Design and Development Manager

Description

We are seeking a full-time, dedicated, and experienced design professional to join our team as Design and Development Manager. In this position, you will support a busy real estate development team across the full project lifecycle - from pre-development and entitlements through construction and disposition - through internal coordination and management outside design consultants to ensure all project deliverables meet ownership quality standards, schedules, and budgets. Ideal for a highly organized and detail-oriented individual who excels at building systems and keeping diverse workstreams on track, this role offers the opportunity to be an integral member of our team and actively contribute to a strong, teamwork-oriented culture.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Create, organize, and maintain project folders for architecture, ownership design standards and programs and all other disciplines
• Assist in Construction Administration services in an owner's rep capacity ensuring design quality and standards
• Coordinate with internal team members and construction on schedule status and updates
• Support owner's rep and owner's program functions across active and historical projects
• Research and compile information from past projects to develop internal guides and reference materials
• Work with and help train the company's Al systems to improve efficiency and institutional knowledge retention

Design Support

• Manage unit and amenity layout and design direction with outside consultants
• Direct interior design teams on design direction, finishes, FFE, art and interior signage
• Review drawing and specification documents to provide guidance to design teams and construction partners
• Provide design direction on project marketing materials in coordination with marketing department

Development Support

• Assist with preparation and submission of land use applications and other entitlement paperwork
• Perform basic plan review tasks including verifying contact information and application completeness
• Coordinate responses to city comments on various applications and track responses from third parties

Benefits:

At Doran, we care about the people who choose to build their careers with us and therefore offer a robust benefits package for employees and their families.

• Competitive Pay with bonus opportunities
• Paid Time Off – PTO plans starting at 120 hours a year
• Comprehensive Health Plans - health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts, HSA with employer contribution
• Life, AD&D, STD & LTD - Employer paid Life and AD&D insurance, options to purchase voluntary life for yourself and your family, additional AD&D options. Company paid short-term and long-term disability
• 401(K) - 4% company match, immediately vested in company match
• Family Leave - Paid Parental & Family Leave for new parents
• Learning & Development - Tuition Reimbursement program
• Doran Investors Program - Unique opportunity to own shares of properties developed by Doran
• Company Paid Holidays - 9 a year

Requirements

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 4+ years of experience in real estate development, project coordination, or a related field
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proactive, self-directed working style with strong follow-through
• Strong written and verbal communication skills ( in-person and all forms of digital )
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; comfort learning new project management and tracking tools
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Al Systems understanding and ability to learn and utilize
• Experience with Bluebeam, Sketch-Up, Revit and AutoCAD applications

Preferred

• 6+ years of project coordination experience
• Experience working on multi-family housing projects at a fast-paced developer led company
• Experience with Monday.com, Procore, or similar project management platforms
• Familiarity with entitlement and permitting processes
• Notary Public certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Exposure to real estate contracts, PSAs, and closing processes
• Experience working with Al tools or interest in leveraging Al for operational efficiency