Director, Design Management, NA

Vantage Data Centers•Santa Clara, CA

13d•$205,000 - $225,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Vantage is seeking a strategic Director of Design Management to lead regional design efforts and optimize the lifecycle of data center design across a growing portfolio. The role is based on-site at a Phoenix, Santa Clara, or Denver office and follows a flexible work policy of three days in the office and two days remote. The Director will serve as a hands-on technical contributor and collaborative partner to Market Development, Engineering, and Delivery teams, supporting design strategy from concept through construction and aligning design execution with customer and business needs. The position leads regional Design Managers and internal and external design teams, including architects, MEP engineers, civil consultants, and design/build partners. It supports early site selection, customer solutioning, conceptual design, feasibility, and due diligence, and oversees design through master planning, conceptual, schematic, and detailed phases. The Director will also advance design management processes through tooling, automation, AI/ML, RPA, standard practices, business continuity planning, and continuous improvement. Travel is expected to be up to 25%, though it may increase as business needs evolve.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil), or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience in design management, with emphasis on mission-critical, hyperscale data center, industrial, or high-tech facilities.
Experience working in fast-paced, cross-functional environments with complex infrastructure requirements.
Solid technical expertise in MEP systems, critical infrastructure, and integrated building design.
Demonstrated experience supporting early-stage project development, preferably in owner-operator or developer settings.
Strong business acumen and ability to balance technical performance with commercial outcomes.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a history of successfully leading cross-functional teams.
Ability to manage ambiguity and support change management initiatives.
Ability to meet the described physical demands, with reasonable accommodations available as applicable; occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds is required.

Responsibilities

Lead adoption of new tools and automation within Design Management, with a focus on operational measures and outcomes that support scale.
Champion Design Management across functions and work with Operational Excellence teams to establish business practices, playbooks, templates, and structured program management.
Own business continuity plans across Design Integration, aligned with business readiness best practices.
Initiate AI/ML- and RPA-driven capabilities and practices in Design Management to scale workloads and functions as data center demand grows.
Serve as a regional technical advisor and strategic partner during early site selection, customer solutioning, and conceptual design.
Collaborate with Market Development and customer teams to translate business and performance requirements into scalable, efficient design solutions.
Support site feasibility studies and due diligence from a design and engineering perspective.
Lead Design Managers in managing the end-to-end regional design process, from master planning and conceptual design through schematic and detailed design.
Oversee and coordinate internal and external design teams, including architects, MEP engineers, civil consultants, and design/build partners.
Review design packages and provide feedback to ensure technical accuracy, constructability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining alignment with corporate design standards and regional execution needs.
Collaborate with construction, operations, and commercial teams throughout the project lifecycle.
Participate in change management, ensuring design changes are documented, justified, and communicated.
Adapt to changing project scopes and customer requirements while protecting design integrity and business objectives.
Support development and enforcement of regional design standards, templates, and governance practices.
Contribute to continuous improvement of design management processes, tools, and frameworks to improve efficiency and quality.
Provide senior leadership with regional reporting and insights on design progress, risks, and opportunities.
Perform additional duties as assigned by management.
Travel up to 25% as expected, with the possibility of increased travel as the business evolves.