Director – Design Build, Aviation

Suffolk Construction•New York, NY

About The Position

Suffolk is seeking people who are bold. Curious. Innovative. Caring. Looking for the career opportunity of a lifetime. We’ll challenge and inspire you to be your very best. We’ll embrace what makes you unique and lift you up as you take chances. Here, you’ll find a place where you can act with purpose and integrity, bringing intelligence and grit to every aspect of your job. Join us for the chance to achieve your ambitions and build your legacy As part of an Aviation Design Build team, the Director – Design Build (Aviation) will proactively and collaboratively work as part of a unified team, comprising various Suffolk stakeholders and design professionals, through Suffolk’s optimized, end-to-end design-build management process. This role demands strategic project leadership, technical rigor, and seamless coordination across disciplines and stakeholders to ensure design excellence and delivery precision. The ideal candidate is deeply committed to enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, completeness, and speed of the design, documentation, and construction process. They will champion Suffolk’s design-build vision, leveraging innovative tools, technologies, and procedures to exceed client expectations. From pursuit through close-out, the Director – Design Build (Aviation) will drive alignment between design intent and construction execution, ensuring that every project design milestone is met with clarity, creativity, and accountability.

Requirements

Professional degree in Architecture, Engineering or Construction Management is required
10-15 years of increasingly responsible experience in the professional design services industry, with a background in Design Build design coordination and/or management.
Specific experience in large Aviation projects is required.
Proven success working on multiple projects and building types, across all project phases.
Experience managing teams through the duration of the project’s design process, including completion of Construction Documentation (Drawing & Specification).
Extensive knowledge of industry standards and resources.
Shared enthusiasm for executing the Suffolk Design vision, with a demonstrated willingness to rethink traditional methodologies and to passionately seek out advancements in project delivery outcomes.
Desire to be part of something bigger than oneself and appreciate the opportunity that Suffolk and Suffolk Design bring to radically transform the design and construction industry.
Genuinely collaborative and open to the expert opinions of leading construction and technology industry experts, all the while able to confidently bring technical design knowledge to the discussion.
Deep awareness and sensitivity to the workings of the design and construction processes, and the ability to interpret and develop creative, technically competent, and constructible solutions to design challenges.
Demonstrates value-driven design philosophy that incorporates sound business judgement, community benefit and aesthetic excellence.
Strong management capabilities and proactive leadership qualities that allow for systematic and consistent implementation of standard processes, procedures, and systems across Illuminate and Suffolk’s broader design-build delivery business.
Self-motivated and able to work as part of a team or independently, depending on the situation.
Excellent communication and organizational skills
Inquisitive with a passion for excellence and continual improvement.
Able to travel, as needed.
Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Must possess Suffolk’s Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring

Nice To Haves

Certification as licensed architect or professional engineer as well as DBIA is strongly preferred.
Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Review RFQ/RFPs and develop a deliverable matrix.
Participate in negotiating teaming and design services agreements.
Identify, assess and develop mitigation strategies for design-related risks.
Interview / approve Design Managers and oversee proposal development.
Align design deliverables with cost models and schedules.
Coordinate scope validation, value engineering, and RFP submittals.
Provide technical guidance to external design professionals and manage scope control.
Facilitate integrated design workshops and interdisciplinary coordination.
Track permitting and other third-party coordination (ex, governmental, authorities having jurisdiction, etc).
With external design professionals, resolve design comments and drive recovery plans.
Oversee delegated designs and trade assist efforts.
Support estimating, scheduling, and change management.
Resolve technical questions and coordinate field/design integration.
Oversee RFIs, shop drawings, and design change documentation.
Conduct constructability reviews and monitor as-built updates.
Continue permit services and support commissioning.
Ensure completion of all contractual design obligations.
Lead post-project reviews and document lessons learned.
Review Record Drawings and finalize financial close-out.
Issue warranty correspondence and share design insights for future projects.