Design Director
REPORTS TO
Owner
DIRECTS
3rd-Party Draftsmen and Designers
LOCATION
Grand Rapids, MI
TYPE
Full-Time, On-Site
Role Summary
The Design Director owns the entire pre-construction phase across all Amber Valley project types. You are responsible for ensuring every job entering production is accurately scoped, priced to margin, buildable, and handed off cleanly — with no missing details, no cost blowouts, and no scope confusion.
You produce design proposals, manage the design calendar, negotiate pre-contract sub pricing, oversee Quality Assurance (QA) for all construction documents and estimates, and run Pre-Construction (PreCon) meetings.
For design-build projects, you manage the design process from signed Design Agreement through build-ready documents. For non-design projects, you prepare and issue accurate scopes and estimates directly.
What This Role Does Not Own
This is a leadership, QA, and estimating role — not a drafting or interior design role.
- You direct 3rd-party draftsmen, architects, and designers. You do not personally draft floor plans, elevations, or construction documents.
- You do not own client selections, finish schedules, or interior design direction. Selections are handled by the Designer.
- Your job is to make sure what others produce is accurate, on schedule, and priced to margin — not to produce it yourself.
Core Responsibilities
1. Proposal Development
- Produce clear, accurate design proposals from Owner notes and numbers.
- Align proposals and estimates with client budgets and project tiers.
- Track and improve the conversion rate of design proposals to signed contracts.
2. Design Phase Management (Design-Build Projects)
- Manage the design calendar from signed agreement through PreCon handoff; ensure all Construction Document (CD) packages are delivered on time and to standard.
- Direct draftsman and designer on as-builts, layouts, elevations, and CDs.
- Ensure CDs, specs, and estimates match exactly — no discrepancies.
- Coordinate with the Owner and Project Manager to identify constructability issues early.
- Maintain version control and organized documentation for all design materials.
- Own and enforce the Design QA Checklist and CD sign-off workflow.
- Analyze competitor bids/drawings for missing items, price accuracy, and constructability; report meaningful gaps.
3. Estimating (All Project Types)
- Produce accurate, margin-protected estimates using company standards, internal pricing models, and sub quotes.
- Design-Build / Express Projects: Detailed takeoffs from design drawings.
- Non-Design Projects (Handyman / Home Improvement): Prepare scopes and pricing using internal cost libraries and past job actuals.
- Solicit and analyze subcontractor bids; negotiate within delegated thresholds.
- Maintain and update the historical cost + subcontractor performance database (final actuals, cost history, sub quality notes).
- Develop labor benchmarks and material unit costs for future consistency.
- Track estimate-to-final-cost variance monthly and use results to improve accuracy.
4. Contracting & Pre-Construction
- Combine the final scope, spec sheet, and contract template into the final build contract — ensuring all documents align precisely.
- Schedule and run Pre-Construction meetings with the Owner, Project Manager, client, and subcontractors.
- Produce and distribute PreCon minutes summarizing key assumptions, lead times, and risks.
- Support the Project Manager with design-to-field clarifications.
5. Team Leadership & QA
- Issue clear, actionable instructions to draftsman, designer, and estimator; own daily tasking and QA.
- Lead weekly 1:1s with direct reports; require self-evaluation before each meeting.
- Audit deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
- Maintain internal estimating and design systems (templates, libraries, cost catalogs).
- Maintain showroom materials and ensure pricing is current and available.
Performance Expectations
Scoring Categories: Accuracy | Production | Time Management & Work Ethic | Preparedness | Attitude & Coachability
Minimum Measurable Thresholds
- Floor/Site Plan & Elevation Accuracy: ≤4% discrepancy from field reality.
- As-Built / CD Checklist Misses (First Submission): Target 0–1 items; >3 = failure.
- Plan Review: Pass within 2 submissions; >3 = corrective action.
- Deadline Performance: ≤2 missed during ramp-up; ≥95% on-time post-ramp.
- Design Budget Alignment: Stay within client + estimator budget unless approved otherwise.
- Attitude/Coachability: Persistent negativity or victim mentality after coaching = failure.
Key Performance Indicators
- % of CD packages delivered on/before committed date — Target: ≥95%
- Floor/site plan & elevation discrepancy — Target: ≤4%
- As-built/CD checklist misses — Target: ≤1; Failure: >3
- Plan review pass submissions — Target: ≤2
- Estimate-to-final-cost variance — Track monthly; target as agreed with Owner
- Conversion rate of design proposals to signed contracts — Track & improve quarterly
- Change orders due to design/contract issues — Target: Near zero; reduce quarterly
- Subcontractor bid variance & quality score — Maintain database and update monthly
Authority & Decision-Making
- Final QA authority for all design packages and estimates before release.
- Authorized to negotiate pre-contract pricing and scopes within agreed thresholds; escalate exceptions to Owner.
- May reprioritize draftsman/designer/subcontractor workload to meet deadlines.
- Can approve and release estimates and CD sets to construction after QA completion.
Core Competencies
- Financial Accuracy: Protects margin through disciplined estimating and documentation.
- Systems Thinking: Operates through process, checklists, and version control — not improvisation.
- Ownership Mentality: Takes full responsibility for accuracy, deadlines, and quality.
- Coachability: Implements feedback quickly, without resistance.
- Constructability Awareness: Designs and scopes work that field crews can realistically build.
- Organizational Precision: Maintains impeccable documentation and calendar management.
Behaviors We Will Not Tolerate
- Repeated “victim” or negative mindset after coaching.
- Disregard for checklists or QA standards.
- Failure to maintain accuracy, timeliness, or documentation discipline.
Required Tools
- Chief Architect (design review and QA)
- JobTread (estimating, project tracking, documentation)
Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
