Technical & Design Manager

SETTING 

Pattison ID is a highly successful, North American Company growing organically and through ongoing acquisitions. It is one of the world’s largest sign and physical branding element companies, with seven (7) manufacturing facilities, eight (8) sales and operations offices and over 1000 employees across North America. Pattison ID has many segments, such as Signage, Architecture, Digital, Maintenance and Leasing.

The company is dedicated to absolute customer satisfaction and the ultimate quality in its products and services. The culture of the company is focused on performance and accountability and supports employee empowerment and development.

The company operates independently within The Jim Pattison Group, headquartered in Vancouver, and comprised of over 605 locations worldwide. The Jim Pattison Group is broadly based across the automotive, media, packaging, food sales and distribution, magazine distribution, entertainment, export, and financial industries. With sales of over $15 billion in 2022 and more than 49,500 employees, the Jim Pattison Group is the second-largest private company in Canada.

OVERVIEW:

We are seeking a Technical Design Manager who will be responsible for leading a team of technical designers to deliver manufacturing drawings. This role ensures the application of best practices in design processes, software & tools, promotes innovation through standardization and digital evolution, and supports execution excellence across the signage pillar.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Design Leadership

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of designers to ensure structural integrity and quality of deliverables.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of technical design development, from preliminary concepting to final production-ready files.
• Maintain alignment with codes, manufacturing capabilities, and installation best practices.
• Ensure deliverables meet internal design standards and client brand expectations.
• Support project teams by resolving complex design challenges, including structural feasibility and material selection.

Process Innovation & Standardization

• Drive continuous improvement through standardization of design practices and documentation across all signage projects.
• Lead implementation and adoption of core design software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor, CorelDRAW) within his team.
• Identify and supports process innovations that improve turnaround time, design consistency, and manufacturability.

KPI Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor and report on team performance using key metrics such as:
• On-time delivery
• Design turnaround time
• Design-related non-conformities
• Use KPIs to guide performance discussions, process adjustments, and team coaching.

• Ensure KPIs are clearly communicated and understood by all team members.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Estimating, Sales, Art, Project Management, and Manufacturing teams to align technical solutions with project requirements.
• Participate in regular alignment meetings to support interdepartmental workflows and ensure design intent is maintained through production.
• Support the Architectural and Digital pillars when needed, leveraging shared expertise and capacity.

Client & Stakeholder Support

• While primarily internally focused, provide technical support for sales or project teams during client meetings as needed.
• Ensure that customer requirements are translated effectively into manufacturable technical designs.

Team Development and Leadership

• Manage and assign daily and weekly workload to ensure projects are prioritized effectively and resources are optimized.
• Monitor capacity in real time and rebalance assignments proactively to maintain throughput and service levels.
• Communicate expectations clearly regarding task ownership, deadlines, and quality standards.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance evaluations, and coaching conversations to support team development and performance.
• Lead weekly team meetings to review workload, technical challenges, and training opportunities.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and career development of new technical team members.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Strategic Input

• Provide recommendations to senior manager & plant manager on design tooling, process improvements, and emerging technologies.
• Contribute to the broader vision for technical design excellence and digital evolution within the signage pillar.
• Serve as a key partner in identifying long-term needs for team structure, software investment, and training.

Qualifications:

Dedicated

• Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Detail Oriented

• Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

 Team Player

• Works well as a member of a group

Leader

• Inspires teammates to follow them

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is constantly required to sit and use hands to operate telephone, type and operate computer and mouse.

• The employee is frequently required to talk, hear, and bend and twist neck.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and rarely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Walking onto the shop floor to talk to Sups, Leads and key personnel in the manufacturing team.

Pattison ID operates independently within The Jim Pattison Group, headquartered in Vancouver, and comprised of over 605 locations worldwide. The Jim Pattison Group is broadly based across the automotive, media, packaging, food sales and distribution, magazine distribution, entertainment, export, and financial industries.