WHO WE ARE: 

McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS) is the nation's leading for-profit developer of economically integrated urban neighborhoods. Since 1973, McCormack Baron Salazar has been a pioneer in community development and urban revitalization, with 166 projects in 38 cities and more than 17,795 units of attractive, high quality housing plus over 1.4 million square feet of commercial space totaling more than $2.9 billion of development investments. "Developing and Building Communities" is more than a slogan, it is the focal point for all the company's work.

Since its founding, McCormack Baron Salazar has made quality, mixed-income housing the cornerstone of the company's mission to rebuild central cities across the United States that have deteriorated through decades of neglect and disinvestment. McCormack Baron Salazar's headquarters is located in St. Louis with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Together with its management arm, MBS employs more than 950 people nationally, of which about 125 are in St. Louis.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Design and Construction group works across all company projects, supporting the project development team, taking a lead role in delivering a buildable site in terms of the design and construction of work necessary to achieve sustainable, financially feasible, constructible and architecturally-welcoming communities.

The VP, Planning and Design’s role is to oversee the design activities of individual projects from inception through financial closing.  The VP, Planning and Design will work closely with external design teams and internal Project Management teams as each project ramps up, progresses through master planning, and into the design phase.  The VP, Planning and Design will assist the Project Management teams with early design and budgeting, preliminary environmental assessments, geotechnical, and civil.  The VP, Planning and Design will be involved with solicitation and selection of the project Architect and General Contractor, in collaboration with the Project Management teams, Director of Design and Construction, and Design and Construction Manager (“D&C Manager”).  The VP, Planning and Design will transition the project over to the D&C Manager at a point where the plans can be priced, with Owner/Contractor negotiations and construction estimating set to begin.  After the handoff to the D&C Manager, the VP, Planning and Design will remain in a position to consult on any design-related changes as well as ensuring that the final product adheres to the MBS Design Guidelines and original concepts.       

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Solicit proposals and contracting for master planning, architectural, and engineering consultants required for each project. Review and analyze the proposed designs and the various reports from the consultants and act as liaison regarding this information with other MBS personnel.
• Provide assistance to the development team in determining the development’s design program which best meets the stated goals of MBS and the community, establishing the development budget and determining the best design approach for the proposed site.
• Review of the overall project schedule to ensure the design progress meets the requirements of the overall closing time frame.
• Coordinate and direct the A/E team in their efforts from original concept through construction documents. Determine the appropriate design, building systems, layouts and finishes.  Review the design for cost efficiency; develop alternatives or revisions until the project meets the budget.  Ensure conformance to MBS Design Guidelines and the agreed upon program. 
• In collaboration with the D&C Manager, direct the efforts of the design consultants in evaluation of the site and existing utilities. Define the scope of any building abatement and demolition, and site preparation.
• Coordinate with the City and local utility companies for placement of new utilities or upgrades to existing public improvements and utilities. Work with City departments and utility companies to ensure the City requirements are met, i.e. public improvements and streetscape, new utilities, etc.
• Arrange for any street or utility vacation, replatting, subdivision, property acquisition exhibits and/or utility easements that may be required.
• Collaborate with the MBS Project Management teams in order to determine the development master plan, proposed phasing site plan and layout, unit count, bed and bath count, amenities.
• Compare current designs with prior projects in order to ensure accuracy and thoroughness of the project documents, incorporate ‘lessons learned.’
• In collaboration with the D&C Manager - review of environmental documents, engagement of Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and subsequent Phase II or other state programs.
• Preliminary and ongoing review of site civil and geotechnical, as well as preliminary budgeting of this work based on conditions outlined in technical reports.
• In collaboration with the D&C Manager, oversight and management of sustainability and green building requirements, as well as engagement and oversight of the green building consulting firm.
• Coordinate the plan review for compliance with the Fair Housing Act, UFAS, ANSI, ADA and local or state accessibility requirements.
• For historic projects, coordinate and secure the necessary Section 106 Historic Review and submittal to the SHPO. Negotiate issues with SHPO and/or NPS to ensure conformance with Department of Interior Standards.
• Lead Architectural firm selection and interview process, in collaboration with the Director, Design and Construction as well as the D&C Manager.
• Assistance with General Contractor selection and interview process, in collaboration with the Director, Design and Construction as well as the D&C Manager.
• Review the project design with Property Management, including but not limited to: site lighting, camera systems, management and office space size and layout, building access, interior and exterior amenities, bed/bath breakdown, etc.
• Collaborate with the in-house MBS Project Manager as the project goes through the design and pre-closing process. This process involves weekly team meetings, review of changes to the overall project budget (soft costs, hard costs, site preparation costs, and public improvement costs).
• Cooperation and collaboration with all internal and external project team members
• Coordination with a diverse group of outside interested parties, including but not limited to: city planning departments, utility companies, state and federal environmental regulators, and financing partners as well as their consultants
• Participation in MBS internal project review meetings

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

 Work will be primarily based in company headquarters (St. Louis), with periodic national travel, including overnight stays, to development locations as needed for meetings, closings, and significant project events.  We are open to having members of the VP, Planning and Design team based in other geographies that are conveniently located to our development projects.