Design Manager

Lifestyle Communities•Columbus, OH

27d

About The Position

Job Title: Design Manager Company: Lifestyle Development Services, LLC. Department: Development The Team You Will Join: At LC, we look at each development with a sense of purpose. As such, Lifestyle Communities’ (LC) Development team leads the nation in planning communities that bring people together and enrich neighborhoods. You’ll join a dynamic team dedicated to handling all aspects of development from start to finish to ensure that our vision is never lost in the creation of community. Who You Are: As the Sr Design Manager, you will support shaping the design work and creative direction for the company’s luxury brand through design strategy, standards, systems, and tools. You will lead the development design team and oversee all aspects of architectural planning and design for our projects. You will set the design strategy for the projects in each market, ensure the pull-through of the strategy bringing it to life in new build, conversion, and renovation work, through support, and collaboration with department leaders across the portfolio. The Difference You Will Make: Collaborate with senior leadership to implement LC’s architectural design strategy, standards, and vision to deliver on the LC brand. Engage, manage, and collaborate with LC’s architectural partners. Establish and manage design schedules and milestone dates as it relates to development project timelines. Review and partner with LC’s internal teams (development, construction, H+H, legal, etc.) on planning and design. Review and interpret market research/data to provide creative direction on asset positioning or repositioning within competitive markets, consistently driving and elevating design. Assist in further development, evolution, and documentation of LC’s architecture design principles, such as defining design quality standards, processes, urban design strategies, architecture and planning requirements. Actively collaborate with LC’s construction team to assure cohesive and collective feedback on plans and design standards throughout the design and construction process. Research and implement innovative ideas to improve design quality, timeliness, and delivery costs, including procurement strategies, product standardization, and material and furniture selection. Collaborate with global design, investment, development, construction, technology, property management, and marketing team to communicate design strategies, budgeting and programming. Collaborate with local development teams on zoning and entitlements to inform design strategies on projects. Refresh design strategies to reflect changes in consumer behavior, brand positioning, insights, competitive intelligence and aspiration. Partner with department leaders and design team to develop and maintain relationships with consultants for architecture, interior design, lighting, styling, landscaping, audio, etc. Ensure the design discipline prioritizes and accelerates the right resources, initiatives and efforts that will have the greatest impact on driving luxury experience and brand differentiation. Create a team environment that encourages creativity, innovation, accountability, and high standards. Ability to work in a matrix organization and leverage shared resources to achieve results; create a strong network for design strategy. Evaluate, embrace, and implement new ideas, approaches, or methods to deliver resident experiences that significantly outpace the competition. Invests deeply in the growth and success of self and others through LC’s five leadership behaviors: Humility, Caring, Curiosity, Courage, and Grit. Complete other projects as directed and assigned by the senior leadership team.

Requirements

Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering large-scale development projects from inception through completion.
Extensive experience in architectural design and a proven track record of successfully delivering architectural designs for residential/multi-family, mixed-use building types and scales.
In-depth knowledge of building codes, regulations, and industry standards.
Proficiency in architectural design software and tools, such as AutoCAD, BIM-Revit, SketchUp, or similar.
Excellent presentation and communication skills, with an ability to clearly articulate design concepts to executives, investors, the community, staff, engineers, and builders.
Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire cross-functional teams.
Understand the financial and nonfinancial performance drivers and manage design builds around targeted budgets.
Uncompromising integrity and ethics; must be highly trustworthy.
Strong leadership qualities and previous experience managing a team of people with the ability to motivate, develop and coach team members.
Proficient problem solver with results-driven mindset.
Teamwork approach - ability to work effectively with other Lifestyle companies (especially Development, Construction, Home and Hospitality business units)
Advanced skills in Microsoft office and Excel necessary.
A highly organized, self-directed, and self-motivated mindset.
Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Bachelor’s degree in architecture or interior design or related field with a background in real estate or a combination of education and/or experience.
Minimum of ten (10) years of professional, hands-on experience in architectural planning and design on luxury-level projects, in addition to horizontal development project type experience.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with senior leadership to implement LC’s architectural design strategy, standards, and vision to deliver on the LC brand.
Engage, manage, and collaborate with LC’s architectural partners.
Establish and manage design schedules and milestone dates as it relates to development project timelines.
Review and partner with LC’s internal teams (development, construction, H+H, legal, etc.) on planning and design.
Review and interpret market research/data to provide creative direction on asset positioning or repositioning within competitive markets, consistently driving and elevating design.
Assist in further development, evolution, and documentation of LC’s architecture design principles, such as defining design quality standards, processes, urban design strategies, architecture and planning requirements.
Actively collaborate with LC’s construction team to assure cohesive and collective feedback on plans and design standards throughout the design and construction process.
Research and implement innovative ideas to improve design quality, timeliness, and delivery costs, including procurement strategies, product standardization, and material and furniture selection.
Collaborate with global design, investment, development, construction, technology, property management, and marketing team to communicate design strategies, budgeting and programming.
Collaborate with local development teams on zoning and entitlements to inform design strategies on projects.
Refresh design strategies to reflect changes in consumer behavior, brand positioning, insights, competitive intelligence and aspiration.
Partner with department leaders and design team to develop and maintain relationships with consultants for architecture, interior design, lighting, styling, landscaping, audio, etc.
Ensure the design discipline prioritizes and accelerates the right resources, initiatives and efforts that will have the greatest impact on driving luxury experience and brand differentiation.
Create a team environment that encourages creativity, innovation, accountability, and high standards.
Ability to work in a matrix organization and leverage shared resources to achieve results; create a strong network for design strategy.
Evaluate, embrace, and implement new ideas, approaches, or methods to deliver resident experiences that significantly outpace the competition.
Invests deeply in the growth and success of self and others through LC’s five leadership behaviors: Humility, Caring, Curiosity, Courage, and Grit.
Complete other projects as directed and assigned by the senior leadership team.