Manager, Design Practice

CDM Smith is a company committed to providing an unmatched employee experience and is seeking a Design Practice Manager to join their Digital Engineering Solutions team. The role involves leading the Design Practice group to drive digital transformation through the implementation of design tools and processes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and managing a team of design practice specialists.

Responsibilities:

• Working on the cutting edge of digital tools and technologies, developing standards, processes and workflows for applications by Autodesk and Bentley, and other design applications and plug-ins that can benefit the AEC practices at CDM Smith
• Maintaining consistent and documented standards, processes, workflows, and best practices for CDM Smith’s AEC digital tools and technologies in alignment with the broader digital enablement strategy Ability to communicate thoughts and technical ideas in an accessible and easy-to-understand manner
• Eagerness to learn and work as part of a multidisciplinary team across a global practice
• Display excellent interpersonal skills to build quality relationships with the team and across the organization
• Assist on initiatives and efforts, as part of a collaborative team, with your digital tools and technologies expertise
• Assist with the development of documentation, standards, best practices, and workflows for design practice hardware/software and digital tools and technologies in use across the business
• Manage and oversee a team of design practice specialists, aligning the group to the Digital Engineering Solutions team’s goals and objectives along with the Digital Practice Leader. This further includes providing guidance, instruction, training, and leadership skills to inspire the group to perform at their optimum, working efficiently together and maximizing the team’s potential
• Motivate and inspire a team of design practice specialists by creating an environment that promotes positive communication, encourages bonding of group members (both within the area of design technology and across the broader team as a whole), and demonstrates flexibility
• Manages staff, evaluates performance, mentors, approves paid time off (PTO) and training, ensures human resources (HR) policies are followed and makes recommendations regarding staffing decisions
• Present to both internal and external audiences as needed
• Assist the business with marketing, communications, and business development descriptions and activities from a technology perspective as needed
• Assist with internal and external website descriptions as needed
• Perform other duties as required

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• 10 years of related experience with at least 2 of those years in a supervisory or leadership capacity
• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a college degree
• Ability to communicate thoughts and technical ideas in an accessible and easy-to-understand manner
• Eagerness to learn and work as part of a multidisciplinary team across a global practice
• Display excellent interpersonal skills to build quality relationships with the team and across the organization
• Assist on initiatives and efforts, as part of a collaborative team, with your digital tools and technologies expertise
• Assist with the development of documentation, standards, best practices, and workflows for design practice hardware/software and digital tools and technologies in use across the business
• Manage and oversee a team of design practice specialists, aligning the group to the Digital Engineering Solutions team's goals and objectives along with the Digital Practice Leader
• Motivate and inspire a team of design practice specialists by creating an environment that promotes positive communication, encourages bonding of group members, and demonstrates flexibility
• Manages staff, evaluates performance, mentors, approves paid time off (PTO) and training, ensures human resources (HR) policies are followed and makes recommendations regarding staffing decisions
• Present to both internal and external audiences as needed
• Assist the business with marketing, communications, and business development descriptions and activities from a technology perspective as needed
• Assist with internal and external website descriptions as needed
• Perform other duties as required
• Experience leading and managing a team of staff
• Team-oriented, positive, collaborative and reliable
• Proven leadership capabilities with the ability to organize, plan, prioritize, and to manage time and changing priorities
• Expert knowledge and proven ability in the area of AEC design technologies and processes
• Inquisitive, with a desire to ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of business issues
• Passionate about helping AEC business lines drive their success in using design technology and processes
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate well with people from both technical and non-technical backgrounds
• Ability to listen, build rapport, and credibility as a strategic and diplomatic partner with our business units
• Innovative and able to apply critical thinking skills to generate new solutions/ideas that create value and improve processes
• Detail oriented with the ability to assist with executing highly complex or specialized projects
• Experience with Civil 3D, including corridor modeling, grading, pipe networks, and plan production workflows for transportation infrastructure projects
• Proficiency in Bentley design tools such as OpenRoads Designer, MicroStation, and InRoads, with a strong understanding of their application in roadway and civil site design
• Familiarity with DOT requirements and digital deliverables for transportation projects using Civil 3D and Bentley tools
• Understanding of low-code/no-code computational design applications for implementing quality assurance frameworks including reliability, security, and scalability