Job Description

Design Manager Location:Sydney, NSWAbout the Company

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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.

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The Opportunity

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We are seeking an experienced Design Managerto lead and coordinate the full design process from concept through to construction documentation and delivery.

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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.

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Key Responsibilities

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Design Leadership & Coordination

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- Lead and coordinate the full consultant team from concept design through to construction documentation
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- Chair all design and consultant coordination meetings
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- Review and rigorously interrogate all design documentation prior to issue
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- Ensure design intent aligns with the approved development brief, feasibility parameters and programme milestones
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Consultant Engagement & Management

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- Lead consultant procurement including fee requests, assessment, negotiation and formal appointment
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- Manage consultant contracts including onboarding, scope alignment and consultant transitions where required
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- Maintain solid working relationships across architects, engineers and specialist consultants
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- Manage consultant performance against agreed scope, budget and programme expectations
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Budget & Value Management

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- Establish and manage consultant budgets across projects
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- Monitor design expenditure against approved budgets
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- Lead value engineering initiatives to maintain alignment with cost plans
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- Work closely with Development Managers to ensure feasibility integrity is maintained throughout design progression
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Programme Management

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- Establish and maintain the overall design programme from concept through to construction
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- Drive timely delivery of documentation to meet DA, Design Excellence and construction timeframes
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- Identify programme risks early and proactively implement mitigation strategies
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Development Interface

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- Partner closely with Development Managers to prepare and present project dashboards
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- Support feasibility reviews and strategic decision-making processes
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- Assist with authority engagement, stakeholder consultation and design panel presentations
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Post-DA Delivery

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- Maintain leadership through detailed design and construction documentation phases
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- Coordinate consultant inputs for tender and construction packages
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- Support construction phase design management, including RFI review and resolution
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Candidate Profile

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- Proven experience in a design management or senior architectural coordination role within a property development or consultancy environment
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- Strong understanding of residential and/or mixed-use development processes
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- Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary consultant teams
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- Commercial acumen with the ability to balance design quality with feasibility constraints
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- Strong programme management capability and risk awareness
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- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
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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.

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📌 Design Manager (New South Wales)
🏢 Capstone Recruitment
📍 New South Wales