Design Manager Construction

We are building a state-of-the-art Gigafactory that will be one of the largest cell production facilities in Europe and construction is set to begin in 2023. To make that happen we need the very best to join our in-house Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management (EPCM) team. We are now looking for a Design Manager to join our fantastic team – come be a part of an exciting journey together with us!

Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world. Northvolt is a leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, dedicated to delivering the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery.

Together, we have formed a joint venture, NOVO Energy, to power the next generation of pure electric Volvo and Polestar cars.

Few industries offer as great opportunity for career growth and personal development as the new European battery industry. In working – as part of our team in this - for this joint venture, you'll not only develop skills that are highly sought after in the global automotive and industrial sector, but you are also contributing to a climate-neutral way of life for future generations.

Our mission is to build a ”First in Class” gigafactory that transforms Volvo Cars into a full EV (Electrical Vehicle) manufacturer - using the most sustainable and innovative methods in construction, whilst achieving the highest level of trust with all service providers to perform the safest, fastest, most cost-effective and excellent quality of craftsmanship project in the industry.

About the role
In the position as Design Manager you will lead the design effort of certain sections and projects of the complete gigafactory scope, from early design throughout execution. You will be leading a cross disciplinary team, joining our in-house engineering team with design consultants and contractors. You will report to a manager within the Construction organization. As Design Manger you will have full ownership and responsibility for an integrated design schedule, driving the coordination between construction, procurement, and engineering within the ECPM team. You will also be the main point of contact for integration with Process Engineering, facility requirements and external stakeholders. As such you need to have a very good understanding of construction design process and ability to deal with complex information flows.

What you will do in your role:

- Lead a cross disciplinary design team developing and delivering the Gigafactory design.
- Create an integrated design schedule and drive coordination within the EPCM organization.
- Coordinate the gathering of all user technical requirements and ensure the design consultants are provided all needed inputs in a timely manner.
- Manage design consultants and contractors, coordinating delivery of construction engineering packages. Ensure the delivery meets high technical standards and is delivered on-time.
- Set-up and lead review sessions.
- Support and manage permit and handover processes.
- Track and report on design progress. Proactively work to identify potential time or quality issues and implement mitigations actions accordingly.
- Proactively work with project controls and change orders.
- Ensure timely responses to queries and requests from contractors.
- Promote a strong team culture in-house and with external parties.
- Become a binder of the EPCM team, supporting on developing the organization according to the company’s mission and support team members through success and failure.

Your Background
The position demands that you have a strong technical background, either within a certain field or as a generalist. Further, you have a background within or in close collaboration with construction and construction contractors on large scale projects. You have a very good understanding of the construction design process, promoting a holistic view, clear priorities and bold decision making. You understand the complexity of the program and you are well organized to effectively implement, manage and track multiple parallel workstreams.

You have a proven track record of and enjoy leading diverse teams from many trades, backgrounds and cultures. You are a great communicator providing clear focus and priorities, while at the same time have the necessary flexibility to adapt to changes and new information. You lead by example to create a collaborative environment promoting each team members performance to their highest level.

Essential

- BSc degree in within relevant field: Construction management-, civil-, structural-, mechanical-, chemical-, electrical- or architectural engineering.
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience on comparable construction position.
- Experience in large-scale construction projects with considerable multidisciplinary complexity, experience within general contractor or EPC organization environment is an added value.
- Excellent written and spoken English. Must have the ability to discuss technical topics with a variety of audiences – contractors, engineers, and members of various divisions within organization. Swedish is a plus.

Desirable

- Experience from Greenfield Projects is highly preferred.
- Experience from Swedish construction sites is preferred.
- Highly organized with excellent communication collaboration skills.
- Self-performing attitude with the strong skill to contribute on team effort.
- Experience in a multicultural environment, adaptable and open-minded.



Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world. Northvolt is a leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, dedicated to delivering the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery. Together, we have formed a joint venture, NOVO Energy, to power the next generation of pure electric Volvo and Polestar cars.

Our Gigafactory in Gothenburg will be one of the largest cell production facilities in Europe, with a potential annual cell production capacity of up to 50 gigawatt hours (GWh) - thereby enabling a supply of batteries for approximately half a million Volvo and Polestar cars per year. Our state-of-the-art R&D facility will gather leading expertise from all over the world, to create the next generation battery cells.

You can read more about this joint venture in these press releases, here and here.