Design Manager

BKM Management Company•Newport Beach, CA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

BKM Capital Partners is seeking a Design Manager to support the Director of Design in implementing design and branding improvements across our national portfolio of industrial properties. This role manages the design process for property repositioning projects, including exterior paint schemes, signage programs, landscape improvements, and other visual upgrades. The position requires strong organization, design oversight, and coordination with internal teams and outside consultants. The ideal candidate has experience working at the intersection of architecture, branding, and real estate development, and is comfortable managing projects from early design through construction. This role is required to work 100% in-office due to the collaborative nature of this position. This role also requires 30% travel.

Requirements

5 years of experience in architecture, environmental design, branding, or real estate development.
Familiarity with signage programs, building exterior improvements, and landscape design.
Strong proficiency in AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop); SketchUp or other visualization tools are a plus.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate with internal teams and consultants.
Strong attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Experience working on commercial real estate or development projects is strongly preferred.
SketchUp or other visualization tools are a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage the design process for property improvement projects from concept through construction.
Develop site-specific design concepts including building paint schemes, signage, façade upgrades, and landscape improvements.
Coordinate with external consultants including architects, signage designers, and landscape architects.
Review consultant design packages and request updates as needed to align with BKM design standards.
Prepare design materials and presentations for internal review.
Develop and maintain design schedules and project milestones for new acquisitions and capital improvement projects.
Track design progress and deliverables within Yardi Construction Manager.
Coordinate with construction managers, acquisitions, leasing, and marketing teams to align project timelines.
Manage proposals and bids from design consultants and vendors.
Participate in site visits, design walks, and project meetings, documenting notes and action items.
Research local regulations and permitting requirements related to signage, paint, landscaping, and exterior improvements, and coordinate with consultants to ensure designs comply with city codes and approval processes.
Work with construction teams during the capital improvement phase to respond to design clarification requests, review RFIs, and help ensure improvements are implemented according to the approved design intent, including periodic site visits during construction.
Support implementation of BKM’s property branding, including signage systems and visual identity.
Work with the marketing team on property branding and design-related marketing materials.
Assist leasing teams with tenant signage exhibits and signage criteria.
Participate in coordination meetings with internal teams.
Maintain organized documentation of design packages, renderings, finish palettes, and signage specifications.
Ensure all project files are stored properly in internal systems.
Help manage project photography, renderings, and visual assets through BKM’s digital asset management platforms.