Design Manager, NA

Design Manager

The Design Manager champions design quality, value engineering, risk mitigation, commissioning readiness, and seamless handoff to construction and operations, while upholding hyperscaler customer expectations for uptime, resiliency, speed to delivery, and total cost of ownership (TCO). The Design Manager serves as the central link between New Site Development, Product, Engineering, and Construction teams, driving the design process from early concept through project handover. This role ensures that every design decision reflects customer, stakeholder, and operational needscaptured, evaluated, and translated into contract documents that enable predictable, high-quality delivery. Design Managers combine technical acumen, stakeholder fluency, and process discipline to create a repeatable, high-performing design function that balances innovation, standardization, and speed to market.

Essential Job Functions

Strategic & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the connective hub coordinating all design-related communication, milestones, and deliverables across Development, Engineering, Construction, and Operations.
• Drive product standardization efforts in collaboration with the Product and Engineering teams, ensuring design solutions are both optimized and scalable.
• Represent Design Management in project governance, risk reviews, and executive updates, providing data-backed insight into performance and decision-making.
• Collaborate with Construction, Procurement, Telecom, Power, Security, Controls, Commissioning, and Operations teams
• Manage RFI resolution, design clarifications, change controls, drawing revisions, and design risk escalations

Technology & Innovation

• Promote execution strategies including prefab MEP, skids, busways, medium voltage distribution, microgrid readiness, liquid cooling enablement, and high-density design
• Validate integration for AI/ML clusters, GPU environments, and next-gen power + cooling topologies
• Ensure compliance with building codes, energy standards, safety, sustainability goals, and utility requirements

Key Deliverables

• Design packages that meet VDC and operational standardsdelivered on time, on budget, and in compliance with design governance requirements
• SSOPR (Site Specific Owner's Project Requirements) documented, optimized, and adopted across all projects
• Milestone Reporting: consistent tracking of design schedules, cost benchmarks, and progress metrics
• Project Management Framework: project kickoff documentation, risk register, design logs, change tracking, and executive reporting cadence
• Lessons Learned Repository: structured process for feedback integration and process evolution

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field
• 57 years of experience in project and/or design management, with a proven record in construction projects
• Working knowledge of technical design coordination, construction execution, and project delivery models
• Experience leading internal and external teams, including engineers, contractors, and consultants
• Familiarity with local building codes, permitting, and regulatory compliance
• Proficiency in project and design software tools such as Procore, MS Project, AutoCAD, or similar
• Proficiency experience in Bluebeam, Revit, ACC/BIM 360, and Design tools to generate Concept Design Site layout is a must
• Provide BIM support to regional teams as required
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and team-building skills
• Ability to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously under tight timelines
• Background in Architecture, Construction, or Project Management (preferred)
• PMP or equivalent project management certification (preferred)
• Experience with design-build or design-bid-build project delivery models (preferred)
• Travel is expected to be up to 20-30%, generally traveling to other Vantage offices/data centers within North America.

Physical Demands and Special Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Details

• Salary Range: $145,000- $155,000 + Bonus (this range is based on Colorado market data and may vary in other locations)
• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.
• Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.