Design Director

Webcor•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The Design Director provides leadership and oversight for the planning, coordination, and execution of design activities throughout the project lifecycle. The role serves as the primary liaison between owners, architects, consultants, and construction teams, ensuring design solutions align with project objectives, budget, schedule, quality standards, and constructability requirements. The Design Director leads multidisciplinary collaboration, manages design consultants, drives design quality and technical excellence, and supports project delivery from concept through construction. The role champions the owner's vision while balancing cost, risk, and operational objectives to achieve successful project outcomes. The position leads design coordination and technical execution across project phases, including Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration. It collaborates with project leadership, construction and preconstruction teams, technology groups, clients, and consultants; supports permitting, procurement, bidding, and buyout; and develops and implements project-specific design quality control plans. The Design Director also supports client relationship management and business development activities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
Licensed Architect.
Typically 12 years of industry experience as a technical architect.
Proven experience in technical design development and managing design consultants and effective design documentation, including Architectural, Structural, MEP/HVAC, and other relevant trades.
Advanced systems-thinking capability to lead multidisciplinary teams through complex design challenges and develop solutions that optimize project outcomes, constructability, cost, schedule, and risk.
Working knowledge of constructability issues and the overall review process.
Ability to build alignment across design, construction, client, and consultant teams while providing objective leadership and independent professional judgment.
Working knowledge of code requirements and appropriate applications.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, and Revit.
Ability to lead, develop, and mentor teams and foster accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and high performance.
Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, client service, stakeholder management, interpersonal, influencing, presentation, and public speaking skills.
Ability to assess risks, opportunities, and competing priorities; manage change and ambiguity; resolve conflicts; and drive solutions and results.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of 3D BIM modeling; preferred but not required.
Prior experience managing construction projects.
DBIA Certification is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead coordination with the Owner's Architect and design consultants to ensure timely development, integration, and delivery of high-quality design documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
Manage the project's design process and technical execution to align with contractual requirements, project objectives, budget, schedule, and quality standards.
Oversee design activities through Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration, driving timely decisions and issue resolution.
Partner with the Project Executive, Project Director, and Design Manager to lead design documentation efforts, identify risks and opportunities, and support project goals.
Facilitate collaboration among design teams, construction teams, consultants, and client representatives to support communication, coordination, and project alignment.
Advocate for the Owner's design intent while balancing budget, schedule, constructability, and operational objectives.
Support client relationship management and business development by fostering relationships with owners, architects, consultants, and industry partners.
Develop and manage project permitting plans and schedules to support project milestones and requirements.
Coordinate with BIM, VDC, and project technology teams to integrate digital design and project delivery tools throughout the design process.
Provide design and technical input during preconstruction, bidding, procurement, and buyout activities.
Collaborate with Preconstruction and Estimating teams on Target Value Design initiatives, evaluating design impacts on cost and maintaining budget alignment.
Develop Requests for Proposals for design services and support selection and procurement of architects, engineers, and specialty consultants.
Review consultant proposals, scopes of work, and design deliverables for completeness, quality, coordination, and alignment with project requirements.
Develop and implement project-specific Design Quality Control Plans and conduct reviews to ensure design deliverables meet established standards.
Provide leadership and guidance to project teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.