holds accountable and develops the regional Design Management team members in the following:
Coordination/creation of project risk registers from land enablement phase through project completion/turnover to Aligned Operations
Project design management:
Coordinating onboarding of third-party design team and creation of design schedule to support project needs.
Overseeing management of external third-party design team through project completion/turnover to Aligned Operations.
Driving review and management of design deliverables; including stakeholder review and comment cycles.
Holding design teams accountable to design progression and design gating.
Working with SMEs, Operations, and CMs to ensure design compliance with Aligned Design Efficiency Capture (DEC).
Identifying design variances, tracks them and manages acquisition of necessary approvals, as required.
Enforcing design team’s accountability to Aligned’s Cost Control Log (CCL) and Complies, Deviates, Excludes (CDE) matrices.
Operating in lockstep with the CM on each project to ensure proper communications/escalations and regular reporting to all internal and external parties and leadership/management.
Creating, managing and updating project metrics in Smartsheets (project dashboards) for each project.
Owning or directing all administrative duties related to design management process.
Assisting CM with building and maintaining budget/cost models/all phase budgets for each project, specifically around design costs and timelines. Working with CM to prepare and present all funding requests.
Coordinating with CM to prepare and present quarterly project updates for leadership.
In conjunction with CM, supports day-to-day program activities and initiatives (engage with architects, consultants, equipment providers, GCs, etc. Coordinate all project activities with building Operations while promoting safety and compliance initiatives and requirements on site).
Performs as the primary support role to the CM from GC mobilization to turnover to Operations.
Integrating with the sales and solutions engineering teams during the revenue generation process to meet with customers and ensure technical deliverables are met.
Interfacing with customer through fit-out design, construction and integration; accountable to successful delivery of customer contracts.
Managing the project with the business in mind and works to ensure project is meeting directives of CRC/SLT/Board.
Operating with a constant mindset of continuous improvement, creativity, efficiency and innovation.
STRONGLY DESIRED WORKING EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF:
Design engineering experience, with at least 5 years of design team management experience.
Building design process and design deliverables management
Exposure to IPD, Design-Build, and/or construction management
Data center design/construction experience, especially with MEP systems
Project Management Software (MS Projects, Prolog, Procore, BIM 360, or similar)
Knowledge and experience working with CAD is a plus
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or equivalent
12 years progressive experience in successfully managing commercial construction project design programs, with data center experience required
Mechanical/Electrical background preferred
Deep network of leaders within the data center design and construction community
Ability to navigate AHJ’s within a particular region with depth of understanding of the positions within local zoning, permitting and inspection authorities.
Thorough understanding of various project delivery methods including IPD, Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build.
Basic understanding of various contract methods including lump sum, CM at risk, open book GMP, etc
Advanced experience in Excel, Smartsheets and/or AutoCAD
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to multi-task, with strong time and change management/organizational skills
Track record of mentoring and developing teams and individuals to take on new challenges and career opportunities
Ability to always maintain discretion and confidentiality
Ability to understand and follow clear directions and meet specific deadlines with reporting, communication and project schedules
Team player across the organization
Ability to interpret construction drawings and specifications
Knowledge of construction cost estimating methods and development of scopes of work.
Ability to understand construction project scopes.
Able to monitor and interpret design and schedule changes and forecast their impact on overall project costs
May travel at times up to 25%
GENERAL COMPETENCIES:
Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; assist in developing budgets and experience understanding reporting budgets/financials; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
Change Management – Assists in the Development of workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results
Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.
Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Team Player with Strong Communications skills; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
Planning/Organizing - Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Team Player across the organization; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
Project Management - Develops project plans; Develops Budgets for projects; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Frequently required to stand/walk/sit
Frequently required to bend/climb
Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
At Aligned, we are committed to transparency and fostering a positive employee experience from your very first interaction with us. In compliance with Illinois pay disclosure requirements, when you join Aligned, you’ll have access to the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, short and long disability, life insurance and other voluntary benefits, 401k with employer match, bonus opportunities, paid time off, wellness benefits and professional development opportunities, all designed to support your well-being and career growth. We want you to have a clear understanding of what we offer, so you can make informed decisions about your future with us.
Aligned is equally committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities for all employees. We ensure that all applicants and team members are considered for employment, advancement, and all other employment-related matters without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of your job due to a disability or medical condition, please contact our People & Culture team. Accommodation requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable laws. Aligned will make reasonable accommodations where necessary to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their role.
