Director, Manufacturing & Distribution Planning – Industrial Facilities

When you join Design Group as a Director, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. In this role, you will work with a team of industry experts to help the world’s leading companies solve their most difficult problems. You will join our Architecture + Engineering + Construction (AEC) Business and partner with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver the highest quality solutions to our clients with consistency and accuracy.

We are seeking a forward‑thinking Director, FEED & Early‑Phase Planning – GMP Facilities to lead client development initiatives that integrate supply chain optimization with facility planning and capital project execution. This leader will serve as a trusted advisor to industrial manufacturing and distribution clients, delivering innovative solutions that align facility design with operational performance goals.

• Drive business development across GMP‑regulated manufacturing, life sciences, and food & beverage clients — cultivating executive‑level relationships, identifying capital program opportunities, and positioning the firm as a trusted concept‑through‑FEED consulting partner.
• Lead complex client engagements across the supply chain, warehousing, and industrial manufacturing sectors, from early concept through design and delivery.
• Lead FEED and Early‑Phase Planning deliverables — feasibility studies, basis of design, Class 3/4 estimates, schedule baselines, and risk registers — to support clients' capital authorization (FID / AFE) decisions.
• Direct multidisciplinary teams in the planning, development, and execution of facility design and capital projects that support sourcing, production, storage, and distribution strategies.
• Provide expert analysis and leadership in developing facility and network optimization strategies, incorporating automation, throughput modeling, layout planning, and operational workflows.
• Collaborate with clients to align facility design with their long‑term business and supply chain objectives, ensuring measurable value creation across cost, service, and efficiency.
• Oversee proposal development, project planning, budgeting, and strategic communication with internal teams and client executives.
• Apply sound business judgment and cross‑functional insight to guide integrated solutions that combine engineering design, operational planning, and capital investment strategy.
• Mentor internal staff and contribute to the development of best practices in supply chain facility design within the firm.

• 15+ years of AEC consulting experience leading concept design, FEED, and early‑phase capital planning for cGMP manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution facilities — including programmatic design, permitting, regulatory compliance, and basis‑of‑design development.
• Proven leadership in growing client relationships and expanding business across local, regional, and national markets within a multi‑discipline A/E environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading FEED engagements within stage‑gate / FEL frameworks (FEL‑1/2/3), including AACE Class 3/4 estimating, scope definition, and capital authorization support.
• Expertise in designing complex manufacturing and distribution facilities with a strong understanding of operational flows, regulatory compliance (cGMP, FDA, etc.), and environmental classifications.
• Hands‑on experience with greenfield and brownfield project development, including scoping and executing work in active operating facilities.
• Strong background in supply chain and distribution center (DC) operations, including layout design, process optimization, material handling system (MHS) integration, and value stream mapping.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal building codes and permitting processes.
• Excellent communication, client engagement, and cross‑functional leadership skills, with a commitment to mentoring teams and delivering high‑quality results.
• Willingness to travel for client meetings, site assessments, presentations, and project reviews as needed.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or Construction Management.