Design Manager

Your Role

Gensler Costa Rica is looking for a Design Manager with enough versatility to double as a Project Architect. As a Design Manager, you must coordinate with a team of architects and designers to deliver unparalleled architectural projects. Leverage your industry experience and technical acumen to drive client projects from concept through construction drawings. You need to participate in all phases of the design process actively. Innovative thinking balanced with the ability to present real-world technical solutions to new design challenges. Must thrive with personal responsibility and accountability but embody and embrace open communication and team-oriented success.

What You Will Do
- Manage all phases of projects, including project set-up, design, and construction drawings.
- Manage project schedules, budgets, and set up with clients, sub-contractors, vendors, and consultants.
- Provide technical guidance and innovative solutions to resolve complex technical and design challenges.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the building code and zoning code to advise clients and team.
- Prepare project proposals, negotiate contracts and fees, coordinate bidding process.
- Conduct and document site visits, process submittals, substitution requests, and RFI’s during construction.
- Track financial performance of projects.
- Assist with the design and delivery of the architectural and/or technical aspects of a project.
- Possess proficient/advanced knowledge of architectural design principles, technical details, codes, and material characteristics.
- Provide project team coordination for the finished plans, specifications, and material selections required for construction.
- Resolution of complex technical and design issues as they arise during document preparation and construction administration.
- Manage a range of project team sizes, comprised of project architects, interior designers, and job captains.
- Preparing and ensuring the accuracy of technical documents.
- Participating in the administration of project assignments, including quality control.
- Manage client, teams, and project coordination, including full documentation coordination with consultants.
- Support communication between the project team, clients, vendors, contractors, consultants, and building and permitting officials.
- Provide technical guidance and innovative solutions to resolve complex technical and design challenges.
- Maintain project manual and specifications.
- Ensure projects conform to the contract.
- Organize and manage project teams and assignments.
- Oversee coordination of projects.
- Lead project coordination for the plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules specifications, and material selections required for construction.
- Manage project timelines and schedules.
- Review technical documents to ensure accuracy.
- Lead coordination of consultants, specification writers, and regulatory agencies to meet overall project objectives.
- Oversee the administration of project assignments with a focus on managing design intent and quality control.
- Other assigned responsibilities.
- Your Qualifications
- Bachelor of Architecture or foreign equivalent.
- Licensed or registered architect.
- 8+ years of project experience in an architectural practice, including demonstrated success as a project manager on hospitality projects
- Working knowledge of building codes, standards, building construction, and building structures.
- 100% bilingual English/Spanish, superior written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in REVIT, Sketch Up, Photoshop, InDesign, and Microsoft Office.
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
- Ability to handle difficult situations with tact and emotional intelligence.
- Construction documentation and/or design detail development experience.
- Experience with the entire project lifecycle, through post-occupancy.
- Experience leading, managing, and mentoring multiple project teams.
- Experience negotiating project scope and fees.
- Proven fiscal accountability and responsibility for various project types.
- Must have the ability to maintain existing client relationships and build new client relationships.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Life at Gensler
- At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.
- As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.