The Senior Design Manager will take ownership of multiple projects throughout the design process, managing consultants, coordinating internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring design integrity aligns with client requirements, budget, and program constraints. This role is critical in driving quality outcomes, maintaining compliance, and embedding innovation and sustainability throughout the project lifecycle.
Responsibilities:
As the Senior Design Manager you will:
- Lead and manage the full design lifecycle of multi-residential projects (from concept / feasibility through to construction documentation and delivery).
- Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams — architects, consultants, engineers, internal stakeholders — ensuring design quality, compliance and alignment with project objectives.
- Provide strategic design leadership: shape design vision, drive design excellence, balance aesthetics, functionality, compliance, and constructability.
- Oversee building code, regulatory and approvals processes, ensuring all designs meet relevant standards (NCC / NSW regulations / Council requirements).
- Contribute to value-engineering and design optimisation to align design aspiration with budget, program and delivery constraints.
- Liaise closely with project management and construction teams to ensure seamless transition from design to build, anticipate and resolve design-to-construction issues.
- Mentor and guide junior designers / design staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture and strong design standards.
- Tertiary qualification in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering or related discipline.
- Proven track record (typically 7–10+ years) managing design for multi-residential / high-density residential developments (apartments, Class 2 developments, townhouses, mixed-use residential).
- Strong design management skills, including ability to manage complex project workflows, multiple stakeholders, consultants and contractors.
- Demonstrable experience with relevant Australian building codes, regulatory approvals and familiarity with compliance processes, construction documentation and handover procedures.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills — able to influence, coordinate and mentor across design, construction, approvals and stakeholder teams.
- Strong commercial awareness and value-driven mindset to balance design aspirations with buildability, cost, and delivery constraints.
- High level of attention to detail, problem-solving capability, and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
- Leadership role within a dynamic, growth-oriented boutique developer with a strong commitment to design excellence and quality.
- Opportunity to shape and deliver high-quality multi-residential developments from concept through to completion.
- Collaborative environment working alongside experienced designers, project managers and construction specialists in a values-driven workplace.
- Competitive compensation and career growth potential, commensurate with experience and responsibility.
Please submit your CV and a short cover letter outlining your relevant multi-residential design management experience, examples of past projects (preferably apartments or high-density residential), and why you’re interested.
All applications are handled with strict confidentiality.
Charlie Jones
CJones@designandbuild.com.au
0431 344 459
#SCR-charlie-jones
