Design Manager

The Design Manager is responsible for supervising, training, and mentoring a team of Design Engineers as well as creating departmental SOP’s, championing standardization of design and implementing improvements as needed.  This position will work closely with various internal departments as well as general contractors and building owners. 

Role and Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Sales and Project Managers to verify schedule and design requirements.
• Schedule design based on pipe on job and specific job requirements.
• Ensure projects are assigned to the appropriate design team members.
• Ensure all required plans and files are received and provided to applicable designer.
• Responsible for communication and status reporting to team members and other applicable departments.
• Manage a team of designers providing leadership, training, mentoring, and coaching.
• Provide responsive, concise, accurate and professional support to design team.
• Actively participate in turnover meetings, lead design meetings, and weekly POJ meetings.
• Manage design team’s workload and obtain support through subcontractors as needed.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with customers, sales executives, superintendents, and field personnel.
• Manage commitment dates to ensure they are met; communicate with appropriate team members if commitment date is at risk of being missed.
• Assist with recruitment and interviewing of design candidates.
• Ensure designers review project changes during design phase and notify applicable personnel regarding impact.
• Create departmental SOP’s
• Champion design standardization across all locations.
• Chair the “Best Practice” committee; implement improvements based on committee feedback.
• Monitor job costs as they relate to design.
• Assist with design to maintain commitment dates as needed.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Design experience within the fire sprinkler industry.
• A minimum of 2 years of leadership/management experience is required.
• Associated Degree in Fire Protection Design preferred and/or 5 years of experience in design and engineering.
• NICET certification preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office, AutoCAD, and HydraCAD.
• Proficient in interpreting and applying applicable local AHJ as well as NFPA standards and Building codes.
• An understanding of commercial and industrial building construction.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, such as codes, standards, specifications, architectural and structural drawings, safety rules, operating, and maintenance instructions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, communicate, reach, and manipulate objects, tools, or controls.  This position requires mobility.  Minimal physical exertion.

Working Conditions

Usual office working conditions.  The noise level is typical of most office environments. Can be exposed to sound and noise levels that are distracting when on a jobsite.

The above declarations are not intended to be an “all-inclusive” list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described or of the skills and abilities required to perform the job.  Rather, they are intended only to describe the general requirements of the job.