Design Manager

Senior Design Manager, Development Department

Are you looking for a fresh, exciting & challenging career? Heartland Dental has a cutting-edge Senior Design Manger position whose primary function is serve as the primary design authority and team leader for the De Novo Design Team within Heartland Dental's Development Department.

Heartland Dental proudly supports 1900+ dental offices across the country. We are hard-working, fun-loving and fast-growing – looking for our next perfect fit!

About the Role

The Senior Design manager leads and develops a team of Design Managers and external A/E partners through all phases of the design process — from site analysis and test fits through construction document production and permitting — while driving continuous improvement in quality, cost efficiency, and schedule performance. This role reports to the Director of Design & Construction and partners closely with Real Estate, Construction, Operations, and Facilities leadership. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, strong people management instincts, and the organizational influence needed to drive cross-functional alignment at scale. Location preference is the Midwest; remote candidates with exceptional qualifications will be considered.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of Design Managers, providing coaching, performance guidance, and career development support.
• Set clear expectations for team performance, design quality standards, and delivery accountability across a multi-project portfolio.
• Build a high-performance team culture grounded in collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Design Program Management

• Oversee all facets of design (budget, schedule, A/E firm selection, value engineering, drawing coordination, permitting) across a regional or national portfolio of De Novo projects.
• Manage the full design lifecycle from test fit through construction documents, permitting, and site turnover to the Construction team.
• Conduct and lead detailed reviews of all construction documents against Heartland Design Standards; produce and delegate actionable redline feedback to A/E partners.
• Drive RFI workflow oversight across all A/E firms, ensuring timely, high-quality responses that protect construction schedules.

Strategic & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a senior voice in cross-functional forums with Real Estate, Construction, Operations, and Facilities, advocating for design quality, cost efficiency, and schedule predictability.
• Lead and facilitate design standards management, value engineering, and quality improvement initiatives at the program level.
• Develop and present executive-level project status reporting; translate complex portfolio data into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Identify systemic risks across the design portfolio and drive proactive mitigation strategies; communicate clearly to downstream construction partners.
• Own pipeline health and confidence forecasting for the design portfolio — developing and maintaining the tools, data inputs, and reporting cadences that give senior leadership an accurate, forward-looking view of project readiness, schedule risk, and delivery confidence across all active and upcoming De Novo projects.

Vendor & Partner Management

• Build and manage a high-performing network of A/E firms, FFE vendors, and site analysis vendors.
• Oversee contract negotiation, performance management, and invoice approval for external design partners.
• Leverage jurisdictional relationships and permitting expertise to accelerate approval timelines across multiple markets.

Field & Technical Oversight

• Conduct site visits to review construction-in-progress for adherence to construction documents and Heartland specifications.
• Demonstrate mastery of building construction, MEP systems, and commercial/retail design principles, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Read and interpret leases, work letters, project charters, surveys, and construction documents with confidence and precision.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS/BEng/BArch) in Architecture, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline.
• 6–10 years of progressive experience in design management, construction, or A/E project management; multi-site retail, healthcare, or commercial rollout experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience directly managing people, including performance management and team development.
• Extensive knowledge of building construction, commercial design, and project management methodologies.
• Proficiency with project management platforms (Procore, PlanGrid, Lucernex, Tango, or similar).
• AutoCAD and/or Revit proficiency required.
• Ability to travel infrequently overnight as needed.

Desirable Qualifications

• Track record of leading design programs at scale — managing multiple projects, markets, and people simultaneously.
• Executive presence and confidence presenting to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience with design standard development, value engineering programs, or construction cost management at an enterprise level.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and relentlessly proactive in communication and follow-through.
• Positive, entrepreneurial mindset with a high tolerance for ambiguity and change.
• Commitment to building and developing others — not just managing work, but growing people.

We put our people first at Heartland Dental, and that shows in our generous benefits package.

Company retains the sole discretion to change the duties of the position at any time.

We provide all employees and applicants for employment the protections of federal, state, and local laws affording equal opportunity in employment.