Design Manager - Data Center

Position Overview

Gilbane is seeking a Design Manager - Data Center who will lead the integration of design and construction teams to deliver coordinated, constructible, and cost‐effective designs on schedule and within budget. As a Top-10 ENR Contractor and a family-owned business with 45 offices, Gilbane has been shaping communities since 1870 by building schools, labs, hospitals, corporate offices, sports arenas, and more. We value diversity and inclusivity and encourage candidates whose experience may not perfectly align with every qualification to apply. As a collaborative, empathetic, and results‐driven professional, you will uphold Gilbane’s core values of Integrity, Caring, Teamwork, Toughmindedness, Dedication to Excellence, Discipline, Loyalty, and Entrepreneurship.

Key Responsibilities

• Preconstruction & Proposal Phase
  • Serve as primary liaison between design and construction teams during proposals.
  • Lead strategy for design services breakdown and integration of specialty consultants or design/build trades.
  • Define technical scope, manage RFIs, and ensure comprehensive bridging documents.
  • Develop and maintain design deliverable schedules aligned with procurement and build phases.
  • Validate A/E scope and fee structure; support Teaming Agreements.
  • Collaborate with estimating to break down RFPs and support subcontractor/vendor pricing.
  • Assemble and maintain the Endorsed Project Baseline (proposal, estimate, contract, schedule).
  • Identify and communicate requirements to clarify RFPs for design and construction.
• Design Development & Delivery
  • Oversee design progression to ensure alignment with budget, schedule, and constructability; lead target value design.
  • Facilitate design charrettes, team chartering, and owner approval processes.
  • Coordinate permitting processes and maintain related schedules.
  • Monitor and document design changes, minimizing scope creep.
  • Lead design risk management, including cost-benefit analyses for RFIs and changes.
  • Ensure Health & Safety integration by completing Safety Risk Assessments, introducing Hierarchy of Controls, and incorporating logistics planning into design.
  • Coordinate between the VDC team and the design team to align digital modeling, clash detection, and constructability reviews with project goals.
  • Maintain tools for tracking design issues and changes.
  • Promote a design-build mindset and collaboration across disciplines.
  • Oversee and validate design team invoices.
• Construction Integration
  • Communicate design scope and intent to construction teams.
  • Support development of construction budgets derived from design estimates.
  • Assist in trade contractor/supplier scope definition and procurement.
  • Provide feedback for future bids and risk assessments.
  • Resolve scope conflicts and develop recovery plans as needed.
  • Ensure design team responsiveness to field issues and facilitate risk-mitigating solutions.
• Quality, Compliance & Documentation
  • Oversee design QA/QC for regulatory and standards compliance.
  • Improve documentation of design basis and assumptions.
  • Emphasize the importance of delivering the proposed design and effectively managing scope changes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years’ experience in design/project management for large-scale construction.
• Proven experience with advanced delivery models (Design-Build, IPD, P3, EPC).
• Strong understanding of design-to-budget, constructability, and risk management.
• Experience establishing and executing departmental processes and procedures.
• Experience with Assumptions Management, Change Management, requirement tracking, and Corrective Action Programs.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive consensus.
• Proficiency in design and construction management software/tools.

Benefits & Perks

• Total Compensation: Salary is determined based on geographic location, skills, education, and experience. The pay ranges from $123,600-$225,000 plus benefits and a retirement program.
• Benefits & Perks: Competitive health and welfare benefits, a generous profit-sharing/401k plan, and multi-dimensional training opportunities through Gilbane University.
• Applicants must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.