Description & RequirementsWe have an excellent opportunity for a full-time
Facilities Development Design Manager based in our
Irvine, CA* office. The Facilities Development Design Manager is responsible for providing architectural design leadership and direction across all non-store facilities, including corporate offices, production facilities, distribution centers, and warehouses.
*This position is full-time, in-office only - Irvine, CA
General Responsibilities- Design Standards & Basis of Design Stewardship - Establish, maintain, and continuously evolve all basis of design documents, room standards, finish schedules, material palettes, specification libraries, and design criteria by facility type (office, warehouse, production). Own prototype planning concepts for each facility type, ensuring new projects benefit from accumulated design decisions rather than starting from scratch. Serve as the keeper and enforcer of design standards across the full portfolio, including both new development projects and existing facility renovations.
- Architectural Consultant Management - Own the full architectural consultant relationship across the project portfolio. Qualify firms, execute consultant contracts (in coordination with the Development Department Head), define scopes of work, negotiate fees, manage deliverable schedules, and evaluate ongoing performance. Manage the design services budget including consultant spend, fee tracking, and cost forecasting for design-phase work across the portfolio. Serve as the primary internal client and contracting party for all outside architects and design consultants. Maintain a qualified bench of firms by project type and geography, ensuring the right consultant is engaged for each project scope.
- Programming & Space Functionality - Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, IT, Physical Security, and business leaders to define how facilities must function before design begins. Translate internal operational needs and user requirements into design criteria, including workspace adjacencies, workflows, acoustic standards, conference room standards, circulation, storage, break areas, and associate-facing space quality.
- Design Document Quality Control - Provide design quality oversight across the full active project portfolio in a standards and governance capacity rather than as an assigned project team member. Lead formal milestone design reviews at Schematic Design, Design Development, 50% CDs, 90% CDs, and permit/bid issue sets on major and complex projects. For smaller projects, establish and enforce design standards that allow PCs and PMs to execute to process, with the Design Manager engaging at key review milestones. Hold stop-work authority on design quality. If a document set does not meet company standards, this role has the authority to halt progression and escalate to the Department Head as needed.
- Construction Administration - Design Intent Protection - Participate in key site walks, OAC meetings, and milestone field reviews to protect design intent through construction. Review and respond to design-related submittals and RFIs, lead mock-up and finish reviews, and resolve field design issues in coordination with the construction team. Ensure the built product reflects approved design intent and company standards.
- Entitlement Support - Design Perspective - Support the entitlement process from an architectural and design standpoint. Coordinate site and building design responses to agency comments, assist with jurisdictional review responses, prepare design presentation materials for hearings or planning commission submittals, and collaborate with Development Project Managers on design-related agency deliverables.
- Closeout, Record Documentation & Lessons Learned - Lead post-occupancy and post-project design reviews for all completed projects. Ensure closeout captures updated design records, finish schedules, as-built input, attic stock recommendations, and design lessons. Translate stakeholder feedback and field observations into improvements to standards, specifications, and design criteria for future projects.
- Team Leadership - Directly supervise the Assistant Project Design Manager. Provide mentorship, professional development direction, work assignment management, and performance oversight. Foster a culture of design excellence, continuous improvement, and operational awareness within the design function.
Work Schedule + Benefits- Full-time, Exempt
- Salary Range is $115,350-$153,800 + bonus
The above represents the expected pay range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we will consider your experience and other job-related factors. - Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm; includes occasional night and weekend work
- Travel time: 25-50% of the work time will be spent in the field; will require occasional overnight travel (includes out-of-state)
- Excellent Benefits, to include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, FSA's, 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan, Adoption Assistance, Education Reimbursement, Supplemental Health Plans and Pet Insurance
Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering or related field;required. Masters Degree in Architecture, Real Estate Development, or Construction Management; preferred
- CA registered Architect; required
- 10+ years' experience in architectural design and project management across commercial, industrial, or production facility types; required
- 5+ years' experience in design management, consultant oversight, or architectural leadership within a development or construction organization; required
- 3+ years' experience in the state of California with entitlements, permitting , and jurisdictional approval processes; preferred
- 3+ years' experience in food and beverage, production facility, or industrial facility design (hygienic design, GMP, FSMA standards); required
- NCARB Certification; preferred
- PMP or other Project Management Certification; preferred
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency across multiple software platforms to include: MS Office Suite, Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD, Adobe Acrobat or Bluebeam, Procore or similar construction management platform, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and project management tools (i.e. Asana)
- Experience working with city Planning Staff and Leaders, Design Review Boards, Planning Commissions, City Councils
- Must have good knowledge of California building codes, Title 24, ADA, basic utilities and green code
- Well-versed in construction methods, materials, and best practices; strong proficiency in reading and interpreting construction documents
- Familiarity with AIA contract structures and consultant engagement practices; effective in consultant and vendor management (defining scope, fee negotiation, performance oversight, etc.)
- In-depth knowledge of design development, specification writing, and design standards management
- Strong ability to lead the design process from translating operational needs into design criteria and overseeing design quality (QC), and milestones
- Will possess a strong work ethic, excellent organization and communication skills, along with the ability to observe safety guidelines and work both autonomously and in a team-oriented atmosphere
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and highly adaptable to constant change based on business objectives
- Strong moral compass: ability to operate with integrity and professionalism when handling sensitive and confidential information
- Ability to travel out-of-state, including overnight and weekends (25-50% of the time)
- Valid CA Driver's License; required
