At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design processes from concept to construction, ensuring quality and feasibility.
- Company: Dynamic Australian development group focused on high-quality residential projects.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, collaborative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a nimble team that values design excellence and commercial discipline.
- Why this job: Shape innovative projects and make a real impact in the development industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in design management and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 93150 - 113850 $ per year.
Location: Sydney, NSW
About the Company
This privately owned Australian development group delivers high-quality residential and mixed-use projects across metropolitan markets. The business is recognised for its design-led approach, disciplined feasibility management and strong consultant and delivery partnerships. With an active and expanding pipeline, the company is focused on creating well-resolved, commercially robust developments that respond to market demand and deliver enduring built outcomes.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead and coordinate the full design process from concept through to construction documentation and delivery. This is a pivotal role within the development team, responsible for driving design quality, managing consultant performance, protecting feasibility outcomes and ensuring programme certainty across multiple projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Design Leadership & Coordination
- Lead and coordinate the full consultant team from concept design through to construction documentation
- Chair all design and consultant coordination meetings
- Review and rigorously interrogate all design documentation prior to issue
- Ensure design intent aligns with the approved development brief, feasibility parameters and programme milestones
- Consultant Engagement & Management
- Lead consultant procurement including fee requests, assessment, negotiation and formal appointment
- Manage consultant contracts including onboarding, scope alignment and consultant transitions where required
- Maintain strong working relationships across architects, engineers and specialist consultants
- Manage consultant performance against agreed scope, budget and programme expectations
- Budget & Value Management
- Establish and manage consultant budgets across projects
- Monitor design expenditure against approved budgets
- Lead value engineering initiatives to maintain alignment with cost plans
- Work closely with Development Managers to ensure feasibility integrity is maintained throughout design progression
- Programme Management
- Establish and maintain the overall design programme from concept through to construction
- Drive timely delivery of documentation to meet DA, Design Excellence and construction timeframes
- Identify programme risks early and proactively implement mitigation strategies
- Development Interface
- Partner closely with Development Managers to prepare and present project dashboards
- Support feasibility reviews and strategic decision-making processes
- Assist with authority engagement, stakeholder consultation and design panel presentations
- Post-DA Delivery
- Maintain leadership through detailed design and construction documentation phases
- Coordinate consultant inputs for tender and construction packages
- Support construction phase design management, including RFI review and resolution
Candidate Profile
- Proven experience in a design management or senior architectural coordination role within a property development or consultancy environment
- Strong understanding of residential and/or mixed-use development processes
- Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary consultant teams
- Commercial acumen with the ability to balance design quality with feasibility constraints
- Strong programme management capability and risk awareness
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
This role offers the opportunity to work within a nimble, design-focused development platform where design excellence and commercial discipline are equally valued, and where you will play a central role in shaping projects from early concept through to construction delivery.
Design Manager in Sydney employer: Head Of Development, Nsw
As a Design Manager at this privately owned Australian development group in Sydney, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises design excellence and commercial discipline. The company offers robust employee growth opportunities, fostering a collaborative environment where your leadership will directly influence high-quality residential and mixed-use projects. With a strong focus on professional development and a commitment to delivering enduring built outcomes, this role is perfect for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in a vibrant metropolitan setting.
