Design Project Manager

Design Project Manager

The Design Project Manager is responsible for leading design execution for assigned de novo projects from early-stage feasibility through construction administration. This role supports the implementation and continuous application of design prototypes, standards, and operational requirements while collaborating with Real Estate, Construction, Operations, Clinical, Marketing, architects, and consultants to deliver consistent, scalable, and high-quality facilities. The Design Project Manager is accountable for ensuring design deliverables align with program objectives, schedules, budgets, approved prototypes and standards, and constructability requirements.

Role Competencies:

Collaboration: Works collaboratively with Operations, Clinical, Marketing, Real Estate, and Construction teams to support successful delivery of De Novo facilities. Establishes clear decision authority with internal stakeholders and external consultants to eliminate ambiguity and maintain forward momentum. Builds strong, accountable partnerships with architects, engineers, manufacturers, and vendors across multiple markets. Supports consistency across projects through application of established prototypes and standards. Partners with Construction and Facilities to close the loop between design intent and operational performance.

Communication: Clearly articulates design intent, standards, and expectations through drawings, specifications, written documentation, and executive level presentations. Provides decisive and timely feedback on drawings, RFIs, submittals, and value engineering proposals to maintain schedule discipline. Communicates tradeoffs between cost, speed, constructability, and brand impact with clarity and business awareness. Escalates risks early and proposes practical solutions that protect budget and timeline. Translates operational and clinical needs into clear design directives for consultants and contractors.

Problem Solving and Judgment: Evaluates design options holistically, balancing cost per square foot, constructability, schedule impact, operational efficiency, and long-term durability. Exercises strong design judgment under tight timelines and evolving site constraints. Identifies project-level inefficiencies and recommends scalable solutions for consideration across the de novo program. Makes confident, well-reasoned decisions that protect the prototype while enabling smart adaptation to local conditions.

Continuous Improvement: Supports the implementation and refinement of de novo prototypes, standards, and specifications through project execution and lessons learned. Identifies and supports measurable improvement in cost efficiency, delivery speed, and constructability through standardization and system optimization. Establishes repeatable workflows that reduce rework and increase consultant accountability. Identifies opportunities for strategic vendor and manufacturer partnerships and supports their implementation across the de novo program.

Leadership and Accountability: Sets performance expectations for external design partners and holds them accountable for assigned project scope, schedule, budget, deliverables and quality. Supports consultant performance evaluations and provides clear direction for improvement. Serves as a subject-matter resource on de novo design standards and provides guidance to project teams and cross-functional partners. Models high standards of professionalism, responsiveness, accountability, and quality.

Responsibilities and Benefits

Role Specific Responsibilities:

• Support the continued application and refinement of de novo prototypes, including architectural standards, finish palettes, equipment integration, detailing, and building systems
• Document and maintain national design standards, specifications, exhibits, and approved manufacturer lists to ensure consistency and scalability across all De Novo projects
• Lead design execution for multiple assigned projects simultaneously from site feasibility and schematic design through construction administration, ensuring alignment with operational requirements, budget targets, schedule commitments, and constructability standards
• Develop, maintain, and actively manage design schedules and deliverable milestones for assigned projects, identifying risks and escalating delays that may impact permitting, construction, or opening timelines
• Review and approve drawings, specifications, and consultant deliverables for compliance with prototype standards and cost objectives
• Manage design-to-budget objectives and drive cost-per-square-foot optimization through system level evaluation, material standardization, and repeatable detailing strategies
• Support program wide value engineering initiatives while preserving brand integrity and clinical intent
• Partner with Construction leadership to improve constructability, reduce change orders, and drive continuous improvement in delivery speed and quality
• Act as the primary design contact during construction, providing timely and decisive responses to design-related RFIs, submittals, ASIs, and bulletins to maintain schedule momentum while coordinating closely with the assigned Construction Project Manager
• Hold architects, engineers, and external consultants accountable to contracted scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations; identify performance issues and coordinate corrective action with the Design & Preconstruction Lead when necessary
• Support early-stage feasibility and site test fits in collaboration with Real Estate to ensure design viability prior to lease execution, including evaluation of building configuration, utility capacity, site constraints, clinical requirements, and prototype fit
• Develop conceptual plans, renderings, and presentation materials to support internal decision making and stakeholder alignment
• Coordinate integration of veterinary equipment and specialized clinical requirements into design, including imaging, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, acoustical, technology, and other building-system requirements as applicable
• Conduct post occupancy reviews and incorporate lessons learned into recommendations for updates to standard and prototype refinements
• Build and maintain strong cross functional relationships to ensure design standards reflect real operational, clinical, and client experience needs
• Travel as required to support site assessments, construction coordination, prototype validation, and stakeholder alignment

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, interior design, or related field preferred
• Minimum 5 years of experience in architectural or design project management
• Strong front end design experience with an emphasis on schematic and conceptual design
• Experience supporting prototype-based, multi-site, retail, healthcare, dental or veterinary facility development programs preferred
• Proficiency in Bluebeam and working knowledge of AutoCAD and/or Revit; experience with SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design and visualization software preferred
• Ability to communicate design ideas quickly and clearly through graphics and drawings
• Experience producing, reviewing, and marking up construction documents
• Demonstrated experience managing architects, engineers, and other external design consultants across multiple concurrent projects
• Strong understanding of design schedules, permitting, constructability, and design-to-build principles
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and delegation skills
• Excellent graphic, verbal, and written communication skills
• High level of attention to detail and quality

The Mission Way, Our Core Values: We deliver on our mission by executing our WAG values and exemplifying them in everything we do. Work Together, we are part of something greater, we are a community, we work as a team, we are better together. Amaze, we create amazing moments, exceed expectations, deliver personalized care, have a yes mentality. Grow, we are always seeking ways to improve, grow our hospitals, serve more pets, enhance staff capabilities.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The teammate is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 20 pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Other Duties: Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the teammate for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.