HIRE TALENT  /  DESIGN & PRE-CONSTRUCTION  /  DESIGN-BUILD MANAGER
Construction Recruiting

Hire Design-Build Managers

Hire Design-Build Managers who own integrated design-and-construction delivery — design-assist coordination with A/E, single-source risk ownership, target-value design discipline, and IPD or progressive design-build fluency. Not GC PMs pretending to run DB.

Hire Design-Build Managers → How it works
Photo of a Vetted Design-Build ManagerExample profile
Russell F.
Vetted Specialist
Design & Pre-construction
Design-build Manager
DBIA · PDB · ILSM
Sectors
Every discipline
Data center, hospital, life sciences, higher ed, industrial, aviation, mission critical
Delivery methods
DB · IPD · PDB
Design-build, IPD, progressive design-build
Geography
US + EMEA
Active DB / IPD delivery network
Placement warranty
Replacement guarantee
Every model, every placement
How It Works

Hire Design-Build Managers in 3 steps

A structured process for the DB delivery hire — where the wrong manager tries to run design-build the way they ran design-bid-build, and misalignment with A/E blows the target price.

Step 01

Talk to our team

30-minute call. Align on delivery method, A/E partner model, project mix, target-value design maturity, and start date.

Step 02

Review hand-selected talent

Within 2 weeks we introduce 3–5 Design-Build Managers with verified integrated delivery history. References from A/E design partners and owner teams included.

Step 03

Hire with confidence

Every placement carries a replacement guarantee. If the hire fails within the warranty window, we run a no-fee replacement search.

Why iRecruit.co for Design-Build Manager Hires

What makes our Design-Build Manager shortlist different

Design-Build Managers own integrated delivery ownership. A/E partnership discipline, target-value design accountability, and progressive-design-build fluency separate a DB Manager who protects the target price from one who becomes a bottleneck between design and field.

01

Integrated DB history verified

Every DB Manager has verified integrated design-build delivery on projects sized to your typical program. Not adapted DBB experience.

02

A/E partnership discipline

Reference-verified from A/E design partners on design-assist coordination and target-value design discipline.

03

Single-source risk ownership

Documented single-source DB contract experience. Reference-verified on scope-gap resolution and owner-facing risk ownership.

Meet Vetted Design-Build Managers

The caliber of Design-Build Manager you’ll interview

Every candidate is credential-verified, client-referenced, and matched to your delivery method. Anonymized examples below reflect real placement profiles.

Vetted SpecialistFemale DB Mgr - healthcare PDBExample profile

Camila V.

Healthcare PDB Manager
  • Progressive DB across 4 hospital additions
  • DBIA-certified, target-value design discipline
  • A/E partnership across 3 firms — retained
DBIAPDBILSM
Vetted SpecialistMale DB Mgr - data center IPDExample profile

Gregory S.

Data Center IPD Manager
  • IPD delivery of 3 hyperscale campuses
  • Multi-party risk-pool structuring
  • Design-assist coordination across MEP
IPDDBIAUptime
Vetted SpecialistMale DB Mgr - aviation DBExample profile

Arjun N.

Aviation DB Manager
  • Design-build terminal delivery — airside phased
  • FAA + TSA design coordination discipline
  • Single-source contracting across 2 megaprojects
DBIAFAAACI
Design-Build Manager Specializations

Match the Design-Build Manager specialty to your delivery method

“Design-Build Manager” means different things across delivery methods and sectors. Below are the specializations we recruit for:

Data Center DB Manager
Hyperscale + colo DB delivery
Hire for this specialty
Healthcare PDB Manager
Progressive DB · hospital + MOB
Hire for this specialty
Aviation DB Manager
Airside + terminal DB delivery
Hire for this specialty
Industrial DB Manager
Manufacturing DB + turnkey
Hire for this specialty
Federal / DoD DB Manager
USACE + NAVFAC + DBIA-DB
Hire for this specialty
IPD Manager
Multi-party risk pool + AIA C191
Hire for this specialty
Project Executive (leader)
Portfolio-level delivery leadership
Hire for this specialty
Project Director (leader)
Complex-program delivery direction
Hire for this specialty
Construction PM (peer)
Traditional DBB / CMAR PM
Hire for this specialty
Preconstruction Manager (partner)
Precon lead for DB pursuits
Hire for this specialty
Design Manager (partner)
A/E-side design management
Hire for this specialty
Confidential DB Mgr Search
Retained, discreet outreach
Hire for this specialty

Not sure which Design-Build Manager specialty fits?

We’ll help you scope the role on the call — delivery method, A/E model, and target-value design maturity.

Hire Design-Build Managers →
Vetting Criteria

What we verify on every Design-Build Manager candidate

DB Manager hires live and die on integrated delivery discipline and A/E partnership credibility. Below is what every candidate has documented before you meet them:

Integrated DB delivery

Reference-verified DB / IPD / PDB delivery record on projects sized to your typical program. Not adapted DBB experience.

A/E partnership discipline

Reference-verified from A/E design partners on design-assist coordination and target-value design discipline.

Single-source risk ownership

Documented single-source DB contract experience with scope-gap resolution and owner-facing risk ownership.

Target-value design fluency

Reference-verified TVD discipline: cost-model steering, choosing-by-advantages.

DBIA / IPD credentials

DBIA credentials verified. IPD experience via AIA C191 or ConsensusDocs 300 documented.

Compensation alignment

DB Manager, Sr DB Manager comp bands + variable + LTI aligned before finalist interviews.

FAQ

Hiring a Design-Build Manager: frequently asked questions

How long does it take to hire a Design-Build Manager?

Time to shortlist is typically 2 weeks from scoping call. Total time to placement (shortlist through offer acceptance) is typically 3–4 weeks.

What does it cost to hire a Design-Build Manager?

Pricing depends on engagement model. Per-role recruiting is a defined fee. Embedded is a monthly retainer.

How is DB Manager different from Construction Project Manager?

DB Manager owns integrated design-and-construction delivery under a single-source contract with target-value design accountability. Construction PM executes construction against completed design under DBB or CMAR.

Do you verify DBIA credentials?

Yes. DBIA-Certified DB Professional credentials and IPD / progressive DB engagements verified.

Do you handle confidential incumbent-replacement DB Manager searches?

Yes. Retained-search discretion for DB Manager-level replacement is standard.

Do you offer a placement guarantee?

Yes. Every DB Manager placement carries a replacement guarantee. Guarantee terms are confirmed in writing at engagement start.

Can you build a full DB delivery team?

Yes. Multi-hire DB delivery builds (DB Manager + Precon + Design Manager) route through embedded recruiting or RPO.

How is iRecruit.co different from a generalist DB recruiter?

Generalist recruiters treat all DB experience as interchangeable. iRecruit.co DB Manager recruiters verify delivery method fluency, A/E partnership discipline, and target-value design maturity — every candidate is matched to your DB program.

Ready to hire

Talk to a construction design-build recruiter

30-minute scoping conversation. We’ll review the Design-Build Manager role you need, delivery method, A/E partner model, and target-value design maturity — then recommend the right hire path and start sourcing.

Hire Design-Build Managers →
Related: Project Executive hiring  ·  Preconstruction Manager hiring
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