LEX Delivery Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: LEX Delivery Design Manager

Company: HDR

Location: Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Job Type: Full-time, Regular

Category: Operations Management / Project Delivery

Date Posted: May 27, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversees design and engineering activities within a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to ensure successful project delivery from pre-construction through to completion.

• Manages project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation, acting as a key task leader within a Program Management Office (PMO).

• Facilitates seamless transition of projects from design and estimating phases into construction, ensuring alignment with owner expectations and requirements.

• Leads and coordinates multidisciplinary teams of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and third-party consultants to achieve project objectives.

• Drives efficient processes for design review, comment resolution, and quality control to maintain program standards and stakeholder satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a Program Management Office (PMO) context, indicating a strategic focus on overseeing multiple projects within a larger capital improvement initiative rather than managing individual standalone projects. The emphasis on "Delivery Design Manager" suggests a critical link between the conceptual design phase and the actual physical execution of projects, requiring a strong understanding of both engineering principles and construction realities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the Program Manager, owner Project Managers, and other PMO team members to ensure successful execution of individual projects within a Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

• Support the strategic development of the CIP, including project identification, phasing, and selection of appropriate delivery methods to optimize program outcomes.

• Assist in the development and refinement of project cost estimates and detailed schedules, ensuring alignment with program-level financial and temporal objectives.

• Contribute to the proactive identification and assessment of project risks during the CIP development phase, implementing mitigation strategies as needed.

• Develop and author project-specific technical documents and design criteria that clearly define project scope, standards, and performance expectations.

• Establish, implement, and continuously improve robust design review processes and procedures to ensure adherence to quality and regulatory requirements.

• Act as a central liaison between the owner and third-party design consultants, facilitating clear communication, scope definition, and fee negotiations.

• Coordinate and oversee the comprehensive design and engineering efforts for multiple projects concurrently within the CIP, ensuring synergy and efficiency.

• Lead and direct integrated multidisciplinary teams of SMEs, ensuring effective collaboration and alignment on technical challenges and project goals.

• Oversee the timely and efficient review of design submittals by PMO Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), implementing effective workflows to manage document control and approvals.

• Lead crucial design and engineering meetings, including comment resolution sessions, to actively drive project progress and resolve technical impediments.

• Make independent, informed decisions to address and resolve complex technical design review comments and issues, ensuring project continuity.

• Manage SMEs to rigorously maintain adherence to PMO scope, schedule, and budget parameters, reporting on variances and corrective actions.

• Oversee and implement rigorous design and engineering quality control procedures throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring compliance with industry best practices.

• Coordinate prompt and accurate responses to any design-related issues or questions that arise during the construction phase, minimizing disruption.

• Support the thorough review and analysis of change orders, assessing their impact on scope, schedule, and budget, and recommending appropriate actions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on process management and governance within a large-scale program. Key areas include developing design review procedures, managing submittals, facilitating comment resolution, and ensuring quality control. This indicates that candidates with experience in defining and implementing operational frameworks for design execution will be highly valued.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in engineering and design management.

Required Skills:

• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license recognized by the licensing board for Kentucky.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Strong experience with Microsoft Project for project scheduling and resource management.

• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including team motivation, decision-making, and strategic direction.

• Proven business development and strategic planning skills, with an ability to contribute to program growth and long-term vision.

• A strong commitment to and active participation in an employee-owned culture, demonstrating collaboration and shared responsibility.

• Expertise in developing project-specific technical documents and design criteria.

• Proficient in establishing and implementing design review processes and procedures.

• Ability to coordinate and oversee multidisciplinary teams and SMEs effectively.

• Experience in managing project budgets and schedules with a focus on cost control and timely delivery.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Microsoft Access for data management.

• Familiarity with various transportation infrastructure project types (e.g., highways, bridges, transit, aviation, ports, marine).

• Experience working within a Program Management Office (PMO) structure.

• Knowledge of different project delivery methods (e.g., Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CM/GC).

• Familiarity with change order analysis and negotiation processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a PE license in Kentucky is a critical gatekeeper. The combination of extensive project management experience and a strong engineering background suggests the role demands a leader who can bridge technical design intricacies with practical program execution and financial oversight. The emphasis on employee ownership