Design Manager

Legacy Commercial Property • Brentwood, TN

5d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Design Manager with a strong architecture, development or construction background to serve as the primary liaison between external vendors (architects, engineers, contractors), clients/tenants, and internal Legacy teams. While some initial schematic drawings and design review work will be part of this role, the primary focus is on managing the design and pre-construction process. This includes, but is not limited to, driving projects forward, ensuring clear communication across all parties, and keeping timelines and deliverables on track.
This is an ideal opportunity for a candidate with hands-on architectural or engineering experience who is ready to step into a management-oriented role without leaving the design world entirely.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related field (accredited program preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in an architecture, design, or design management role; commercial or retail experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple external vendors and project stakeholders simultaneously.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and/or Revit.
• Experience producing and reviewing and redlining construction documents.
• Strong understanding of model building codes and permitting processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to clients and leading coordination calls.
• Highly organized with strong project management instincts; experience with project tracking tools is a plus.
• Ability and willingness to travel to sites across Legacy’s multi-state portfolio as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Architectural licensure (or active pursuit) is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for external architects, civil engineers, MEP consultants, and other design vendors across an active project portfolio.
• Manage vendor scopes of work, contracts, schedules, and deliverables; hold vendors accountable to quality and timeline expectations.
• Solicit, evaluate, and onboard new vendors as needed; maintain and strengthen Legacy’s vendor network.
• Review and coordinate vendor invoices and change orders in collaboration with the Director of Construction and Design.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for tenants and clients during the design and pre-construction phase, translating technical information into clear, accessible communication.
• Manage tenant improvement (TI) design processes, ensuring tenant requirements are incorporated into project documents while protecting landlord interests.
• Facilitate design review meetings, track open items, and follow through on decisions and action items.
• Collaborate closely with the Leasing, Property Management, and Construction teams to align design decisions with operational and financial goals.
• Support the Director of Construction and Design with project tracking, reporting, and portfolio-level design initiatives.
• Maintain organized project files, drawing logs, and correspondence records to ensure continuity across projects.
• Produce or oversee initial schematic drawings, construction drawings, architectural site plans, and as-built documentation as needed.
• Review construction drawings and permit sets for accuracy, completeness, and code compliance.
• Conduct and document site investigation reports; travel to pre-construction and active construction sites as required.
• Apply working knowledge of model code requirements to support permit submittals and design approvals.

Benefits

• Group medical, dental, vision, and other supplemental policies
• Flexible Medical Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401(k) with 50% match
• Paid time off plus 7 paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level