Design Manager

Open Door Pub Co. Pty LTD; Victoria; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Venue Co is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join our development team and help deliver the next generation of venues across our Australian portfolio. You’ll lead projects through the front-end development lifecycle, from initial briefing and due diligence through to concept, planning, design development, tender and construction readiness.

This client-side design management role requires ownership, problem-solving and the ability to keep complex projects moving across

Qualifications

• Experience managing design and development projects in hospitality, hotels, retail or other complex customer-facing environments.
• Experience with adaptive reuse, major refurbishment or greenfield development.
• Demonstrated accountability for budget, programme, risk and project outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Managing project budgets, cost plans, quotes, procurement and value engineering.
• Owning project programmes, milestones, consultant deliverables and recovery actions.
• Leading briefing, scope definition, design development and consultant coordination.
• Ensuring design decisions align with the project’s business case, customer experience and operational requirements.
• Identifying and managing project risks, approvals, investigations and statutory requirements.
• Reviewing documentation for coordination, completeness, buildability and commercial alignment.
• Working closely with Operations, Brand, Interiors, Finance, Property and Delivery.
• Supporting tender and procurement processes to ensure projects are commercially viable and construction-ready.

Skills

Problem solving

Momentum driver

Commercial acumen

Strong communicator

Curious and pragmatic

Education

Architecture/design/project management/ construction management qualifications

Job description

Design Manager Australian Venue Co is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join our development team and help deliver the next generation of venues across our Australian portfolio. Working across hospitality refurbishments, redevelopments and expansion projects, you’ll lead projects through the front-end development lifecycle, from initial briefing and due diligence through to concept, planning, design development, tender and construction readiness. This is a client-side design management role for someone who takes ownership, solves problems and keeps complex projects moving.

The Role

You’ll lead multidisciplinary consultant teams and manage the design, commercial and technical development of multiple projects. Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing project budgets, cost plans, quotes, procurement and value engineering.
• Owning project programmes, milestones, consultant deliverables and recovery actions.
• Leading briefing, scope definition, design development and consultant coordination.
• Ensuring design decisions align with the project’s business case, customer experience and operational requirements.
• Identifying and managing project risks, approvals, investigations and statutory requirements.
• Reviewing documentation for coordination, completeness, buildability and commercial alignment.
• Working closely with Operations, Brand, Interiors, Finance, Property and Delivery.
• Supporting tender and procurement processes to ensure projects are commercially viable and construction-ready.

What We’re Looking For

• A problem solver who assesses issues, develops options and recommends practical solutions.
• A driver of momentum who keeps consultants, decisions and milestones moving.
• Commercially astute with the ability to balance design quality, customer experience, programme and capital investment.
• Proactive and disciplined in identifying cost pressures, risks and programme constraints early.
• A strong communicator who can lead consultants, challenge advice and influence stakeholders.
• Curious and pragmatic with the judgement to investigate when required and make decisions when it’s time to move forward.

Your Experience

• Experience managing design and development projects in hospitality, hotels, retail or other complex customer-facing environments.
• Experience with adaptive reuse, major refurbishment or greenfield development.
• Relevant qualifications in architecture, design, project management, construction management or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated accountability for budget, programme, risk and project outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant teams.
• Strong construction, buildability, procurement and cost management knowledge.

We welcome candidates from client-side development, architectural and design practices, and contractor-side design management roles. Contractor-side Design Managers will be well regarded where they can demonstrate strong consultant leadership and commercial accountability.

What Success Looks Like

Success means progressing projects into Delivery with the approved business proposition intact: the right scope, controlled budget and programme, resolved risks and a coordinated design capable of delivering the intended outcome. If you enjoy complexity, take ownership and get satisfaction from moving projects forward, we’d love to hear from you. Make your career one to remember at Aus Venue Co.

Australian Venue Co. promotes a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion through programs like AVC Pride for LGBTQIA+ support, Her Hospo for empowering women, and a First Nations Committee for reconciliation. We are committed to growing our understanding and engagement in diversity, equity and inclusion to build a more inclusive industry.

Turn your hospo job into a rewarding career Whether you’re already in a hospitality management role or you’re ready for career progression into management, you can take the next step with Australian Venue Co. We’re passionate about training & developing our team members and providing internal career advancement opportunities. At AVC, we turn hospo jobs into careers! If your next step is to become a Duty Manager, Assistant Venue Manager or Venue Manager, we can support you on your career journey.

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