Design Manager

Heighton; Castlemaine; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation

Company vehicle

Relocation assistance AU$20,000

Private health insurance

Job summary

Heighton designs and delivers facility fit-outs for Australia's food and beverage, pharmaceutical and laboratory sectors. This role leads design from client brief through approvals, detailed design, construction and handover, ensuring designs meet client needs and regulatory requirements.

Reporting to the Director / Pre-Construction Manager, you will coordinate consultants, review drawings and 3D models, and keep decisions moving to support ongoing site operations.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years in design management, architecture, engineering or construction design coordination.
• Confidence reviewing Revit and 3D models, drawings and technical information.
• Strong understanding of translating designs to practical construction.
• Organised, decisive, and able to drive actions to completion.
• Ability to challenge incomplete information and hold consultants accountable.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Experience in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cleanroom or live operating facility projects is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Set the design programme, consultant responsibilities, review stages and deliverables.
• Lead design meetings and coordinate architects, engineers, specialist consultants and suppliers.
• Review drawings, Revit and 3D models to identify clashes, gaps and unresolved details.
• Coordinate planning and building approvals, authority comments and facility requirements.
• Track client decisions and outstanding actions, addressing delays early.
• Keep designs aligned with project scope, budget, procurement and site operations.
• Check designs before release and support construction through technical queries, shop drawing reviews and design changes.
• Coordinate final drawings, as-built models and handover documentation.

Skills

Design management

Architecture coordination

Client liaison

Construction knowledge

Reviewing drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Engineering

Tools

Revit

3D modeling

Job description

Lead the design of food and beverage, pharmaceutical and laboratory facilities, including high-care production areas, cleanrooms and upgrades to sites that remain operational during construction. You will manage design from the initial client brief and concept through approvals, detailed design, construction and handover. This includes setting the design programme, coordinating consultants and suppliers, reviewing drawings and 3D models, and resolving gaps between the different parts of the project. Reporting to the Director / Pre-Construction Manager, you will be the single point of accountability for the design programme, coordination and approvals. You will lead the process and challenge incomplete information, while each architect, engineer and specialist remains responsible for their own professional design and certification. You will keep decisions, approvals and deliverables moving so the wider team has the information it needs at the right time. Working closely with our pre-construction and project teams, you will make sure each design meets the client's needs, complies with relevant requirements and is ready to build.

Key responsibilities

Set the design programme, consultant responsibilities, review stages and deliverables.

Lead design meetings and coordinate architects, engineers, specialist consultants and suppliers.

Review drawings, Revit and 3D models to identify clashes, gaps and unresolved details.

Coordinate planning and building approvals, authority comments and facility requirements.

Track client decisions and outstanding actions, addressing delays early.

Keep designs aligned with project scope, budget, procurement and site operations.

Check designs before release and support construction through technical queries, shop drawing reviews and design changes.

Coordinate final drawings, as-built models and handover documentation.

About you

Around eight years or more of relevant experience in design management, architecture, engineering or construction design coordination.

Confidence reviewing Revit and 3D models, drawings and technical information.

A strong understanding of how designs translate into practical construction.

An organised, decisive approach and the ability to follow actions through.

Confidence challenging incomplete information and holding consultants accountable.

Clear written and verbal communication.

Experience in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cleanroom or live operating facility projects is highly regarded.

Working knowledge of Australian planning and building approval processes is valuable.

About us

Heighton designs and delivers facility fit-outs for Australia's food and beverage, pharmaceutical and laboratory sectors. Our projects include production and processing areas, cold storage, high-care environments, cleanrooms, packaging facilities, offices and staff amenities. Many projects involve upgrades within facilities that remain operational during construction. With more than 20 years of experience and over 300 completed projects, we manage the full project journey, from early planning and design through approvals, construction, commissioning and handover. Our clients have one accountable point of contact throughout.

Superannuation.

Company vehicle.

Participation in Growth by Sharing under agreed programme terms.

Up to AU$20,000 in relocation assistance and six months of free rent under agreed arrangements.

Private health insurance support may be available where needed and agreed.