Design Project Manager - Food & Beverage Construction

Design Project Manager - Food & Beverage Construction

Location: Gainesville, GA
Industry: Architecture / Engineering / Design-Build Construction
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Arrangement: Hybrid / Partially Remote
Experience: 10+ Years of A/E Building Design & Construction Experience
Primary Focus: Design Management, Preconstruction, Multidisciplinary Engineering & Design-Build Project Delivery
Relocation Assistance: Available

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Design Project Manager to lead multidisciplinary design coordination and project delivery for complex Food & Beverage Design-Build construction projects.

This position will be responsible for managing the design process from initial project development through preconstruction and the transition into construction. The Design Project Manager will coordinate internal and external architectural and engineering teams, ensuring that design packages align with client objectives, project budgets, construction schedules, and overall project requirements.

The Design Project Manager will work closely with Preconstruction, Construction Operations, Engineering, project owners, subcontractors, and external consultants to integrate design and construction activities throughout the project lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, including at least 5 years of experience managing Design-Build projects and coordinating design integration through the start of construction.

Candidates should demonstrate strong multidisciplinary design knowledge, project management capabilities, financial awareness, and the ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously.

Experience with food and beverage manufacturing facilities, freezer/cooler environments, or controlled-environment construction is highly desirable.

This position offers an opportunity to play a key leadership role in the successful delivery of technically complex industrial and commercial construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

Design Management & Project Leadership

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary architectural and engineering design teams throughout the Design-Build project lifecycle.
• Manage internal and external design resources to ensure successful development of integrated design packages.
• Serve as the primary coordination point between project owners, architects, engineers, preconstruction teams, construction operations, and subcontractors.
• Establish clear project design objectives aligned with client expectations and construction requirements.
• Monitor design progress to ensure compliance with established budgets, schedules, and quality standards.
• Manage the flow of technical information between design and construction teams.
• Identify potential design conflicts and coordinate timely resolution.
• Establish decision-making responsibilities and communication expectations among project stakeholders.
• Ensure design deliverables support successful construction execution.
• Provide leadership across multiple concurrent projects.

Design-Build Project Delivery

• Manage design activities supporting Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build construction projects.
• Apply Design-Build best practices to improve collaboration between design and construction teams.
• Coordinate architectural and engineering disciplines to develop integrated project solutions.
• Ensure design progression supports established construction milestones.
• Evaluate design decisions based on constructability, cost, schedule, and client requirements.
• Facilitate communication between project owners, design consultants, and construction personnel.
• Support resolution of technical and coordination issues throughout project development.
• Maintain alignment between design intent and construction execution.
• Ensure a smooth transition from the design phase into construction activities.

Preconstruction & Design Integration

• Collaborate with Preconstruction and Construction Operations leadership to establish project budgets and design requirements.
• Coordinate design and preconstruction meetings throughout project development.
• Ensure design information is available to support estimating, budgeting, and construction planning.
• Evaluate alternative design options in collaboration with preconstruction personnel.
• Identify opportunities to improve project value through design modifications.
• Coordinate design development with construction sequencing and scheduling requirements.
• Support evaluation of constructability considerations during design development.
• Assist with identifying design-related risks affecting project cost and schedule.
• Maintain communication between design and preconstruction teams to support project objectives.

Project Budgeting & Financial Management

• Develop design man-hour estimates and project budgets for capital construction projects.
• Monitor design expenditures against established project budgets.
• Coordinate with project teams to identify potential cost impacts associated with design decisions.
• Evaluate alternative design approaches to support project financial objectives.
• Collaborate with Preconstruction to ensure design development remains aligned with budget requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve design efficiency and reduce unnecessary project costs.
• Support project financial planning and resource allocation.
• Communicate budget concerns and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Maintain accountability for design-related financial performance.

