Design Manager

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self‑perform construction, and technology start‑up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds.

Benefits include competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market‑leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401(k) plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company‑paid and voluntary life insurance, tax‑deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short‑ and long‑term disability, commuter benefits, and more.

The Design Manager will proactively and collaboratively lead integrated teams through Suffolk Design’s optimized, end‑to‑end design‑build management process from design inception to building completion. The ideal candidate will commit to substantially enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, completeness, and speed of the design, documentation, and construction process, and will enthusiastically leverage innovative procedures, tools, and technologies to exceed our client’s expectations.

• Responsible for the successful realization of client’s project vision, including performance, programming, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Lead the interface between the Design team, Suffolk operations, external design and industry professionals, trade partners, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders to achieve project goals, all while embracing a culture of authentic collaboration and technical competence.
• Maintain and support client relationships during all project phases, ensuring a client‑first mentality that encourages active engagement in and ownership of all design decisions.
• Lead project team meetings, workshops, and other collaborative communications throughout a project’s life cycle.
• Hold self and teams accountable for meeting deadlines and troubleshoot challenges by leveraging the full capacity of interdisciplinary project teams.
• Lead the development and management of optimized design processes for each project, supporting the efficient, linear delivery of fully coordinated and buildable drawings prior to construction.
• Build upon Suffolk’s world‑class construction planning and execution capabilities by strategically aligning documentation development with construction sequencing, supporting streamlined workflows.
• In association with Suffolk pre‑construction experts, lead the execution of rigorous, real‑time project constructability reviews during the design process, ensuring that all documentation is complete, coordinated, and buildable prior to the start of construction.
• At key project design milestones, liaise with pre‑construction teams to evaluate and validate that cost and schedule align with project objectives.
• Track and report progress toward project milestone completion, staffing allocations, and project financial health.
• In collaboration with Suffolk Design’s leadership and the project team, analyze, refine, and test design‑construction workflow assumptions in real‑time to optimize Suffolk Design’s process moving forward.
• Leverage and grow Suffolk’s proprietary constructability knowledge database to support a proactive QA/QC process throughout design.
• Support design technology staff in the introduction of automated design and documentation processes and workflows.

• Certification as a licensed architect or professional engineer is strongly preferred.
• Professional degree in Architecture or Engineering is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• 5–10 years of experience in the professional design services industry, with a background in design project management.
• Proven success…