Home Designer

Company: Hubbell Realty Companies

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General Information
US-IA-West Des Moines
N/A
2 Year Degree
Full-Time
5 years
Not Specified
False
False
Job Description The home designer position designs custom and production, single-family and

multifamily homes for Hubbell Homes, LC and related entities.

Measurables

The home designer (HD) is part of a design team that designs custom and production

single-family and multifamily homes. These homes must meet the design requirements

of our various target markets. The designs should maximize aesthetics and be respectful

of the construction budget. Hubbell Homes must design and build homes that maintain

Hubbell Homes as a market leader. The measurables for this position are design

aesthetics, adherence to the construction budget, pace of design and design accuracy.

A. Design Aesthetics. Every home should be designed with aesthetics in mind. Hubbell

Homes strives to offer the best designed homes for the money. Hubbell Homes offers

a variety of home products from entry-level, attached row homes, first-time, new

home buyer, single-family homes, first-time, move-up single-family homes, secondtime,

move-up, single-family, attached and detached villa (ranch style) homes.

Hubbell Homes builds both custom homes and speculative production homes.

B. Budget. Every home is to be designed to fit within the construction budget.

Maximizing design within a budget is one of the more challenging aspects to design.

C. Pace of Design. There is a “starts" process of 20 working days. This “starts" process

includes the design of the home as well as preparation of the construction budget by

the estimator. The goal is to complete the design of the home within a time frame

that allows for completion of the “start" within 20 working days. The “start" is

completed when the field operations manager obtains the building permit.

D. Design accuracy. It is important that the designs be accurate. Variances to the

construction budget due to design errors should be minimized and are not budgeted.

Process

The following is a general summary of the workflow process for the HD.

A. The HD is part of the “red line" team (sales manager, home designer and estimator)

that reviews the desired home plan and “redlines" a concept drawing or a previously

built home. This red-line drawing is the basis for the “start."

B. The HD designs utilizing the CAD program Revit.

C. The HD does a preliminary site “fit" plan analysis to make sure the desired plan will

fit on the desired lot. The HD will then order the site plan from the appropriate

engineering professional and incorporate this site plan into the final construction

working drawings.

D. The HD designs the new home from the team red- line drawing. This is a full set of

working drawings.

E. When the plan is complete and reviewed by the HD it is forwarded to the president

and the estimator for a final design review.

F. Once the plan is approved by the president and the estimator the estimator will begin

development of the construction budget and specifications.

G. Changes may be needed to the drawings depending on feedback from the trade

partners or budget constraints that surface while preparing the construction budget.

Once the budget is complete and meets “margin threshold" then the budget and the

drawings are reviewed by the purchasing manager and the field operations manager.

Changes may be needed dependent on their review.

H. A home “release" meeting is then scheduled by the estimator. A final review of the

plan is completed by the construction and sales team before purchase orders or issues

and the plan is released to the field. Final minor modifications to the drawings may

be needed at that time.

I. The HD may need to respond to plan clarifications during the construction process.

J. If there are plan design errors, the HD will be notified and will be requested to

approve the variance purchase order to pay for the design errors.

K. This process is similar with the build-to-order or BTO process. The BTO process

may involve several meetings with the home buyer to finalize the design.

L. There are three homeowner surveys, one at move-in, mid-year and year-end. At the

time of the move-in the homeowner rates Hubbell Homes on key measures, customer

service, purchase experience, construction, design experience, walk through,

willingness to recommend, and home readiness. At mid-year Hubbell Homes is rated

on key measures, willingness to recommend, and customer service. At year-end

Hubbell Homes is rated on key measures, customer service, willingness to

recommend, and overall quality. The most telling of all three surveys is willingness

to recommend. The Hubbell Homes goal should be to obtain an 80% or above rating.

The HD is specifically responsible for design experience.

Other Responsibilities

A. The HD works with other professionals such as civil engineers, soil engineers,

structural engineers and trade partners to prepare plans that are acceptable to the

governing bodies of the jurisdictions in which the company constructs homes.

B. The HD is to work with the estimating and purchasing team to provide design

information for sales pricing including home pricing and option pricing.

Job Requirements Core Competencies

The following are the Core Competencies required to be successful in this position:

A. Design.

B. Accuracy and speed

C. Solution-oriented approach to problem solving

D. Process improvement focus

E. Clear and consistent communication with staff and trade partners

Special Requirements

• Associate’s degree in computer-aided drafting or architectural technology required,

bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering preferred, or completion of a technical

trade school program in CAD, drafting or related field

• Five years’ related work experience or any equivalent combination of experience and

training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Excellent computer skills in AutoCAD, REVIT, Microsoft Office (Word, Access, Excel)

• Knowledge of Timberline cost estimating and accounting system helpful

• Excellent math aptitude, proofreading skills and attention to detail

• Knowledge of construction and construction terminology

• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and to meet deadlines under pressure

• Ability to interact with all levels of management

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills

Hubbell Realty Company is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals to apply.

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