Design Scheduling & Project Controls

• Establish and maintain design schedules aligned with construction milestones.
• Coordinate design activities to support planned construction start dates.
• Monitor design progress and identify potential schedule risks.
• Develop strategies to address design delays and coordination challenges.
• Collaborate with engineering consultants and construction teams to maintain project schedules.
• Coordinate timely delivery of architectural and engineering documentation.
• Identify critical design decisions required to maintain project progression.
• Support project re-planning efforts when design requirements or schedules change.
• Communicate schedule updates and potential impacts to project stakeholders.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Coordination

• Coordinate architectural and engineering disciplines to ensure complete and integrated design packages.
• Facilitate collaboration between internal engineering teams and external design consultants.
• Review design development activities for alignment with project objectives.
• Identify coordination issues between engineering disciplines.
• Ensure design teams understand project scope, technical requirements, and construction constraints.
• Support resolution of technical design conflicts.
• Coordinate engineering information needed for preconstruction and construction activities.
• Maintain effective communication across design disciplines.
• Promote consistency and accountability throughout the design development process.

Owner & Client Relationship Management

• Establish a clear understanding of project owner objectives, expectations, and operational requirements.
• Translate owner requirements into defined design parameters and project deliverables.
• Identify critical information required from owners to support design development.
• Facilitate communication between owners, designers, consultants, and construction teams.
• Support project decision-making through clear communication of design alternatives and recommendations.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with clients and project stakeholders.
• Monitor client satisfaction throughout design development.
• Address design-related concerns and coordinate appropriate resolutions.
• Ensure project design decisions remain aligned with client objectives.

Consultant & Third-Party Coordination

• Identify required external consultants and specialty design resources.
• Coordinate with appropriate internal stakeholders to support consultant contracting activities.
• Determine project requirements for third-party evaluations and reports, including:
  • Geotechnical investigations
  • Phase I environmental assessments
  • Hazardous materials assessments
  • Other project-specific technical studies
• Coordinate consultant deliverables with overall project design requirements.
• Monitor external consultant performance against project schedules.
• Ensure third-party information is incorporated into design development.
• Facilitate communication between specialty consultants and project teams.
• Support resolution of consultant-related coordination issues.

Construction Phase Support

• Coordinate the transition from design development into active construction.
• Support Construction Operations throughout project execution.
• Facilitate communication between designers, subcontractors, and construction personnel.
• Assist with resolving design-related questions and technical coordination challenges.
• Ensure design information supports construction requirements and project schedules.
• Coordinate design clarifications and modifications as needed.
• Maintain alignment between design intent and construction activities.
• Support project teams in addressing design-related risks during construction.
• Promote effective collaboration between engineering and field operations.

Project Pursuits & Business Development Support

• Participate in project pursuits and proposal development activities.
• Assist with defining project scope and identifying design requirements.
• Develop design-related proposal deliverables.
• Support preparation of project presentations and interview materials.
• Participate in client presentations and project interviews.
• Provide technical input regarding design approach, project execution, and engineering coordination.
• Collaborate with leadership to evaluate prospective Design-Build opportunities.
• Support development of project strategies that align with client requirements.

Risk Management & Project Performance

• Identify and manage risks associated with design development and project coordination.
• Monitor project performance related to client satisfaction, team effectiveness, quality, budget, and schedule.
• Support project leadership in resolving design-related issues.
• Evaluate potential impacts of design decisions on construction activities.
• Develop recommendations to mitigate project risks.
• Coordinate re-planning efforts when project conditions change.
• Maintain effective documentation and communication of design-related decisions.
• Promote accountability and continuous improvement throughout project delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Building Design & Construction industry.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Design-Build project delivery and managing multidisciplinary design teams through design integration and the start of construction.
• Demonstrated experience managing architectural and engineering design activities for construction projects.
• Strong understanding of Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build project delivery methods.
• Experience coordinating internal and external architectural and engineering resources.
• Knowledge of architectural design, engineering coordination, preconstruction, and construction processes.
• Experience managing design development in accordance with project budgets and schedules.
• Ability to develop design man-hour estimates and project budgets.
• Experience coordinating with project owners, consultants, subcontractors, and construction teams.
• Strong understanding of design integration and construction-phase coordination.
• Ability to evaluate alternative design solutions and support project decision-making.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to identify project risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills and experience communicating with clients and project leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional client relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow through on project responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ability to visit construction sites and work within active project environments.
• Willingness to travel occasionally, including overnight travel when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience managing Food & Beverage Design-Build construction projects.
• Experience with food processing and beverage manufacturing facilities.
• Experience supporting freezer, cooler, or refrigerated facility construction.
• Experience with controlled-environment facilities.
• Experience coordinating design activities for industrial manufacturing facilities.
• Experience managing complex multidisciplinary