Design Manager

Ventana Construction Corporation•Burnaby, BC

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Design Manager, you will lead complex design-build and construction management projects from a pre-construction perspective, ensuring design outcomes align with client expectations, budget constraints, and constructability requirements. You will work closely with senior leadership, consultants, and pre-construction teams to guide the design process from concept through to construction readiness, overseeing consultant performance, driving high-quality design documentation, and maintaining strong client relationships. You will be responsible for balancing design intent with practical delivery, ensuring a seamless transition into construction while supporting successful project outcomes.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in construction, architecture, or real estate development, with a focus on design coordination, project management, or pre-construction.
Degree or diploma in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
Experience working on large-scale commercial, institutional, or residential projects, with exposure to the full project lifecycle from pursuit through to construction.
Being comfortable managing external consultants, leading the design process and making design decisions in collaborative environments such as DB, PDB or IPD.
Strong understanding of contracts, budgeting, supply chain and constructability
Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with clients, consultants, and internal teams.
Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Practical problem-solver with strong business and commercial judgment.
Experience supporting RFQs/RFPs and contributing to winning work.
Familiarity with municipal approvals, building codes, and permitting processes.
Experience with BIM/VDC and project management or design collaboration tools.

Nice To Haves

Professional designations such as PMP, Gold Seal, P.Eng., AIBC, or LEED are considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Acting as the primary point of contact for clients and consultants during the design and pre-construction phases, building strong relationships and ensuring their goals are reflected in the design while managing expectations around scope, schedule, and budget.
Leading the construction management process across CM, design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB) and integrated project delivery (IPD) projects, coordinating architects, engineers, and consultants to deliver aligned, high-quality design documentation from concept through to construction.
Facilitate design coordination meetings and workshops, ensuring all disciplines are aligned, risks are identified early, and design progress stays on schedule.
Overseeing consultant performance, define clear scopes of work, and ensure accountability throughout the design process.
Leading design development to balance client vision with constructability, cost, and schedule, working closely with estimating and pre-construction teams to deliver value engineering solutions and maintain budget alignment.
Advising clients and internal teams on building codes, bylaws, permitting requirements, and sustainability considerations, while supporting and leading municipal approval processes.
Identifying and resolving design-related risks, ensuring sound decision-making and alignment with contract and project requirements.
Supporting RFQ/RFP pursuits by contributing to design strategy, and collaborating with proposal teams to ensure solutions are practical, competitive, and aligned with delivery capabilities
Leading the transition of projects into construction, ensuring operations teams are set up for success with a clear understanding of design intent, scope, and client commitments.
Maintaining client engagement into early construction to ensure continuity, satisfaction, and resolution of any design-related issues.
Demonstrating strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence multidisciplinary teams, build trust, and present ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Staying highly organized and detail-oriented, effectively managing multiple priorities, design deliverables, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.