Director - Design Operations

AvalonBay Communities•Arlington, TX

8d•$110,800 - $184,800

About The Position

The Director of Design Operations provides operational leadership and hands-on execution for Vivmark’s Design organization. The role ensures that resources, systems, and processes support effective day-to-day operations and continued growth. In partnership with Design leadership and internal stakeholders, the Director strengthens project visibility, resource planning, coordination, and delivery. The successful candidate brings operational discipline, sound judgment, curiosity, and a practical approach to solving problems and helping multidisciplinary teams work effectively.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
8–12 years of experience in operations, project management, or team leadership.
Demonstrated experience improving processes and systems for multidisciplinary teams across multiple functions or locations.
Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to anticipate challenges, navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and follow through independently.
Experience with project management systems, project pipeline and schedule tracking, reporting tools, and business planning.
Curiosity about emerging technologies and ability to evaluate new tools and translate promising ideas into practical improvements.
Ability to build relationships and work effectively across teams in a collaborative, creative environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in operations, project management, or team leadership within architecture, design, or a related industry.

Responsibilities

Maintain visibility into the project pipeline, schedules, milestones, and delivery across Architecture and Interiors.
Assess workload and capacity with Design leadership to inform staffing and project assignments.
Identify risks and competing priorities, and coordinate with internal stakeholders to resolve issues.
Work with Design leadership to define group-wide business priorities, translate them into plans, and track commitments and progress.
Manage and refine existing workflows, standards, templates, and tools.
Work with internal stakeholders and external partners to standardize design processes and clarify roles and responsibilities.
Track adoption of design standards and assess process effectiveness, using regular reporting to identify gaps and guide improvements.
Research emerging technologies and industry trends, including AI-enabled tools and workflows relevant to architecture, interior design, and project delivery.
Evaluate opportunities, recommend solutions, and lead implementation to deliver measurable improvements.
Coordinate the operational aspects of onboarding, training, and systems adoption.
Work with team leaders to identify and address capability gaps, supporting collaboration and consistent practices across functions and locations.