Design Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Design Manager is responsible for leading, coordinating, and managing all design-related activities across NAC’s Alternative Delivery (AD), Design-Build, and complex infrastructure projects. This role is integral to ensuring the seamless transition of project vision through Proposal, Validation, Design, Estimating, Procurement, and Delivery phases.

The Design Manager combines engineering knowledge with preconstruction leadership, guiding internal teams and external consultants in delivering technically sound, constructible, cost-aligned, and schedule-compliant designs for water and wastewater facilities, civil infrastructure, and industrial projects.

The role requires strong design management expertise, proficiency with multidisciplinary engineering coordination, and a solid understanding of project documentation, scheduling, budgeting, and contracting. The Design Manager ensures NAC’s design processes support successful proposals and uninterrupted progression through construction. Travel to design meetings, site visits, tender meetings, and client workshops will be required.

Job Responsibilities:

- Design Leadership & Technical Oversight

- Lead and coordinate the design process for Alternative Delivery, Design-Build, and major infrastructure projects.

- Interpret, review, and ensure full understanding of project scope and design requirements.

- Provide technical feedback and structural/civil design guidance to project leadership and internal teams.

- Supervise and review design drawings, contract documents, engineering reports, and design package submissions.

- Evaluate survey reports, maps, geotechnical data, drawings, and models to support design development.

- Analyze load requirements, hydraulic systems, water flow, structural stresses, and similar engineering criteria to inform design decisions.

- Lead technical reviews and provide recommendations on consultant-issued drawings, reports, and design deliverables.

- Preconstruction & Alternative Delivery Support

- Support the development and submission of RFQ/RFPQ proposals in collaboration with AD teams.

- Attend RFQ, RFP, and validation meetings to support pursuit strategy.

- Develop early Risk/Opportunity Registers and maintain continuity throughout all project phases.

- Assist in conceptual design development, constructability reviews, value engineering, and design optimization.

- Create and manage transition plans for seamless handover from design/preconstruction to construction teams.

- Design-Build / Alternative Delivery RFP Management

- Lead the design stream during RFP and validation phases, coordinating internal teams, consultants, and JV partners.

- Mentor and guide Project Coordinators, Engineers, and Analysts participating in the RFP/design process.

- Ensure designs are thoroughly vetted internally—technical experts, estimating, and delivery—prior to issuance.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with design firms, local trades, municipal contacts, and suppliers.

- Support cost planning and constructability alignment between design and estimating teams.

- Scheduling, Planning & Constructability

- Create and maintain preconstruction schedules for proposal and validation phases.

- Track design progress and ensure conformance with design milestones and construction schedules.

- Apply understanding of construction sequencing, CPM methodologies, and scheduling tools to support design development.

- Oversee the planning and design of water and wastewater treatment plants, civil infrastructure, and associated systems.

- Budgeting, Procurement & Cost Alignment

- Prepare design-related inputs to project budgets and validate alignment between design intent and estimated costs.

- Support Estimating and Purchasing by reviewing scope coverage for engineering consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors.

- Monitor RFP pursuit costs and provide monthly forecasting to management.

- Assist in preparing and reviewing procurement documents, consultant scopes, and contract packages.

- Documentation, Reporting & Contract Management

- Oversee the preparation, tracking, distribution, and control of all design and contract documents.

- Ensure clarity, completeness, and accuracy in design communications to avoid construction disruptions.

- Prepare project status reports, design progress updates, and technical summaries for senior management.

- Ensure proper documentation for commissioning, start-up requirements, and project closeout—including deficiency tracking and resolution.

- Project Delivery Support

- Provide continuity and design support to Delivery teams through construction.

- Assist with permitting, municipal submissions, and technical clarifications during construction.

- Conduct field visits to confirm design intent, gather feedback, and support issue resolution.

Qualifications:

- Degree or diploma in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Architecture, or a relevant technical field.

- 3–5 years of engineering, design management, or preconstruction experience, preferably in water/wastewater treatment or infrastructure projects.

- Strong understanding of engineering principles, civil design, structural analysis, and multidisciplinary coordination.

- Experience with planning and scheduling tools (including CPM software).

- Proven ability to lead and coordinate design teams in a Design-Build or Alternative Delivery environment.

- Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

- Strong problem-solving abilities and independent judgment.

- High attention to detail, strong documentation skills, and the ability to work under pressure.

- Demonstrated success working in cross-disciplinary teams with competing priorities.

- Project management certification (PMP) considered an asset.

- Knowledge of financial management, internal controls, and budgeting is an advantage.

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