People Manager, MEP Design

DLB Associates is a premier engineering and consulting firm specializing in innovative, mission-critical solutions across hyperscale data centers, advanced infrastructure, and high-performance building systems. With over four decades of expertise, we partner with some of the world’s most influential companies to design and optimize environments that demand precision, scalability, and resilience.

DLB recognizes salary ranges from job boards do not necessarily reflect our pay ranges.  In many instances we out-compete those ranges for well-qualified candidates.

The People Manager, MEP Design is a senior-level people leader responsible for the day-to-day management, development, and engagement of a cross-discipline MEP design team. This fully remote role spans entry-level employees and those at the level immediately above, with a clear mandate to grow early-career talent and build a high-performing, cohesive team across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing disciplines.

• Provide direct day-to-day people management for a cross-discipline MEP design team spanning entry-level employees and those at the level immediately above

• Establish and maintain a strong remote team culture grounded in accountability, psychological safety, and consistent communication ensuring team members feel connected and supported despite geographic distance

• Develop individualized growth plans for each direct report, with particular emphasis on accelerating the development of entry-level employees into higher levels of independent contribution

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with all direct reports; maintain a consistent cadence of structured check-ins, feedback conversations, and goal reviews throughout the year

• Serve as a primary advocate and resource for team members navigating DLB systems, processes, tools, and culture; actively connect people to the support and information they need

• Model DLB values and operating norms in all interactions; actively reinforce the behaviors and standards that reflect the DLB way of working

• Lead all performance review cycles for direct reports, including goal-setting, mid-year check-ins, and annual evaluations; provide substantive, actionable feedback grounded in observed behavior and outcomes

• Identify performance concerns early; address them directly and constructively through coaching, clear expectation-setting, and documented follow-up; escalate to HR or department leadership when appropriate

• Leverage MEP technical background to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of direct reports' work product; provide technically credible guidance without taking on a practitioner role

• Recognize and celebrate strong performance; ensure high contributors feel seen and are positioned for advancement in line with DLB career pathways

• Proactively identify signals of disengagement, burnout, or unmet development needs; address them with empathy and appropriate urgency before they escalate

• Monitor team workload distribution across cross-discipline MEP assignments; surface capacity constraints and coordinate with project leads and department leadership to ensure balanced, sustainable allocation

• Establish and maintain team-level workflows, communication norms, and operating practices that support consistent quality and timely delivery in a fully remote environment

• Identify and remove process barriers that impede team productivity; escalate systemic issues to department or operations leadership with clear context and recommended solutions

• Own and continuously refine onboarding practices for new team members, ensuring entry-level employees are set up for early success with clear expectations, resources, and a supported ramp period

• Partner with HR and People Development on talent strategy for the MEP Design team, including hiring, succession planning, and early-career pipeline development

• Collaborate with other Design department managers and discipline leads to share best practices, align on cross-team norms, and support a consistent DLB employee experience regardless of location

• Participate in department-level planning conversations, providing the perspective of a front-line people manager with a cross-discipline MEP team; represent the needs, challenges, and development trajectories of direct reports

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records related to team headcount, performance documentation, and development plans; ensure timely completion of HR-required processes and reporting

Performs Other Related Duties as Assigned.

 
POSITION REQUIREMENTS (ADVANCED LEVEL FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING)

• Demonstrated track record of effective people management, including direct experience leading, developing, and evaluating employees at the early-career stage

• Substantive background in MEP design (mechanical, electrical, and/or plumbing disciplines) sufficient to evaluate work quality, communicate credibly with technical staff, and contextualize development feedback without performing technical work directly

• Skilled at building and sustaining high-trust relationships in a fully remote environment; proven ability to foster team cohesion, maintain visibility into team dynamics, and keep distributed employees engaged and connected

• Strong coaching and feedback skills; able to deliver direct, developmentally oriented feedback across a range of performance levels and learning styles, including early-career employees who may be receiving structured feedback for the first time

• Highly organized with the ability to manage individual development plans, team workflows, and administrative responsibilities across a cross-discipline team simultaneously

• Proficient in Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and other collaboration tools used to coordinate and communicate effectively across a distributed workforce

• Ability to operate independently on day-to-day responsibilities while escalating strategic decisions and complex people matters to HR and department leadership appropriately

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate clearly and with appropriate tone across a team at varying levels of experience, as well as with peers and senior leadership

• Ability to leverage AI and technology tools to support team coordination, development tracking, and communication workflows

The following physical demands must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• This position is fully remote; the employee may work from any location with a reliable internet connection and a professional, distraction-free home office setup

• Occasional travel to DLB office locations, team gatherings, or department events may be required; frequency is expected to be limited

• Effective May 7, 2025, and in accordance with U.S. federal regulations for domestic air travel, a valid REAL ID (or an acceptable alternative, such as a passport) is required for any travel associated with this position. Travel is defined as physically leaving home on behalf of business activities including but not limited to meetings with employees, training events, and attending company or industry gatherings

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Building Systems, or a related technical field

• Associate's degree or equivalent with demonstrated MEP industry experience at a level sufficient to credibly support and evaluate cross-discipline MEP design work

• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in MEP design or engineering, with at least 2–3 years in a formal people management role overseeing direct reports

• Prior experience managing in a fully remote environment preferred; demonstrated ability to maintain team cohesion and performance without relying on in-person presence

• Experience leading cross-discipline or cross-functional teams a plus

• Experience in engineering, construction, mission-critical facilities, or related technical industries preferred