People Manager, MEP Design

DLB Associates•Remote (NJ, US), NJ

31d•$110,000 - $155,000•Remote

About The Position

The People Manager, MEP Design is a senior-level people leader responsible for the day-to-day management, development, and engagement of a cross-discipline MEP design team. This fully remote role spans entry-level employees and those at the level immediately above, with a clear mandate to grow early-career talent and build a high-performing, cohesive team across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing disciplines. The ideal candidate brings a substantive MEP technical background that allows them to credibly support, guide, and evaluate the work of their team without being a practitioner themselves. They are first and foremost a people leader: someone who creates clarity, removes obstacles, and invests in the professional growth of those they manage. They are equally comfortable working asynchronously across time zones and proactively building the kind of team culture that thrives without daily in-person contact. This person operates with significant autonomy, self-directs their day-to-day priorities, and leads multiple concurrent people management and team development workstreams of meaningful complexity. They develop and maintain team standards, workflows, and onboarding practices, and serve as a key voice in shaping how DLB's Design department scales its early-career talent pipeline. The People Manager, MEP Design will communicate and operate in alignment with DLB's organizational goals and values, as well as departmental objectives set by Design leadership.

Requirements

Demonstrated track record of effective people management, including direct experience leading, developing, and evaluating employees at the early-career stage
Substantive background in MEP design (mechanical, electrical, and/or plumbing disciplines) sufficient to evaluate work quality, communicate credibly with technical staff, and contextualize development feedback without performing technical work directly
Skilled at building and sustaining high-trust relationships in a fully remote environment; proven ability to foster team cohesion, maintain visibility into team dynamics, and keep distributed employees engaged and connected
Strong coaching and feedback skills; able to deliver direct, developmentally oriented feedback across a range of performance levels and learning styles, including early-career employees who may be receiving structured feedback for the first time
Highly organized with the ability to manage individual development plans, team workflows, and administrative responsibilities across a cross-discipline team simultaneously
Proficient in Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and other collaboration tools used to coordinate and communicate effectively across a distributed workforce
Ability to operate independently on day-to-day responsibilities while escalating strategic decisions and complex people matters to HR and department leadership appropriately
Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate clearly and with appropriate tone across a team at varying levels of experience, as well as with peers and senior leadership
Ability to leverage AI and technology tools to support team coordination, development tracking, and communication workflows
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Building Systems, or a related technical field OR Associate's degree or equivalent with demonstrated MEP industry experience at a level sufficient to credibly support and evaluate cross-discipline MEP design work
Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in MEP design or engineering, with at least 2–3 years in a formal people management role overseeing direct reports
Prior experience managing in a fully remote environment preferred; demonstrated ability to maintain team cohesion and performance without relying on in-person presence
Experience leading cross-discipline or cross-functional teams a plus
Experience in engineering, construction, mission-critical facilities, or related technical industries preferred

Nice To Haves

Experience leading cross-discipline or cross-functional teams a plus
Experience in engineering, construction, mission-critical facilities, or related technical industries preferred

Responsibilities

Provide direct day-to-day people management for a cross-discipline MEP design team spanning entry-level employees and those at the level immediately above
Establish and maintain a strong remote team culture grounded in accountability, psychological safety, and consistent communication ensuring team members feel connected and supported despite geographic distance
Develop individualized growth plans for each direct report, with particular emphasis on accelerating the development of entry-level employees into higher levels of independent contribution
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with all direct reports; maintain a consistent cadence of structured check-ins, feedback conversations, and goal reviews throughout the year
Serve as a primary advocate and resource for team members navigating DLB systems, processes, tools, and culture; actively connect people to the support and information they need
Model DLB values and operating norms in all interactions; actively reinforce the behaviors and standards that reflect the DLB way of working
Lead all performance review cycles for direct reports, including goal-setting, mid-year check-ins, and annual evaluations; provide substantive, actionable feedback grounded in observed behavior and outcomes
Identify performance concerns early; address them directly and constructively through coaching, clear expectation-setting, and documented follow-up; escalate to HR or department leadership when appropriate
Leverage MEP technical background to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of direct reports' work product; provide technically credible guidance without taking on a practitioner role
Recognize and celebrate strong performance; ensure high contributors feel seen and are positioned for advancement in line with DLB career pathways
Proactively identify signals of disengagement, burnout, or unmet development needs; address them with empathy and appropriate urgency before they escalate
Monitor team workload distribution across cross-discipline MEP assignments; surface capacity constraints and coordinate with project leads and department leadership to ensure balanced, sustainable allocation
Establish and maintain team-level workflows, communication norms, and operating practices that support consistent quality and timely delivery in a fully remote environment
Identify and remove process barriers that impede team productivity; escalate systemic issues to department or operations leadership with clear context and recommended solutions
Own and continuously refine onboarding practices for new team members, ensuring entry-level employees are set up for early success with clear expectations, resources, and a supported ramp period
Partner with HR and People Development on talent strategy for the MEP Design team, including hiring, succession planning, and early-career pipeline development
Collaborate with other Design department managers and discipline leads to share best practices, align on cross-team norms, and support a consistent DLB employee experience regardless of location
Participate in department-level planning conversations, providing the perspective of a front-line people manager with a cross-discipline MEP team; represent the needs, challenges, and development trajectories of direct reports
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records related to team headcount, performance documentation, and development plans; ensure timely completion of HR-required processes and reporting
Completion of Assigned Tasks and Deliverables on Time and on Budget
Performs Other Related Duties as Assigned.

Benefits

Choice of comprehensive medical plans (including two PPO-style plans and a HDHP w/ HSA option)
Flex spending accounts (FSA)
Dental and vision plans
Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits extended to spouse / domestic partner and dependent children up to age 26
401k with company match and self-directed brokerage account option
PTO including additional paid time off during the last week of the year
Company paid life insurance coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
Short and long-term disability, AD&D coverage
Professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement and professional licensing assistance
Paid parental leave after one year of employment