Senior Project Manager: Design - Team Lead

The Design Agency • Toronto, ON

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About The Position

DesignAgency is an international studio specializing in interior design, architectural concepting, strategic branding, and visual communications. Since its beginnings in 1998, the firm has become a global leader in the development of transformative spaces and brands, with projects in more than 60 cities across 18 countries. With a lead studio in Toronto, and offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Barcelona, DesignAgency works with leading hotels and resorts, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, and developers, leveraging talent, expertise, and the power of collaboration to deliver extraordinary experiences that create lasting value.

DesignAgency relies on the Senior Project Manager: Design – Team Lead to contribute to and lead multiple projects. Based on the needs of the project, a Senior Project Manager: Design – Team Lead may need to facilitate the entire process of project management for project phases which include planning, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and project close out.

This role is responsible for managing the scope of work, coordinating and executing the required work with a team, monitoring the quality of produced work, identifying and mitigating risks, and closing out successful projects that contribute to the office and teams. This role also collaboratively works with a Senior Designer – Team Lead to co-lead and mentor a team of designers, technologists, and project managers to achieve project completion within the required timeframe. Successful candidates must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements and expectations.

The Senior Project Manager: Design – Team Lead reports to the Design Director and will be recognized for their ability to oversee the design process from start to finish. Experience with hospitality projects is required.

Requirements

• An Interior Design Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of 10 years of working experience as a Project Manager within interior design is required in addition to prior industry experience in a related technical or design role.
• Previous experience managing a team of technologists, designers, or project managers.
• Hospitality and multi-unit residential design experience required.
• Experience leading complex, large-scale full project lifecycle (concept, DD, CD, CA, and install).
• Strong understanding of construction methods, millwork, detailing, and coordination with consultants.
• Proven ability to develop and manage project budgets, schedules, and staffing plans.
• Experience overseeing multiple concurrent projects with varying scales and timelines.
• Strong client‑facing communication skills with experience managing VIP/hospitality clients or branded operators.
• Understanding of QA/QC processes, drawing standards, and documentation best practices.
• Strong problem‑solving and risk‑mitigation capabilities.
• Understanding of different building codes; OBC, IBC, ADA.
• Professional working experience with AutoCAD and Revit are required.

Nice To Haves

• Sketch-Up, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign being beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Establish project standards and information to ensure accurate, coordinated documentation across all phases.
• Assist in developing feasibility studies, if required.
• Responsible for coordinating and managing multiple projects simultaneously and updating Design Directors, Principals, and/or Partners as needed.
• Coordinate established project schedule milestones within the project’s scope, time, and budget while maintaining Design intent, quality, and client expectations.
• Use of project management tools and techniques to assist the team and project management like drawings list, meeting minutes, project update logs, Gantt charts, etc.
• Coordination of design intent with contractors, structural, MEP & T, and other various consultants.
• Construction document review (mark-ups) and quality assurance, along with coordinating and collaborating in the value engineering process when required.
• Master, apply, and comply with relevant codes, regulations, and standards.
• Coordination or production of specification manual when required.
• Attend consultant and construction coordination meetings, conference calls, etc., and relay information back to Design Director via minutes and/or scheduled meetings.
• Coordinate with consultants throughout all phases of a project, answer and review RFI’s, change orders, shop drawings, and site instructions.
• Site administration, visits, meetings, documentation of site progress & condition, quality control of site work, along with managing purchasing and oversee installation when required.
• Establish, evolve, and maintain construction standards for CAD & Revit.
• Follow established standards for issuing and archiving drawings and specifications and assist in creating and archiving the templates and typical details for future project use for the internal database.
• Produce drawings across all phases of the project, as required.
• Mentor project managers and project designer(s) and technologists to improve productivity and knowledge.
• Safeguard the interests of clients and the firm in interactions with consultants, suppliers, and contractors.
• Promote awareness of changes in codes and regulations.
• Promote awareness of excellent materials, techniques, suppliers, and contractors.
• Initiate opportunities to increase the firm’s design capabilities.
• Proactively and effectively share design/construction knowledge with other team members.
• Effective task prioritization/delegation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Contribute to the development of systems and processes for improved design, technical quality, or client service.
• Create sound relationships and set the right example with colleagues, clients, contractors, and suppliers, to promote repeat business.
• Manage, or support the management, of projects to achieve client and firm objectives.
• Manage personal and team time to project schedules.
• Track project hours and report findings to Design Director, as needed.
• Assign tasks and schedule deliverables to project designers and technologists.
• Review project managers, technologists, and designers’ timesheets.

Benefits

• Achievement of professional credentials will be taken into account in promotion and compensation decisions, and preparatory studies or test costs may be eligible for firm support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree