Senior Design Manager

Western Sydney, NSW Leading Tier 2 Developer Builder Large-Scale Class 2 Residential & Mixed-Use Developments
About the Company Our client is a well-established Tier 2 developer-builder with an enviable track record of delivering large-scale residential, mixed-use, and urban regeneration projects across Greater Sydney. With a vertically integrated development and construction model, the business is recognised for creating high-quality communities through innovative design, strong delivery capability, and a commitment to excellence.

Due to a growing pipeline of landmark high-rise developments throughout Western Sydney, an opportunity exists for an experienced Senior Design Manager to join the business and lead the design management function across multiple projects.

The Opportunity Reporting to the Head of Development and Construction, the Senior Design Manager will take ownership of the design process from acquisition through planning, design development, procurement, construction, and project completion.

This role requires a commercially minded design leader with extensive experience delivering complex Class 2 residential and mixed-use tower developments, capable of managing multidisciplinary consultant teams whilst ensuring design outcomes align with project budgets, programme objectives, construction methodologies, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.

The successful candidate will act as the critical link between Development, Construction, Sales & Marketing, and external consultant teams to ensure projects are coordinated, buildable, compliant, and commercially successful.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the end-to-end design management process across multiple high-rise residential and mixed-use developments.
- Drive project design excellence while ensuring practical and commercially viable construction outcomes.
- Establish and manage design programmes aligned with development and construction milestones.
- Facilitate design workshops and consultant coordination meetings.
- Ensure consistency of design standards and quality across the project portfolio.




- Challenge design solutions to maximise project efficiency, functionality, and value.

Planning & Development Approvals
- Work closely with Development Managers to prepare and deliver Planning Proposals, DA, SSDA, CC and associated approval pathways.
- Coordinate planning consultants, architects, urban designers, and specialist consultants through approval phases.
- Support negotiations with Councils, State Authorities, Certifiers, and Government Agencies.
- Monitor planning risks and develop mitigation strategies.

Design Coordination
- Manage the performance of architects, engineers, façade consultants, interior designers, landscape architects, ESD consultants and specialist disciplines.
- Review consultant deliverables for quality, compliance, coordination and constructability.
- Identify design clashes and resolve coordination issues proactively.
- Oversee BIM coordination and digital design processes where applicable.
- Ensure all documentation is delivered to programme requirements.

Construction & Delivery Support
- Partner with Construction Managers and Project Managers to ensure smooth design transition into delivery.
- Lead design resolution throughout construction.
- Manage RFIs, design changes, value engineering initiatives and consultant responses.
- Review shop drawings, material selections and contractor submissions.
- Ensure construction outcomes align with approved design intent.

Commercial Management
- Drive value engineering initiatives without compromising product quality or customer expectations.
- Review and monitor design budgets and consultant expenditure.
- Assess design changes for programme, cost and commercial impacts.
- Contribute to project feasibilities and design-based cost optimisation strategies.




- Support procurement activities and consultant appointments.

Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure designs comply with the National Construction Code (NCC), Class 2 requirements, NSW Design & Building Practitioners legislation and relevant Australian Standards.
- Monitor compliance with building regulations, environmental requirements and quality standards.
- Manage design-related project risks and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Support project auditing and governance processes.

Skills & Experience Essential
- Minimum 10+ years' experience in Design Management, Architecture, Development, or Construction.
- Proven experience delivering major Class 2 residential apartment developments and mixed-use towers exceeding $100M in project value.
- Strong understanding of high-rise residential design, planning approvals, and construction delivery.
- Extensive experience managing consultant teams through all project phases.
- Demonstrated knowledge of NSW planning processes and building regulations.
- Strong understanding of buildability, façade systems, building services integration, and construction methodologies.
- Experience within a developer, developer-builder, Tier 1 or Tier 2 construction environment.

What's On Offer
- Opportunity to lead the design delivery of some of Western Sydney's most significant residential and mixed-use developments.
- Join a financially robust and expanding Tier 2 developer-builder with an established project pipeline.
- Work across the full development lifecycle from acquisition through to completion.
- Influence landmark projects that will shape the future skyline of Western Sydney.
- Executive-level exposure and genuine career progression opportunities.
- Attractive remuneration package, including performance incentives and long-term growth prospects.

This role is ideally suited to a senior design professional seeking to leverage their expertise across both development and construction, delivering complex, high-density residential communities while influencing design excellence and project performance from inception through to completion.

📌 Senior Design Manager (Sydney)
🏢 Gough Recruitment
📍 Sydney