Design Manager

Design Manager

Summary
The Design Manager is responsible for managing and directing external design companies through all design phases on projects that are being pursued or have been awarded to Layton’s National Building Group. This role supports an existing high-volume portfolio of government and private sector projects, ensuring design intent, constructability, cost control, and owner expectations remain aligned from preconstruction through execution.

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Champions, “The Layton Way,” by delivering predictable outcomes for internal teams, external teams, and customers.
• Ensures that, “Constructing with Integrity,” is delivered by working with honesty, unity, safety, and quality of work. 
• Directs outside consultants through all phases of the design process, serving as an active project leader

• Serves as the primary point of contact and day-to-day collaborator with the architect team, ensuring alignment between design intent and constructability throughout all phases.

• Executes successful process of documenting and locking in design phases to manage owner expectations and changes. 
  • Must understand and establish design priorities and objectives for each phase of design.
• Develops and maintains a design schedule that interfaces with and supports permitting, procurement, and all construction phases.
• Works directly with estimating to ensure budgets are organized and assumptions are clearly defined within each phase of the design process.

• Successfully transfers all budget and design information to operational team until operation team is in control of execution of the work.

• Converts the owner’s vision into a constructible design solution that aligns with the overall project scope, budget, and schedule.

• Establish excellent working relationships with various partners, including upper management, owners, designers, vendors, government and trades.
• Learn and fully understand the owner’s needs, goals and requirements for the project.
• Record and control change management decisions with owners and trade partners. 
• Conduct technical and operational risk assessments and advising on any potential risks, opportunities, and potential hazards. 
• Strategically develops the external design team with emphasis on risk management and company qualifications.
• This position operates at a senior level alongside other design management leads supporting the organization's government client relationships
• Lead and encourage teams to reach or exceed their goals, while implementing and promoting the company’s policies, regulations and guidelines.
• Responsible for mentoring, managing, and evaluating the Design Phase Team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Estimating, or a related field (or equivalent relevant experience).
• Minimum of 7 years of related construction industry experience (general contracting, owners’ representative, design build firm, architecture firm, engineering firm, etc.)

  • Experience supporting industrial/cold-storage, mission critical, or other complex project portfolios is preferred.

• Able to review and guide design; coordinate design efforts to keep project outcomes aligned with owner expectations

• High-level knowledge of construction and design industries.

• Strong innovative mindset.
• Ability to interface between design and preconstruction to control cost
• Very strong interpersonal skills — heavily client-facing
• OTA (Other Transaction Authority) contract experience preferred
• Must have strong organizational skills while managing multiple projects across different locations nationally
• Able to travel as needed throughout the country.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively especially when under pressure or when faced with unexpected changes, situations, or unforeseen delays.
• Functions effectively in a diverse team setting.
• Must demonstrate leadership at a senior level and the ability to develop a followership to influence change.
• Adaptable to change based on collaborative feedback.

• High degree of business acumen and decisiveness required. 

• Must work independently and with teams and possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing. 

• Strong presentation, public speaking, and facilitation skills.

• Software Skills: MS Office Suite (Word/Excel/PPT), Google Drive/Workspace, Bluebeam, Familiarity with Revit, AutoCAD, Autodesk Forma

Benefits - Layton Construction offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, Short-term Disability Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, Family Support, Pre-tax Paid Parking/Public Transportation, Paid time off, Time Away Benefits, Paid Holidays, Group Legal, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Identity Theft Protection, Group Legal, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program.

EEO Statement - Layton Construction is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Layton Construction is a privately held national general contractor, delivering predictable outcomes in commercial construction since 1953. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton operates from 16 strategic offices across the United States, employing more than 1,500 construction professionals who serve diverse markets including healthcare, education, commercial office, industrial, hospitality, and multi-unit residential. Founded on the core values of honesty, unity, safety, and quality, Layton has built a reputation for excellence in complex project delivery while maintaining strong partnerships with clients, architects, and trade partners nationwide.
The STO Building Group family of companies—Structure Tone, Structure Tone Southwest, Pavarini Construction Co., Pavarini McGovern, LF Driscoll, Govan Brown, Ajax Building Company, BCCI Construction, Layton Construction, Abbott Construction, and RC Andersen—includes over 4,000 employees located in offices throughout the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland. We provide a complete range of construction services, from site selection analysis, design constructability review and aesthetic enhancements to interior fit-outs, new building construction, and building infrastructure upgrades and modernization. Learn more about how we partner with our clients to imagine, execute, and realize their vision at stobuildinggroup.com.
EEO Statement: Layton Construction is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.