Design Manager

Location: New York

STV is seeking a Design Manager for our Buildings group in NYC.The Design Manager leads the design of assigned architecture projects and serves as the day-to-day point of contact for the client’s project manager. On these projects, project management responsibilities are divided. The Project Manager (Corporate/Project Manager) owns fees, contracts, and financial accountability, and the Design Manager owns design leadership, client interface, the design schedule, and consultant and team coordination.

The Design Manager partners with the Project Designer in the early to mid-phases and with the Project Architect, who holds technical authority over the documents, in the mid to late phases through documentation and construction administration. Senior management may assign the Design Manager and Project Manager roles to the same individual when appropriate.

Key Responsibilities
• Lead the team through programming, space planning, and conceptual design in partnership with the Project Designer, translating client goals and program requirements into clear design strategies.
• Oversee design development in partnership with the Project Designer, and technical documentation in partnership with the Project Architect.
• Own the detailed design schedule and track milestones and deliverables against it.
• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for the client’s project manager and lead regular project meetings.
• Host internal coordination meetings across disciplines and lead consultant coordination, verifying that consultant deliverables are integrated into the architectural documents.
• Identify changes in scope and schedule early and work with the Project Manager, who approves change management and additional services. Manage implementation of approved changes with the team.
• Provide input on the project budget, overall schedule, and subconsultant contracts and risk. Escalate contractual matters to the Project Manager.
• Support the Project Manager in checking that discipline staffing aligns with the allocated project budget.
• Act as primary package reviewer for each submission, overseeing interdisciplinary coordination across all disciplines and subconsultants.
• Verify that QA/QC reviews are completed for addenda, bid submissions, and key deliverables.
• Lead construction administration meetings, logs, and reporting, and hold disciplines to coordinated responses on RFIs and submittals. The Project Architect leads technical interpretation of the documents and directs technical responses.
• Work with the Project Manager and Pursuit Leader to develop project approach, staffing strategy, and design narrative for designated proposals.
• Track discipline staffing commitments made during pursuits and raise gaps with the Project Manager.
• Mentor Project Designers and Project Architects in client management, design coordination, and schedule control.
• Apply STV’s design and documentation standards on assigned projects.

Required Qualifications
• Professional degree in Architecture.
• Licensed architect in a U.S. jurisdiction. New York State registration within 6 months of hire.
• 12+ years of architecture experience, including leading design and consultant teams through at least one full project cycle on projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Experience serving as the primary client contact and leading client meetings.
• Ability to manage design scope and schedule within an established fee.
• Eligibility to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications
• Proficiency in Revit and BIM coordination practices.
• Experience with Bluebeam Revu.
• Experience with project management software for scheduling and project controls.
• Working knowledge of the New York City Building Code and DOB filing processes.

Work…