Director Design Operations Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

LIFE AT PACIFIC LIFESTYLE HOMES

Experience the difference of being part of the Pacific Lifestyle Homes family. As a two-time recipient of the prestigious Building Industry Association "Builder of the Year" award and the esteemed National Housing Quality Gold Award, we are more than just a homebuilder – we are dedicated to BUILDING BETTER LIVES. From our humble beginnings in 1996, we have grown to construct over 6,500 homes and 130 communities across SW Washington, the Portland Metro area, greater Puget Sound area, and the Boise Metro landscape. Join us and build your career with a company committed to excellence and community impact.

JOB MISSION

Pacific Lifestyle Homes is seeking an experienced Permit and Design Manager to lead our design and permitting operations, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant plan submittals that support our homebuilding goals. This full-time role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact by elevating project quality, workflow efficiency, and regulatory success. Reporting to the Purchasing Director, the Permit and Design Manager will oversee the production drafting team, coordinate all permit submittals, and maintain strict adherence to jurisdictional requirements and company standards. This position is essential to driving operational excellence, enabling smooth project execution, and supporting the continued growth of Pacific Lifestyle Homes.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop the Permit, Design, and Drafting team providing mentorship, performance leadership, and professional development. Align cross-departmental efforts to support divisional goals, organizational priorities, and operational excellence.
• Drafting Oversight: Oversee all production drafting for all Divisions, ensuring accurate, compliant, and permit-ready plan sets while maintaining and refining drafting standards, templates, block libraries, workflows, and documentation to support consistency and efficiency. Lead QA/QC processes to ensure accuracy, code alignment, and constructability while driving continuous improvement of drafting workflows and production timelines.
• Design & Architectural Development: Oversee the full design function across all Divisions, including new plan development, plan refresh initiatives, and design improvements. Ensure all design work aligns with brand standards, customer expectations, and organizational strategy. Collaborate with leadership to identify and advance long-term design opportunities.
• Permitting & Regulatory Compliance: Lead the permitting function ensuring timely and accurate submissions. Establish strong relationships with city and county jurisdictions to support compliance and permit flow. Ensure all drafting and design deliverables meet multi-state regulatory requirements (WA, OR, ID). Drive code compliance across all plans and divisions, updating standards as regulations evolve.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with construction, land, engineering, purchasing, and sales to ensure alignment between drafting, permitting, and field operations. Provide guidance and problem-solving during plan development, options integration, value engineering, and site-specific requirements. Support field teams through site visits to address design and permit-related challenges.
• Strategic Priorities & Continuous Improvement: Lead long-range planning for drafting, permitting, and design operations. Identify opportunities for operational improvement, technology adoption, or process optimization. Establish departmental KPIs, evaluate performance trends, and implement corrective strategies. Standardize plan documentation and design resources for consistent use across all Divisions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• 2+ years of experience in permit processing, design management, or related roles within the residential construction industry
• Knowledge of building codes, zoning regulations, and permit requirements in WA, OR, and/or ID
• Proven experience in managing design processes, including collaborating with architects, engineers, and contractors
• Strong multitasking, organizational, and time management skills to handle multiple permit and design projects simultaneously Exceptional communication skills for effectively working with city officials, internal teams, and external partners
• Proficiency in using CRM and project management software to track project timelines and maintain records
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) for reporting, documentation, and communication
• Familiarity with design software (e.g., AutoCAD or Revit) is a plus
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills for working closely with cross-functional teams
• Proven history of successfully navigating permitting processes and achieving design objectives
• Demonstrated experience in tracking project metrics to ensure on-time completion and compliance

WHY WORK HERE

BENEFITS

• Company supported medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and families
• Participation in our 401(k)-retirement savings plan with Company contributions
• New home discount
• 120 hours of paid time off for the first year
• Seven paid holidays
• Paid volunteer hours
• Employee Recognition Program
• Employee Referral Bonus - Up to $1,000
• Engaging company culture – Including our annual “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
• And much more!

OUR CULTURE / VALUES

At Pacific Lifestyle Homes, our vibrant culture defines who we are. We believe in the power of open communication, where every voice is valued and heard. With a strong emphasis on personal growth, we offer one-on-one coaching, regular reviews, and prioritize internal promotion whenever feasible. Our actions are guided by our core values of respect, accountability, candor, humility, integrity, and teamwork, shaping every decision we make and every interaction we have.

Build your career at Pacific Lifestyle Homes, where we are committed to the idea that a skilled team can build homes and communities that withstand the test of time. Picture yourself driving by our neighborhoods a decade from now, brimming with pride knowing you played a vital role in their creation. Do not miss the opportunity to make a lasting impact with us!

For additional information about Pacific Lifestyle Home’s Company Culture and how it can enrich your career, we invite you to view the video at the following link: https://youtu.be/Hud-5EsJ2fw

WORK ENVIRONMENT

We have an in-office culture with a general work schedule of 8:00am – 5:00pm.

Our dress code and appearance policy reflect our commitment to professionalism and our dedication to maintaining a premier standard as a homebuilder.

Prior managerial reference checks, background check and a pre-employment drug screen are required steps in our hiring process.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.