What are the responsibilities and job description for the Design Manager - Mission Critical / Industrial position at Gensler?
Your Role
Gensler is seeking a Design Manager to join our Phoenix office. As part of our growing studio, you’ll bring your architectural expertise, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills to lead the delivery of high-performance critical facilities projects—on time and within budget. In this role, you’ll oversee project workflows, allocate resources effectively, and serve as the primary liaison between the client and the project team.
Our design practice is uniquely equipped to deliver high-performance data centers by drawing on expertise from across Gensler’s diverse practice areas. We bring together specialized teams to meet the complex needs of today’s technology-driven organizations—at the intersection of architecture, infrastructure, and innovation.
Beyond data centers, our team contributes highly transferable knowledge from a range of complementary typologies, including mission-critical environments like research and supercomputing facilities, command and control centers, and SCIFs, as well as industrial sectors such as semiconductor, aerospace, manufacturing, warehouses, and distribution. The complexity and impact of this work create strong opportunities for continuous learning, career growth, and long-term advancement.
What You Will Do
At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From hiking and camping excursions to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.
We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.
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.
Gensler is seeking a Design Manager to join our Phoenix office. As part of our growing studio, you’ll bring your architectural expertise, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills to lead the delivery of high-performance critical facilities projects—on time and within budget. In this role, you’ll oversee project workflows, allocate resources effectively, and serve as the primary liaison between the client and the project team.
Our design practice is uniquely equipped to deliver high-performance data centers by drawing on expertise from across Gensler’s diverse practice areas. We bring together specialized teams to meet the complex needs of today’s technology-driven organizations—at the intersection of architecture, infrastructure, and innovation.
Beyond data centers, our team contributes highly transferable knowledge from a range of complementary typologies, including mission-critical environments like research and supercomputing facilities, command and control centers, and SCIFs, as well as industrial sectors such as semiconductor, aerospace, manufacturing, warehouses, and distribution. The complexity and impact of this work create strong opportunities for continuous learning, career growth, and long-term advancement.
What You Will Do
- Provide project leadership to client and team by communicating project objectives, contract scope, terms, and schedule
- Provide strategically minded design support for organization, production and execution of projects.
- Manage scheduling, budgets, staffing, and project set-up with clients, sub-contractors, vendors and contractors
- Prepare project proposals and negotiate contracts and fees; bid projects to multiple general contractors
- Track and manage financial performance of project for success (e.g., work plan, schedule, fees, change orders, billings and collections)
- Manage project lifecycle; estimating, bidding, project kick-off, weekly coordination, punch list, turnover, opening, and project close-out
- Guide and mentor junior designers, assisting in leading multiple projects at a high level, working in a collaborative manner with other design and technical staff
- Work closely with your team and across the office and firm, to promote and model an inter-disciplinary design approach that enhances Gensler’s culture of design quality and excellence.
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field
- 15 years of relevant experience: a mix of architecture and project management preferred with a strong background designing and managing multiple building typologies of varying scale, including critical facilities (data centers, mission critical environments such as SCIFs, command centers, supercomputing) and/or industrial project types (semiconductor, aerospace, manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers, or heavy industrial facilities).
- Professional license or certification preferred
- LEED accreditation preferred
- Experience negotiating project scope, fees, managing project financial performance, and ensuring fiscal responsibility for projects
- Experience with the full project lifecycle, through post-occupancy
- Knowledge of building codes, standards and building structures
- Critical facilities experience a plus
- Experience with industrial or highly technical project types is a plus
- Experience with project management software, such as MS Project, a plus
- Revit proficiency preferred
At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From hiking and camping excursions to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.
We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.
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.