Design Manager

Redpath Partners; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Redpath Partners, in partnership with Storage Investment Australia, is seeking a Design Manager to join the Adelaide team to own front-end design from due diligence through DA lodgement.

You will collaborate with the Asset Delivery team, Finance and Operations, coordinating architects, planners and consultants to balance feasibility, commercial goals and development yield while moving projects through DA. This role suits architects or design leaders who relish tight coordination.

Qualifications

• Degree in Architecture or closely related design discipline.
• Experience in architecture, development design or front-end development.

Responsibilities

• Lead early-stage site assessments and due diligence, identifying planning constraints and risks.
• Undertake site analysis, masterplanning, building massing and concept design.
• Develop and compare design options to optimise layouts, access, circulation and development yield.
• Prepare and review area schedules, including NLA, GFA, efficiency and unit mix.
• Coordinate architects, planners and consultants throughout the design and DA process.
• Manage documentation for DA lodgement and identify risks early to support decisions.

Skills

Architectural design

Design coordination

Commercial awareness

Modeling & analysis

Education

Bachelor of Architecture

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

ArchiCAD

Job description

Take ownership of concept design and Development Approvals across a growing national self-storage portfolio.

Redpath Partners has exclusively partnered with Storage Investment Australia (SIA) to appoint a Design Manager to its Adelaide team.

This is an opportunity to join an established self-storage investment and development business, contributing to new developments and existing assets from early site assessment through to Development Approval (DA).

About the opportunity

This hands-on role will strengthen the internal development capability, taking ownership of the front-end design process from initial due diligence through to DA lodgement.

Working closely with the Asset Delivery team and Design Director, you will develop practical design solutions that balance development potential, commercial feasibility and operational requirements. You will also collaborate with internal Finance and Operations teams, alongside external consultants and builders, to ensure design outcomes align with broader development objectives.

SIA values collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, bringing together different areas of expertise to achieve the best outcomes for each project.

Key responsibilities

• Lead early-stage site assessments and due diligence, identifying planning constraints, development opportunities and project risks.
• Undertake site analysis, masterplanning, building massing and concept design.
• Develop and compare design options to optimise site layouts, access, circulation, staging and development yield.
• Prepare and review area schedules, including NLA, GFA, efficiency and unit mix.
• Collaborate with Finance and Operations to align design solutions with feasibility, revenue, cost and operational requirements.
• Coordinate architects, town planners and specialist consultants throughout the design and DA process.
• Manage the preparation and coordination of documentation for DA lodgement.
• Identify planning, design and authority risks early to support informed development decisions.
• Monitor programme, consultant deliverables, design decisions and outstanding actions.
• Coordinate a structured handover to the Project Manager following DA lodgement.
• Contribute to improving design standards, workflows and the use of emerging design technologies.

About you

You are a design professional with strong spatial awareness, sound technical judgement and an understanding of how early design decisions influence commercial outcomes.

You enjoy working through complex site constraints, developing practical design solutions and coordinating consultants to achieve commercially viable outcomes.

The role would suit an architect, draftsperson or Design Manager who enjoys combining design thinking, technical coordination and commercial outcomes.

To be successful, you will bring:

• A degree in Architecture or a closely related design discipline.
• Approximately five or more years of relevant experience in architecture, development design or a similar front-end development role.
• Experience in site analysis, masterplanning, building massing and concept design.
• Exposure to Development Approval processes and planning documentation.
• Working knowledge of the Australian planning system and National Construction Code.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary consultants and managing competing priorities.
• Commercial awareness, including development yield, area schedules, feasibility and programme.
• Proficiency in relevant design software, such as Revit, AutoCAD or ArchiCAD.

What's on offer

• Front-end involvement: Influence projects from initial site assessment through to Development Approval.
• Commercial exposure: Work at the intersection of design, feasibility and development strategy.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for coordinating design and approvals across multiple development opportunities.
• Collaboration: Work closely with senior design and asset delivery stakeholders and external consultants.
• Continuous improvement: Help shape design standards, systems and processes as the development pipeline evolves.