Job DescriptionTurner & Townsend is seeking a
Design Manager to work with our San Francisco team, and partner with our client, managing insurer design compliance across a portfolio of new data center developments.
The Design Manager should have a background in design management or design coordination in the construction industry and be experienced in architectural, structural and fire protection design. Licensed architects, fire protection experience, and experience with insurer-led design approval processes is preferred.
The role covers both pre-lease and construction phases. Pre-lease, the Design Manager assesses prospective sites and developer designs against insurer requirements and supports the transaction team. During preconstruction and construction, the Design Manager manages open insurer review items through to closure with the developer and their contractors.
- Serve as the primary point of coordination between the client design team, the insurer, and the developer on all matters of insurer design compliance.
- Maintain a compliance tracking matrix for each project recording open items, required evidence, responsible party, status and schedule impact.
- Review developer design submissions and insurer plan review letters, and identify non-compliances and outstanding evidence requirements.
- Manage open review items through to closure with the developer, general contractor and subcontractors.
- Organize and lead project-specific working sessions where open items require resolution with the relevant design and trade parties.
- Attend recurring coordination meetings with the insurer and represent the status of open items across the portfolio.
- Prepare weekly status reporting identifying blocking items, progress, required actions and impact to project milestones.
- Assess prospective sites during pre-lease due diligence and identify design conditions that cannot be remedied following lease execution.
- Support the transaction team in incorporating insurer requirements into lease documentation and performance specifications.
- Communicate insurer requirements to developers and design teams and advise on acceptable means of compliance.
- Prepare and support requests for deviation or exemption, including supporting evidence and assessment of impact.
- Monitor insurer review turnaround and escalate delays affecting the project schedule.
- Develop and maintain checklists, standard requirement packages and template documentation to support consistent application across projects.
- Effectively communicate design standards to internal and external project partners.
- Manage multiple fast paced projects simultaneously.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications- Minimum of 8 years of experience in design management, design coordination or technical project management in the construction industry.
- Data center or mission critical experience preferred. Other complex or heavily regulated building types considered.
- Working knowledge of architectural, structural and fire protection design, with sufficient familiarity with electrical and mechanical systems to coordinate across disciplines.
- Familiarity with US building and fire codes.
- Experience with insurer-led or third party design approval processes preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to track and close technical items across multiple concurrent projects.
- Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications and technical submittals.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize technical status for senior stakeholders.
- Proficient in MS Office Suite and Google Workspace.
Additional Information- San Francisco, US based. US PST time zone coverage required. Remote may be an option for qualified candidates.
- Occasional travel to project sites as required.
Additional InformationThe salary range for this role is $160,000 - $180,000. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the base salary for this position at the time of the posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.
*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs. 
