Director, Digital Practice

Barry-Wehmiller•Clayton, MO

10d

About The Position

BW Design Group is seeking a Director, Digital Practice to join our team. The Director plays the primary role in shaping and driving the development, selection, and integration of a platform of digital tools, technologies, applications, and methodologies within our AE Design, Construction, System Integration, and Commissioning business and delivery processes. The Director will report to the Managing Partner of Architecture + Engineering + Construction with a dotted line to our Chief Information Officer. Our vision is to become the industry’s first digital native design-build firm capable of designing, building, integrating, commissioning, and sustaining in digital parallel with our integrated project delivery. Operating at a strategic level, the Director, Digital Practice will establish the scope, vision, and direction for Digital Practice across BW Design Group inclusive of design, construction, system integration, commissioning, and project management. This includes a framework for the effective use of BIM and VDC implementation, promoting consistency, scalability, and alignment with industry best practices and standards. A primary goal is to author a living framework to assess the firm’s digital practice maturity and use the framework and baseline findings to inform a roadmap to iterate our practical approach going forward. Our ideal candidate is an architect, engineer, or construction leader with a passion for and extensive experience leading the development and execution of digital practice solutions. They must be a seasoned professional who understands how buildings and their systems infrastructure come together, along with the design and construction value chains that comprise project delivery. This role requires a forward-thinking leader who can take a holistic view of the industry, align digital initiatives with strategic goals, and anticipate future trends and challenges.

Requirements

Minimum 3 years of experience in a Digital Practice leadership and management role, responsible for optimizing firm workflows and tools for one or more firms with over 500 employees.
Minimum 15 years of experience working in an architecture, engineering, or design-build practice, using a variety of tools and including Autodesk Revit.
Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Construction Management, or equivalent.
Proven track record of developing and implementing digital strategies and initiatives including change management experience; technical expertise in digital tools including BIM, GIS, and VR/AR; Architectural Visualization; and other design and construction management software.
Demonstrated experience with driving innovative change in the AEC industry, collaborating with firm leaders and practitioners to adapt technology changes into their ways of working.
Demonstrated knowledge of AEC industry trends and related technology opportunities.
General knowledge of information technology management principles or practices such as cloud-based infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, systems architecture, DevOps and data warehousing.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with executive, practice, discipline, and delivery group leadership, along with subject matter experts to design and develop a Digital Practice identity and roadmap aligned with the firm's design, construction, and business objectives.
Align Digital Practice goals with overall firm objectives and goals.
Establish strategies for Digital Practice development and measures that quantify realization of strategies and goals.
Translate project development, delivery, system integration, commissioning, and closeout workflows into a digital value stream map and reconcile the value stream with existing or potential technologies to digitize and productize our offerings.
Regularly review and update digital strategies based on changes in the business environment, technological advancements, and/or firm objectives.
Identify, evaluate and implement new technologies that enhance design thinking, constructability and trade coordination, and project delivery.
Own the selection, implementation, and management of existing and new digital tools and technologies, including BIM, GIS, VR/AR, and other software applications that digitize delivery.
Oversee the management of BW Design Group’s advanced technologies (Revit, Autodesk, ACC, Rhino, Bluebeam, etc.) to support design and construction teams in producing accurate, data-rich 3D parametric models.
Govern strategic BIM coordination and guidance, supporting project teams in achieving efficient delivery and maintaining high model quality.
Develop thought leadership content that speaks to the innovative practices the firm undertakes within the area of Digital Practice and its influence on design excellence and constructability and coordination.
Develop internal communication strategies and deliver compelling presentations to align our professionals during periods of change or in relation to core digital programs.
Direct the development and implementation of BIM/VDC Execution Plans across all projects, leveraging tools such as project start-up templates to drive consistency and quality.
Oversee and provide advisory on the maintenance of firm-wide BIM/VDC standards, templates, and family libraries, including the creation of custom Revit families tailored to project needs.
Build partnerships with strategic and emerging technology vendors to maintain a strong knowledge of industry technology trends and opportunities.
Continuously improve and support highly effective digital workflows leveraging automation, connected systems, data and AI to drive a high level of productivity and quality in our work products.
Partner with technology leadership and colleagues to design and implement a BIM/VDC infrastructure strategy that enables collaboration, user experience and performance and that optimizes BW Design Group’s operating expenses.
Develop and manage a community of BIM/VDC resources to deliver BIM-related services that ensure model accuracy, completeness, and performance to client's expectations.
Collaborate with BW Design Group’s Practice Leadership to evaluate and define architecture and engineering standards in alignment with Digital Practice.
Partner with the CIO and other subject matter experts to advance the firm's data and AI strategy, and monetize BW Design Group’s valuable BIM data.
Collaborate with the Director of VDC Technologies to develop learning and knowledge sharing approaches that enables our practitioners to work effectively and efficiently.
As software product owners, instill a product management mindset of continuous improvement, evaluation of fit, and decommissioning.