Design Project Manager - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend•San Francisco, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Design Manager to join our San Francisco team. This role involves partnering with our client to manage insurer design compliance across a portfolio of new data center developments. The Design Manager will oversee both pre-lease and construction phases, assessing prospective sites and developer designs against insurer requirements, and managing open insurer review items through to closure. This position serves as the primary point of coordination between the client design team, the insurer, and the developer on all matters of insurer design compliance. The role requires managing multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously and adhering to SOX control responsibilities where applicable.

Requirements

Minimum of 8 years of experience in design management, design coordination or technical project management in the construction industry.
Working knowledge of architectural, structural and fire protection design, with sufficient familiarity with electrical and mechanical systems to coordinate across disciplines.
Familiarity with US building and fire codes.
Demonstrated ability to track and close technical items across multiple concurrent projects.
Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications and technical submittals.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize technical status for senior stakeholders.
Proficient in MS Office Suite and Google Workspace.

Nice To Haves

Data center or mission critical experience preferred.
Other complex or heavily regulated building types considered.
Experience with insurer-led or third party design approval processes preferred.
Licensed architects, fire protection experience, and experience with insurer-led design approval processes is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of coordination between the client design team, the insurer, and the developer on all matters of insurer design compliance.
Maintain a compliance tracking matrix for each project recording open items, required evidence, responsible party, status and schedule impact.
Review developer design submissions and insurer plan review letters, and identify non-compliances and outstanding evidence requirements.
Manage open review items through to closure with the developer, general contractor and subcontractors.
Organize and lead project-specific working sessions where open items require resolution with the relevant design and trade parties.
Attend recurring coordination meetings with the insurer and represent the status of open items across the portfolio.
Prepare weekly status reporting identifying blocking items, progress, required actions and impact to project milestones.
Assess prospective sites during pre-lease due diligence and identify design conditions that cannot be remedied following lease execution.
Support the transaction team in incorporating insurer requirements into lease documentation and performance specifications.
Communicate insurer requirements to developers and design teams and advise on acceptable means of compliance.
Prepare and support requests for deviation or exemption, including supporting evidence and assessment of impact.
Monitor insurer review turnaround and escalate delays affecting the project schedule.
Develop and maintain checklists, standard requirement packages and template documentation to support consistent application across projects.
Effectively communicate design standards to internal and external project partners.
Manage multiple fast paced projects simultaneously.